Number: 1985-01
Concerned that scientific management of natural resources is being relegated to an importance secondary to that of production and development during a critical time of economic stress, unemployment, increasing energy development, and international crises, the National Wildlife Federation calls for conservationists throughout the country to remain vigilant, vigorous, and dedicated in united efforts to protect the environment.
An association of independent state organizations and their affiliated local groups and individuals, the National Wildlife Federation believes that an alert and fully-informed public will demand sound management of natural resources. Therefore, this organization is convinced that conservation practices must be taught as an integral part of public education, emphasizing the science of ecology, wise use and management of natural resources, and the interrelationship of resource usage. The Federation also believes that all citizens should participate in the governmental processes which help determine resource policies.
The National Wildlife Federation believes it is essential that suitable regulations be vigorously enforced to protect the environment, and that adequate Federal funds be appropriated to implement our environmental laws. This organization is firm in its conviction that pollution abatement creates job opportunities, rather than reduces them, and is a legitimate expense of “doing business.” Further, natural resource conservation programs merit adequate Federal funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation invites the attention of all Americans to what it considers the major issues of 1985:
Fish and Wildlife and their Habitats. Habitat destruction remains the greatest problem for fish and wildlife. Habitat loss, a result of human population increase, is exacerbated by poorly planned government- sponsored projects, inappropriate government incentives to the private sector, and poor land-use planning and practices. Wetlands, a particularly important habitat type, continue to be degraded and drained. The majority of endangered species problems are due to the loss and degradation of habitat. The National Wildlife Federation believes that most habitat problems can be prevented or mitigated. All segments of our society have a responsibility to protect and enhance the environment, including a wide diversity of habitats. It is important that the U.S. continue to provide adequate funding for natural resource programs and to provide protection and adequate habitat for endangered species, migratory birds, nongame wildlife, and the wide diversity of our nation’s flora and fauna. During reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act the Federation urges Congress to strengthen the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Water Resources Management. Spot shortages, rising costs, and mounting evidence of contamination have led to predictions of devastating water shortages. The National Wildlife Federation believes that current and projected water resources problems more aptly constitute a water management crisis. America’s abundant supplies of fresh water continue to be mismanaged and polluted. Subsidized construction of impoundments and other water resources development projects, underpricing of water and water-related services, drainage of wetlands, and low regard for instream flows and the value of riparian habitat have all contributed to a growing imbalance between supply and demand. With the 99th Congress scheduled to act upon such critical water legislation as the Omnibus Water Resources Bill and hydropower legislation, there is an unprecedented opportunity to reform and improve the management of the nation’s water resources via adoption of (a) cost sharing with beneficiaries for all new Federal water projects; (b) user fees for existing and future Federal navigation projects; (c) improved planning and evaluation procedures for all Federal water projects; and (d) concurrent and proportionate mitigation for the damages to wildlife habitat resulting from water project construction.
Soil Erosion. Soil erosion continues to plague our nation. It reduces the productivity of the land. It strangles our rivers and harbors. It is the primary cause of the nation’s greatest water quality problem — nonpoint or runoff pollution. Too often Federal farm policies have encouraged practices which increase erosion: inappropriate summer fallow programs, conversion of fragile grasslands to croplands, fence row to fence row planting, elimination of crop rotation, and cultivation of steep slopes. The 1985 Farm Bill presents an opportunity to link farm subsidies with the use of soil conservation practices and the protection of wildlife habitat. In addition, the Federation urges Congress to establish a Federal program to address both nonpoint pollution and the impacts of soil erosion on water quality. Finally, better coordination between the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency should be sought to reduce soil erosion and the need for dredging, and to develop better methods of recycling and reusing dredged material.
Public Lands. Our public land laws require balanced solutions to conflicting goals in natural resource development and environmental protection on the nation’s 700 million acres of public lands. In recent years that balance has been upset as government policies have favored resource extraction and development while diminishing environmental protection.
The Bureau of Land Management has ignored a Congressional directive to give a high priority to the designation and protection of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, while the “withdrawal review program” has opened up millions of acres of public lands for development without appropriate environmental safeguards.
Federal livestock grazing fees have remained unreasonably low, while decisions regarding the management of Federal rangelands have been turned over to livestock permittees. Without protest from the Federal government, the public has often found itself “locked out” of public lands by these permittees and other landowners who denied the public access to public land.
The U.S. Forest Service has pursued an aggressive policy of timber road construction in environmentally sensitive unroaded areas of marginal timber productivity. It has caused the loss of millions of dollars in the form of “below cost” timber sales often at the expense of important fish and wildlife habitat and recreational values. In order to end such abuses, citizens should use the agency’s forest planning process to ensure strict compliance with the laws governing Forest Service activities.
A return to more balanced stewardship of public lands and forests by adopting policies which provide more emphasis on the conservation of fish and wildlife, soil, water, forest, and rangeland resources is needed.
