Number: 1995-10
WHEREAS, many species of breeding birds in North America have experienced consistent population declines during the last 25 years according to results from the Breeding Bird Survey, Breeding Bird Census plots, and independent studies; and
WHEREAS, population declines have been especially alarming among neotropical migratory birds, those birds that nest in North America and migrate to the neotropics from October through March; and
WHEREAS, population declines are suspected because of widespread habitat loss and degradation on nesting and wintering grounds, as well as loss of important migration stopover habitats; and
WHEREAS, Partners in Flight-Aves de las Americas, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Program, was launched with an initial meeting in 1990, and included the National Wildlife Federation as a co-sponsor; and
WHEREAS, the Partners in Flight initiative is a voluntary and cooperative based program that has consistently developed successful partnerships among federal, state and local governments, universities, non-government organizations, the forest products industry, and others for the benefit of bird conservation; and
WHEREAS, the Partners in Flight initiative has made significant progress in developing strategies for inventory and monitoring of bird populations, research, information and education, management and international cooperative projects; and
WHEREAS, the positive response and active participation in the Partners in Flight initiative from natural resource managers has been tremendous; and
WHEREAS, state wildlife agencies are developing a leadership role for implementing management strategies for breeding bird populations that are consistent with traditional land management objectives;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in its Annual Meeting assembled March 18-20, 1995 in Washington, D.C., actively and fully supports the Partners in Flight initiative.