Resolutions

Adopted: December 2018

WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society (TCTWS) represents approximately 900 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the state whose mission is to promote sound wildlife management and conservation based on scientific and biological principles;

and WHEREAS the TCTWS recognizes the negative biological impact that the spread of diseases, specifically Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), can have on native populations of White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer in Texas;

and WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes the potential negative impacts that the misuse of pharmaceuticals in captive-bred deer can have on human and other wildlife heath;

and WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes the potential negative impacts that the release of captive-bred deer into free-ranging populations can have on the hunting heritage in Texas, the hunting industry, and private landowners (e.g. property values, hunting operation revenue, and overall hunting-related commerce);

and WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes that native wildlife are considered a public resource in Texas and supports the legal authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and regulate this public wildlife resource under authority of Title 1, Subchapter B, Section 1.011, of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code;

and WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes that Title 5, Subtitle A, Chapter 43, Subchapter L, Section 43.3561, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code is lacking in specificity and enforceability of the current captive-bred deer identification system;

and WHEREAS the TCTWS is concerned with the current captive-bred deer identification system and the efforts of a few to reduce and/or eliminate a tagging system altogether for their own personal gain, which in turn erodes the legal authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and regulate this public wildlife resource;

and WHEREAS the TCTWS believes that a standardized, externally visible identification system for all captive-bred White-tailed and Mule Deer that are either inside of breeding pens or will be released onto a registered release site should be enacted and enforced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to protect against the spread of cervid diseases, track the use of pharmaceuticals in captive-bred deer, and preserve the hunting heritage of Texas;

And WHEREAS the TCTWS defines “standardized”, in regards to the tagging system as: a single tag that contains both a dangle and button portion, that both of which have a laser printed identification number assigned by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that is unique and specific to that breeder deer; furthermore, the TCTWS defines “externally visible”, in regards to the tagging system, as a tag that is forward facing and can be easily seen from a distance of no more than 200 yards:

And WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes the importance that a permanent, secondary identification system, that is approved by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, be implemented on all captive-bred cervids, to serve as a secondary identification in the case that the primary tag is lost, destroyed and/or removed.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the TCTWS supports the legal precedents in Texas that native wildlife are a public resource regulated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; furthermore, the TCTWS supports the use of a standardized, enforceable, and externally visible identification system for captive-bred deer that are to be maintained in pens and/or released onto a registered release site in accordance with Texas administrative code Title 31, part 2, chapter 65, subchapter B, Division 2, Rule 65.95.

Adopted: May 2017

WHEREAS, the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society represents approximately 900 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the State whose vision is to assure a sustained diversity of wildlife and their habitats in Texas through sound wildlife management based on scientific and biological principles; and

WHEREAS, Texas is home to thousands of species of plants, animals and unique habitats, some of which are endemic to our state; and

WHEREAS, Congress passed the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts that established a fund to support conservation and science-based management of game and sport fish species financed by hunters, recreational shooters, anglers, and boaters; and

WHEREAS, all fish and wildlife resources, including the many species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates that are not hunted or fished, and their associated habitats, are public resources that provide benefits not only to hunters and anglers, but to all Texans; and

WHEREAS, funds generated by Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts are insufficient to address growing conservation needs in the 21st century, especially broader needs involving the many species of plants, as well as birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates which are not hunted or fished that our members manage and enjoy; and

WHEREAS, as required by the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in partnership with the greater Texas conservation community, has created the Texas Conservation Action Plan that has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and identifies Species of Greatest Conservation Need and key habitat types that require prescriptive actions to ensure persistence for future generations; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society has recognized a need for a similar dedicated and sustainable funding mechanism for Species of Greatest Conservation Need that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or otherwise harvested; and the need for more comprehensive fish and wildlife programs and personnel to conserve all wildlife species and unique habitats; and

WHEREAS, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources (the Blue Ribbon Panel), composed of conservation and business leaders, was convened by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) has provided recommendations for securing reliable funding to advance the national interest in conserving all species of wildlife; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recognizes the need and supports the efforts of the Blue Ribbon Panel recommending Congress dedicate $1.3 billion in funding for comprehensive conservation and management of the fish and wildlife resources of Texas and the rest of the nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports the Blue Ribbon Panel’s continuing efforts to examine the impact of societal changes on the relevancy of fish and wildlife conservation and how programs, agencies, and professional organizations can evolve to engage and serve broader constituencies.

