Number: 2003-08
WHEREAS, Mexico and the United States not only share many ecosystems, migratory species and species whose ranges extend across the Mexico-United States border, but are also increasingly linked through economic, social and cultural exchange; and
WHEREAS, there is an untapped potential for enhanced cooperation between the two countries to protect and conserve the continent’s natural wealth, including shared wildlife and habitat resources; and
WHEREAS, existing strategies for wildlife and biodiversity conservation on the North American continent are not coping with the impacts caused by ever-increasing levels of economic development, including water and air pollution, habitat fragmentation, and increased opportunities for invasion by non-native species; and
WHEREAS, species of mammals and birds such as the ferruginous hawk, whooping crane, peregrine falcon, piping plover, mountain plover, California condor, spotted owl, loggerhead shrike, burrowing owl, golden-cheeked warbler, black bear, gray wolf, native wild cats, black-tailed prairie dog, Sonoran pronghorn and Leptonycteris bats have been identified as Species of Common Conservation Concern in North America by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation; and
WHEREAS, all of these species and other taxa, including aquatic species such as riverine and estuarine fish and marine turtles, depend on healthy functioning habitats and ecosystems in both countries; and
WHEREAS, one of the most important long-term strategies for conservation of wildlife and ecosystems is to provide citizens with opportunities to gain knowledge and to take action through environmental education in school-based and community programs; and
WHEREAS, the Secretaria de Educacion Publica (SEP, Mexico’s education agency) has stated as one of its goals the establishment of cooperation agreements with the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT, Mexico’s environmental agency) to promote environmental education and sustainable use of Mexico’s natural resources through programs in primary schools, and to promote an environment and sustainable development stewardship culture through the training of teachers and the participation of civil society; and
WHEREAS, SEMARNAT through its Northern Border Regional Program calls for the design, and implementation of Bi-national Programs in Environmental Education, Sustainable Development Training and Educational Communication in the states of the border region; and
WHEREAS, the United States and Mexico are in the process of negotiating Border 2012, an agreement for improving environmental quality in the region of the border between the two countries, but the draft plan does not contain an environmental education component, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 27-29, 2003, in Washington, D.C., supports continued and increased bi-national cooperation to provide environmental education and training, through school-based and community programs, on both sides of the border and throughout Mexico, with special attention to the needs of disadvantaged communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls on the governments of the United States and Mexico to ensure that a strong environmental education component is included in the Border 2012 plan for bi-national cooperation, and that it is fully funded and implemented.