Number: 2007-04
WHEREAS, America has more than 13 million hunters and more than 34 million anglers; and
WHEREAS, outdoor enthusiasts are crucial in protecting and enhancing public lands, streams and wetlands from major threats such as global warming; and
WHEREAS, global warming pollution is causing Earth’s climate to change in ways that are having negative impacts on people, fish, wildlife and healthy ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, the Earth is nearing a tipping point in an ecological crisis that could see wholesale loss of wildlife populations and profound changes in our outdoor way of life; and
WHEREAS, independent studies by teams of scientists have concluded that within the next 50 years, as many as a third of the species in studied regions could be headed for extinction from the continued disruption of habitat due to global warming; and
WHEREAS, many impacts from global warming on native habitats and species are expected, just a few of which include:
- warmer freshwater temperatures and changes in the pattern of flows in spawning rivers reduce the abundance of trout, salmon, steelhead and other cold water fish species;
- a 59 percent decline in sagebrush habitats throughout the western U.S., which would have devastating consequences for sage grouse, mule deer, and pronghorn;
- sea level rise and warmer ocean temperatures threatens Florida’s coral reefs, near-shore nurseries, coastal wetlands, and popular salt water game fish with total decimation if left unchecked; and
WHEREAS, the threat of global warming can be dramatically reduced if America leads the way to lowering global warming pollution by two percent annually from 2010 through 2050; and
WHEREAS, achieving an annual two percent reduction of global warming pollution can be accomplished through energy conservation, use of renewable and alternative energy, and implementation of existing and new technologies currently under development; and
WHEREAS, U. S. leadership in developing and implementing global warming solutions will stimulate the economy, create new jobs and business opportunities, and protect the high quality of life currently enjoyed by Americans; and
WHEREAS, America’s hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts are in a unique position to lead the effort to develop and implement practical and effective programs to reduce global warming pollution and to achieve the benefits associated with stopping climate change for wildlife and for people;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 30-31, 2007, in Washington, D.C., hereby urges all fish and wildlife managers to develop plans to protect fish and wildlife from the impacts of global warming; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports dedicated funding for fish and wildlife conservation in federal and state global warming legislation, regulation, and other programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the enactment of state and federal policies that commit to a two percent yearly reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation and clean/renewable energy sources that do not cause harm to wildlife and its habitat; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges hunting and fishing organizations, and fish and wildlife conservation groups to recognize the threat of climate change to fish and wildlife and make addressing climate change a high priority for their organizational work; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges a national mobilization of sportsmen and conservation groups to support global warming action to protect wildlife.