Number: 1996-07
WHEREAS, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands has asked the federal government to transfer ownership to the Territory of a significant portion of federal lands within the Territory, including undeveloped and environmentally sensitive lands; and
WHEREAS, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands presently possesses significant holdings of environmentally sensitive lands that it purchased or acquired for preservation, park or recreation purposes in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s; and
WHEREAS, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands is in the midst of a severe fiscal crisis; and
WHEREAS, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands has never provided funding for stewardship of the environmentally sensitive lands it presently owns; and
WHEREAS, the Territory of the United States Virgin Islands does not presently have the resources or personnel to provide proper stewardship for its existing land holdings; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation considers it imperative that environmentally sensitive lands be properly maintained; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation recognizes that proper stewardship of land requires a significant, long-term commitment of financial and personnel resources; and
WHEREAS, the Government of the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands proposes to seek transfer of certain federally-owned lands to the U.S. Virgin Islands to add to the inventory of environmentally-sensitive lands under the jurisdiction of the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands; and
WHEREAS, such a transfer is inconsistent with the ability of the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands properly to manage or protect such additional lands;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled March 1-3, 1996 in West Palm Beach, Florida, expresses its opposition to any transfer of federally-owned lands to the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon the federal government to encourage the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands to establish a Comprehensive Land Protection and Management Plan for all current Territory-owned lands and establish a dedicated source of funding for implementation of such a plan to ensure appropriate stewardship of existing environmentally-sensitive lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation believes that it is important that local citizens participate in the development of any Comprehensive Land Protection and Management Plan for such lands and therefore calls for public hearings and input in development and approval of any such plan.