Number: 2005-01
Funding for State Land Protection WHEREAS, protected natural areas safeguard our fragile drinking water resources and watersheds, support tourism, provide habitat to ensure biodiversity and improve quality of life in our communities; and
WHEREAS, protected natural areas support wildlife-based recreation; and
WHEREAS, certain types of natural areas such as wetlands and barrier beaches prevent flooding and other storm damage which can result in billions of dollars in damages; and
WHEREAS, working landscapes such as forests and farms contribute to our economy and our sense of place while supplying many of the benefits of protected natural areas; and
WHEREAS, protected natural areas can be part of a comprehensive growth management strategy that guides development to appropriate areas while preserving other areas; and
WHEREAS, we are seeing natural areas developed at an unprecedented rate in many areas of the country; and
WHEREAS, without adequate protection, we risk losing many environmentally significant and necessary habitats and associated plant and animal life;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation at its annual meeting assembled April 1-2, 2005, in Washington, D.C., calls upon the Governors and legislatures of all 50 states to provide adequate funding and other financial incentives to protect environmentally significant natural areas and working landscapes.