Number: 1991-05
WHEREAS, the public lands of the United States administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contain a host of important wildlife, environmental, ecological, archeological, recreational and aesthetic values, in addition to a wealth of minerals and other commodity values; and
WHEREAS, during the past decade BLM’s management policies have favored the commercial exploitation of resources on public lands, often in a manner that is detrimental to their ecological values, and in a manner that deprives the public of fair market value for these resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 21-24, 1991, in Memphis, Tennessee, calls upon the BLM to rectify the imbalance in its management priorities by recognizing its public trust responsibilities to “protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource and archeological values…and will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife…,” as mandated by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon Congress to exercise vigorous oversight of the BLM’s management of the public lands and resources, to pass legislation strengthening the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to assure better management of the ecological values on BLM lands and to reform the Mining Law of 1872 to ensure that mining activities on public lands are carried out in a manner that protects the environment and preserves other multiple-uses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation is encouraged by the BLM Director’s announced intention to give a high priority to restoring and properly managing riparian areas on the public lands and urges the Director to vigorously implement an effective program to protect and revitalize these important areas; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon the BLM to assure that wildlife and other important environmental values are fully protected from the adverse impacts of oil and gas exploration and development activities prior to committing federal onshore oil and gas reserves to leasing and development.