Number: 1999-07
WHEREAS, short, mixed and tall grass prairies are one of the most endangered and fragmented ecosystems in North America; and
WHEREAS, a vast majority of the nation’s historic short, mixed and tall grass prairies have disappeared due to habitat loss associated with conversion to crop lands, grazing lands, and human development such as sprawl; and
WHEREAS, decades of fire suppression have altered the natural balance of native prairie fauna and flora; and
WHEREAS, prairie wildlife species such as the pronghorn, bison, swift fox, prairie dog, black footed ferret, burrowing owl, prairie vole, jackrabbit, ferruginous hawk, greater prairie chicken, sharp-tailed prairie grouse, Baird’s sparrow, bobolink, long-billed curlew, meadowlarks, great plains toad, and Wyoming toad depend on healthy functioning prairie ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, prairie-specific plants such as purple prairie blazing stars, white rattlesnake masters, big and little bluestem, prairie sandreed, prairie cordgrass, and western prairie fringed orchid depend on healthy functioning prairie ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, many prairie wildlife and plant species are endangered, threatened, or declining because of the destruction and loss of their habitat; and
WHEREAS, a large portion of the remaining prairie lands are in private and tribal ownership; and
WHEREAS, the National Grasslands administered by the U.S. Forest Service encompasses nearly 4 million acres; and
WHEREAS, these National Grasslands and other federal and state public lands are increasingly important for native species, and the conservation of their ecosystems;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting Assembled March 18-21, 1999, in Houston, Texas, supports efforts by landowners, federal and state land management agencies, and other non-governmental organizations to protect, restore and enhance short grass, mixed grass and tall grass prairie ecosystems on private, tribal, and public lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the management of our national grasslands primarily to protect, restore, and enhance sustainable prairie ecosystems and their associated fauna and flora, while including in management plans provisions to ensure traditional hunting, fishing, and trapping activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation encourages private landowner, tribal, and public agency cooperative wildlife habitat improvement programs that protect, restore, and enhance functioning healthy prairie ecosystems.