Number: 1999-01
WHEREAS, America and the world are faced with threats to biodiversity due to habitat loss and destruction which threatens the lives and well-being of all humans and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, most of these problems are caused or aggravated by a poorly informed society; and
WHEREAS, these habitat loss issues can be solved, or impacts lessened by educational processes aimed at creating a public literacy with respect to environmental concerns and resulting in individual actions to conserve, protect and create wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, it is essential to put our youth and adults more in direct contact with the natural world to foster an appreciation for wildlife and first-hand experience in the natural world; and
WHEREAS, education, conservation, protection, and creation of wildlife habitat on school grounds will serve to instill an environmental stewardship ethic in students and school communities nationwide, and will serve to help solve the issue of habitat loss; and
WHEREAS, in addition to its value for wildlife, habitat conservation projects benefit the children and adults who are involved: over one hundred studies and over 1200 articles presenting supportive research cataloged at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University indicate that gardening and other experiences in natural environments lead to positive physiological and psychological responses, such as reduction of stress, fear, anger, blood pressure, and muscle tension, as well as improved recall of information, increased creativity and creative problem solving, motivation toward life-long learning and development of independence and autonomy; and
WHEREAS, NWF recognizes the social benefits of schoolyard habitats to children and adults;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled March 18-21, 1999, in Houston, Texas, supports the development of schoolyard wildlife habitats at schools nationwide and encourages its members and affiliates to participate in and support the development of schoolyard wildlife habitats in their states and communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we shall also encourage said development by calling upon the United States Department of Education to encourage state departments of education and local boards of education to adopt, as standard, the establishment and use of schoolyard wildlife habitats on their school premises or properties owned by school districts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation recognizes that schoolyard wildlife habitats projects go beyond conservation, preservation, and creation of wildlife habitat; that they are areas to be used by schools to teach about and instill an appreciation for wildlife and direct first-hand experience in our natural environment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation recognizes the importance of maintaining and conserving established schoolyard wildlife habitats sites; and encourages local school districts to work with local governments to establish legal frameworks to ensure the sustainability of these projects.