Number: 2003-07
WHEREAS, a conservation ethic emerges and develops through real, personal and sustained experiences with nature; and
WHEREAS, the past century has seen us become increasingly alienated from our natural world due to urbanization, industrialization, and an array of human endeavors that have brought progress and prosperity on many fronts; and
WHEREAS, today much of American society is moving further away from an inherent connection with, and appreciation of, nature, and we have entered an age when the majority of the nation’s children will grow up in cities and suburbs knowing little about wildlife, wild places and the sustaining power of nature and the outdoors; and
WHEREAS, ultimately such discontinuity between everyday life and the natural environment results in citizens lacking the skills and knowledge necessary to create environmentally sustainable communities and the resource-based outdoor experiences that lead to a deep appreciation for wildlife and wild places; and
WHEREAS, the major urban centers and suburbs of the nation continue to grow and are where many of our future generations are being trained; they are the fastest-growing centers in the nation, and as such, hold the greatest human diversity, and the potential for harboring the greatest threats to wildlife and habitat; and
WHEREAS, America and the world are facing a variety of environmental and resource-use problems, including but not limited to air and water pollution, wildlife habitat destruction, soil erosion; and
WHEREAS, conservation of our natural resources and the protection of environmental quality are major public concerns; and
WHEREAS, these problems are often created by poorly informed individual and societal decisions by various levels of government, business and industry, citizen groups and citizens in general; and
WHEREAS, individual and societal decisions are often the result of a lack of understanding of the consequences of such decisions or a failure to recognize effects on current and future generations; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation and its state affiliates have a long history of resolutions underlying their collaboration and leadership in advancing environmental education throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, an informed citizenry that has the skills, knowledge, and commitment to make wise personal and social decisions concerning utilization of natural resources and environmental quality protection is essential to meeting these concerns; and
WHEREAS, to leave this planet to our children and grandchildren as nurturing, life-sustaining, and diverse as we received it from our parents, we must educate our fellow human beings to value and respect the natural world and to understand that they are, themselves, a part of nature, not apart from it;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 27-29, 2003, in Washington, D.C., hereby:
Supports educating and moving to action current and future generations of conservation stewards through integrated, experientially-oriented programs that can be replicated and delivered in partnership with NWF affiliates, volunteers and other key community partners across the nation, in Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere along critical migratory pathways; and through long-term relationships with communities across America; and
Affirms the need to reach the next generation of environmental stewards and continue moving large numbers of citizens from awareness, to discovery, to action; and
Affirms the need to reach out to constituents not traditionally associated with us, utilizing media in all its formats, providing tangible action-oriented opportunities for volunteers, and establishing the organization as a leading provider of environmental education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation and its affiliates will collaboratively identify opportunities to engage citizens in the nation’s urban centers in developing their conservation ethic; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state legislatures and/or educational policy making bodies or officials be urged to take all steps necessary to assure that environmental education is incorporated and supported by each state’s school science standards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to appropriate offices and individuals of the U.S. Congress, the Executive Branch, and other appropriate agencies and individuals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be widely distributed to, but not limited to, local, state and regional governmental agencies, educational agencies and institutions, professional and citizen conservation organizations, and business and industry throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.