Number: 2003-09
WHEREAS, our nation’s wildlife is increasingly exposed to disease agents both native and exotic such as Chronic Wasting Disease and West Nile Virus; and
WHEREAS, West Nile Virus has been confirmed in wildlife across North America; and
WHEREAS, West Nile Virus spreads across the continent within 36 months of its discovery; and
WHEREAS, significant avian mortality has been reported in many species of native birds; and
WHEREAS, West Nile Virus has been transmitted to humans with the attendant health risks; and
WHEREAS, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has now been confirmed in wild cervid populations outside the focal area of Wyoming and Colorado; and
WHEREAS, the presence of CWD has led to controversy and escalated the public’s fear of transmission; and
WHEREAS, the presence of CWD and resulting management actions can severely reduce deer populations and jeopardize the traditional recreational pursuit of deer; and
WHEREAS, many fundamental aspects of CWD transmission, diagnosis and management are unknown; and
WHEREAS, the 107th Congress passed and the President signed the “Animal Health Protection Act” (AHPA); and
WHEREAS, the AHPA declares jurisdiction over all animal life by the Secretary of Agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the AHPA provides for the destruction of any “pest or vector” that “may carry, may have carried or, may have been affected with or exposed to any pest or disease of livestock”; and
WHEREAS, the AHPA allows the Secretary of Agriculture to declare a disease emergency and seize authority for disease eradication away from states and Indian tribes; and
WHEREAS, the AHPA declined to define the term “disease” and rather chose to delay finalizing that definition through the federal regulatory process,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 27-29, 2003, in Washington D.C., supports the appropriation of federal funds to catalyze basic research into diseases that occur in and affect wildlife through the Department of Interior; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports federal funding through the Department of Agriculture for research on diseases affecting domesticated animals that also affect wildlife; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation opposes those portions of the Animal Health Protection Act that assert the authority of the Department of Agriculture over state and federal fish and wildlife management agencies and encourages revisions to clearly delineate that agriculture authorities apply to domesticated animals only; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation re-affirms its: opposition to big game and trophy ranches because of the increased risk of disease; its support of cooperative management of wildlife diseases by wildlife professionals; and its support of all wildlife to access public lands habitats necessary for their population and genetic sustainability.