Number: 1985-02
WHEREAS, Federal and state owned lands have been acquired and managed in accordance with a variety of public laws and policies which have ranged from Government retention and development to giveaway programs to encourage private development; and
WHEREAS, these laws and policies have resulted in some public lands being scattered holdings or intermixed Federal, state and private lands (checkerboarding); and
WHEREAS, designated sections of lands, which were not contiguous, were awarded to the several western states; and
WHEREAS, these states’ constitutions require that these sections be managed for maximum revenue to support the public schools, generally disregarding sound land and wildlife management practices; and
WHEREAS, Federally owned land is managed under the multiple use concept which often conflicts with the management requirements of state owned land; and
WHEREAS, these conflicting management programs and intermixed land ownership patterns can result in less than optimum management, conflict between management agencies and adjacent private owners, denial of access to public lands, and excessive management costs; and
WHEREAS, the exchange of Federal for state lands as a means of blocking up lands into consolidated management units may be appropriate if public access, fish and wildlife, and recreational values are protected and enhanced by such exchanges;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 14-17, 1985, in Arlington, Virginia, urges that legislation be formulated and enacted which amends state enabling acts to allow management of state lands under the multiple use/sustained yield concept and long term return on school lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that land exchanges which are developed by government agencies be reviewed at the state level by nonpartisan oversight commissions and subjected to the public review process.