Energy. The National Wildlife Federation remains strongly committed to a national energy policy that protects the environment, encourages the efficient use of energy, and promotes the development of safe and renewable energy resources. While the Federation recognizes the need to develop domestic coal, oil, and gas, it believes they should be developed with prudence and a commitment to protection of the environment. Recent national energy policies have virtually abandoned the promotion of energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources, favoring instead the construction of hundreds of new electric power plants. Leasing of new reserves has accelerated and progressed into especially sensitive areas without adequate regard for the protection of wildlife habitat, fisheries, and air and water quality. The environment must not be placed at risk in order to build industry’s inventories of undeveloped leases. The Federation urges Federal and state governments to improve their efforts to control and mitigate the impact of energy development and production. Where significant conflicts with environmental values cannot be mitigated, development should be prohibited.
With respect to the efficient use of energy, the Federation urges the Federal government to establish appliance efficiency standards as called for by statute; to require the conservation of hydroelectric power produced at Federal dams; to promote greater efficiency and renewable energy use in the nation’s homes, offices, and factories; and to support the continued improvement of automobile fuel economy.
Toxic Pollution of the Environment. Toxic chemicals continue to contaminate the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the habitat on which all living things depend for their survival. Accordingly, the National Wildlife Federation again urges the Administration to support and the Congress to enact reauthorized and improved legislation to expedite the cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste dumps (the Superfund law); strengthen and expedite the regulation of toxic chemicals in drinking water and develop new programs for protection of the quality of groundwater (Safe Drinking Water Act); accelerate and improve the listing, monitoring, and regulation of hazardous air pollutants (the Clean Air Act); require expanded safety testing of new and existing pesticides and other chemical products (the Federal Pesticide Law and the Toxic Substances Control Act); and strengthen regulation of ocean disposal of harmful sludges, effluents, and other wastes (the Ocean Dumping Law and the Clean Water Act).
Transboundary Air Pollution/Acid Rain. Although information on the causes, effects, and cures of acid rain is great and growing, the Administration remains unwilling to initiate or support even a limited program to control the emissions that form acid rain. In addition, evidence mounts that acid rain precursor pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, in their own right, cause or contribute to serious health and environmental damage and that other potentially harmful toxic air pollutants which cross state and national boundaries are evading effective control. The Federation urges Congress and the Administration to address the problem of acid rain control both nationally and internationally with an effective and implementable program, knowing that society will receive a broad range of benefits from abating emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides and other long-range transport air pollutants.
Natural Resources Conservation Abroad. The National Wildlife Federation believes that the United States must increase the funds and technical expertise devoted to conservation of natural resources in developing countries.
The famine in Africa, a result of decades of environmental degradation, demonstrates the worldwide scope of natural resource problems. Beyond immediate life-sustaining assistance, there is a need for sustainable small-scale agricultural development, special incentives for the small farmer, improvement of soil and water conservation, and reforestation — all aimed at increasing local food production. As the current headlines fade when this drought ends, we must not forget that to save the people, we must first save the land.
The Federation calls upon the United States Government to rebuild its leadership position, particularly in the crucial areas of conserving biological diversity and halting the spread of desertification. The Federation urges Congress to implement its recommendations, supported by the Federation, to promote sound management of natural resources when international development assistance banks fund projects.
Tax Reform. Proposals to change the Federal income tax system should consider the substantial impact such proposals can have on the environment. Some existing tax preferences subsidize development in such sectors as energy, mining, forestry, and agribusiness, which are often detrimental to the conservation of natural resources and the environment. The National Wildlife Federation therefore supports tax law reforms that will remove unnecessary Federal incentives for logging, mining, energy extraction, conversion of natural areas to agricultural uses, and wetland destruction.
Proposed Budget Cuts. The Reagan Administration has proposed numerous cuts in critically needed natural resource management programs. While recognizing the need to control rising Federal deficits, the National Wildlife Federation believes that resource conservation programs are being asked to bear more than their fair share of budget cuts. For example, in some instances–such as the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed budget– funding for the conservation of renewable resources has been cut while the budget for development of non-renewable resources, such as oil and gas, has been increased.
There are numerous programs which have been targeted for unacceptable budget cuts. Examples of such programs include park and refuge land acquisition, BLM and Forest Service endangered species and habitat maintenance and improvement programs, the Park Service’s River Conservation Assistance Program, the Interior Department’s fisheries programs, the SCS’s soil conservation efforts, various wildlife research projects, and TVA’s natural resource programs. These are just a few examples of proposed, wide-ranging budget cuts.
The Federation believes it is a fundamental responsibility of the Federal government to conserve and enhance our nation’s natural resources. Resource conservation programs should be viewed as an investment in the future. Today’s budget crisis should not be allowed to generate short-sighted budget cuts which threaten permanent loss or damage to irreplaceable resources. We, therefore, urge the U.S. Congress to continue adequate funding of natural resource programs of proven worth.