Number: 1997-01
WHEREAS, at the federal level, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)has responsibility for law enforcement relative to all wildlife import violations as well as a wide range of violations of fish, wildlife and game laws within the United States and its territories; and
WHEREAS, state departments of fish and wildlife also bear a large share of the burden for wildlife law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, illegal wildlife practices seriously harm the legitimate interests of sportsman and other wildlife enthusiasts; and
WHEREAS, illegal wildlife importing, poaching and commerce contribute to negative public opinion about legitimate sport hunting and fishing practices; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Enforcement Division has only about 230 law enforcement personnel of which approximately 175 are working in the field on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated by the USFWS that poaching and other violations of wildlife regulations are increasing rapidly, including the taking of large numbers of trophy game animals, meat animals and animals with parts of economic value (for illegal sale) from federal and state lands including our national forests and parks, as well as the illegal importation of animals, animal parts and products; and
WHEREAS, the resources of state and federal enforcement divisions are being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of illegal poaching, importation and commerce in wild animal products, and that violations far exceed the capacity of the department to monitor, enforce and prosecute such offenses; and
WHEREAS, the USFWS currently has virtually no resources assigned to work with other nations in education and cooperative enforcement efforts that address illegal wildlife importation at its source where the effectiveness of prevention efforts may be the greatest; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation is dedicated to conserving fish and wildlife for its own sake as well as for the legitimate enjoyment and use by all honest citizens;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled April 3-6, 1997 in Tucson, Arizona hereby urges state governments, the Congress of the United States and the President to create and approve additional funding that substantially increases the financial and personnel resources of the USFWS enforcement division and of state wildlife enforcement divisions (without affecting funding of other programs); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges that state legislatures and the Congress of the United States enact legislation which includes strict mandatory sentencing guidelines and harsher penalties for violation of fish and wildlife laws, sufficient to actually discourage and reduce illegal activities.