WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today introduced bipartisan legislation that would coordinate the work of all U.S. agencies involved in international conservation and establish a national strategy for promoting conservation initiatives that strengthen global security, health and economies. Udall is joined by a fellow co-chair of the Senate International Conservation Caucus, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), in introducing the legislation.
Currently, multiple U.S. agencies are involved in international conservation, causing an unnecessary duplication of federal programs. The Global Conservation Act of 2010 would establish a special coordinator, a presidential advisory committee, and an interagency working group on global conservation that would coordinate the various federal agencies under a national strategy for international conservation. The bill identifies measurable goals, benchmarks, and timeframes for long-term action in the area of global conservation.
"As our world grows increasingly intertwined through commerce, communication and culture, we must also work together to protect the earth's natural resources through conservation," Udall said. "This bill acknowledges the important role our natural resources play in global economics, health and security, and takes steps to strengthen the United States' involvement and productivity in conservation on a global scale."
In an increasingly interconnected world, competing needs among differing populations are taxing natural resources vital to human survival. For example, 500 million people in developing countries depend on fresh water from natural areas that are under threat of degradation, and two billion people depend on rapidly diminishing fish stocks for a significant source of their daily protein.
As natural resources continue to be polluted and depleted, economies are threatened and conflicts begin to emerge. The United States National Intelligence Council expects demographic trends and natural resource scarcities relating to water, food, arable land, and energy sources to lead to instabilities and conflict in the years ahead.
"As our nation continues to strengthen its participation in the global community through conflict mitigation, foreign aid, and economic interaction, it is essential that we promote strong international conservation initiatives focused on the involvement and support of local communities," Udall said. "Such initiatives will only strengthen global security, health, and economies."
The Global Conservation Act of 2010 is supported by a wide range of conservation advocacy groups, including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Pew Environment Group, Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Wildlife Fund.
"The survival of species, such as chimpanzees, or habitats, like tropical forests, is closely linked to the well-being of both nearby populations and people everywhere. Our health, our climate, even our security, depend upon saving habitats and species around the world. Public policy approaches should reflect this, and today's legislation does," said Dr. Jane Goodall, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute.
"This bill represents a major step forward in our efforts to address worldwide resource destruction and species loss," said Jeff Wise, director of the Alliance for Global Conservation. "It lays out a common sense strategy that will help protect the world's most ecologically and economically important wilderness and marine areas, promote global security and even increase U.S. competitiveness."
