Number: 1981-13
WHEREAS, the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area established in 1971, protects 26,000 acres of breeding habitat for a concentration and a diversity of birds of prey unique in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the U. S. Bureau of Land Management through intensive research has identified a total of 515,260 acres of public land within and adjacent to the Snake River Canyon which are necessary to sustain the birds of prey ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Interior, pursuant to his authority under the Federal Land Management and Policy Act, on November 24, 1980, withdrew approximately 482,000 acres within the identified area from further disposal under the Desert Land Act, the Carey Act and the Idaho Statehood Admissions Act in order to give Congress an opportunity to consider proposed legislation to permanently protect the area; and
WHEREAS, livestock grazing, mineral development, existing farming, outdoor recreation, National Guard training, hunting, fishing and other traditional uses will be allowed to continue except for further conversion of raptor prey habitat to cropland; and
WHEREAS, conversion to cropland would eliminate the primary food source for many of the raptors; and
WHEREAS, the Birds of Prey Conservation Area established by Secretarial order represents an excellent example of multiple use of the public lands consistent with natural resource protection, a concept which NWF fully supports;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 26-29, 1981 in Norfolk, Virginia, fully endorses the establishment of the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation Area in Idaho by Executive Withdrawal by the Secretary of the Interior and urges the U.S. Congress to enact legislation to permanently protect the area covered by the Secretary’s withdrawal and the reminder of the original 515,260 acres of public lands, as was identified through intensive research as necessary to sustain the Birds of Prey Ecosystem.