Adopted: May 2017

WHEREAS, the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society represents approximately 900 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the State whose vision is to assure a sustained diversity of wildlife and their habitats in Texas through sound wildlife management based on scientific and biological principles; and

WHEREAS, the construction of a border wall, fence or similar structure along the U.S.-Mexico border, if built, has potential to sever population connectivity of numerous terrestrial species; and

WHEREAS, the persistence of healthy wildlife populations in Texas is critical to the economic wellbeing of many ranchers, hunters, and citizens along the border regions of Texas; and

WHEREAS, the Rio Grande serves as the entire Texas-Mexico border and passes through numerous biologically and culturally sensitive areas including, but not limited to, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend National Park, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, the designated 196-mile Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Seminole Canyon State Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuges, Las Palomas Wildlife Management Areas, and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge; and

WHEREAS, fragmentation of wildlife populations can lead to genetic isolation, demographic decline and increased threats to population survival; and

WHEREAS, state threatened and endangered mammals such as black bear (Ursus americanus), coatimundi (Nasua narica), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) stand to be further imperiled by a lack of access to populations across the Texas-Mexico border; and

WHEREAS, populations of several large, economically-important mammalian species such as bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and mountain lion (Puma concolor) will be negatively impacted by an inability to freely move across the Texas-Mexico border; and

WHEREAS, for many species along the border in the desert regions of West Texas, the Rio Grande represents the primary, and in some cases, only source of water; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, in keeping with our vision “to assure a sustained diversity of wildlife and their habitats in Texas,” opposes the extension or completion of a border wall, fence, or other structure along the Texas-Mexico border so long as it restricts free movement, limits access to water and food resources, or reduces the demographic and genetic exchange necessary for terrestrial wildlife populations to maintain population viability; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society stands ready to work with engineers and federal agencies to develop potential wildlife-friendly design features and identify important wildlife corridors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society urges the use of environmental reviews and assessments by appropriate federal agencies to identify significant threats to the landscape ecology and persistence of wildlife populations.

Adopted: May 2017

The conservation of native plant and animal species, communities, and populations is affected by the actions of all people, acting individually and collectively. The future of biological diversity, therefore, requires the conscious engagement of all people, regardless of their nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, spiritual views, or social status. This engagement applies to individuals belonging to the range of stakeholder groups in society and to those within the wildlife profession.

The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recognizes the value of including the richness of human diversity in our efforts to discover, educate, inform policy, and involve the public in wildlife science and management. Wildlife will be the ultimate beneficiary of management, science, and education that reaches a greater variety of people that use and enjoy wildlife. Aldo Leopold recognized the necessity of an egalitarian wildlife policy that enfranchised all citizens in the welfare of our wildlife rather than an antiquated system that distributed the benefits to a privileged segment of society. During the past 75 years, the wildlife profession has grown significantly more diverse in its philosophies and strategies, but not to the same level in its personnel. The increasing human diversity in our society further emphasizes the need to evaluate whether or not the broad array of interests are adequately addressed within the wildlife profession. To achieve the best possible science and management of wildlife, The Wildlife Society is committed to the identification and removal of barriers to recruitment, effective mentoring, retention of a diverse workforce, and to communicating with a diverse array of stakeholders.

Achieving workforce diversity representative of the people who impact and are impacted by wildlife is an important goal for the profession. Human diversity includes aspects that are apparent, such as age, race, ethnicity, sex, and disabilities. However, the intersection of visible and less apparent differences, such as culture, spiritual views, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, unapparent disabilities, and other “invisible” factors nevertheless shape an individual’s life experience and thus, the unique perspectives they bring to their vocation. Participation in our profession must be broadened if we are to include the rich palette of perspectives and approaches needed to meet current and emerging challenges.

Diversification of the workforce offers valuable benefits and will address many challenges facing the profession and wildlife. Inclusion of the perspectives and skills provided by a diverse professional community of individuals can result in the strengthening and improvement of approaches to research, education, management, and policy making. A diverse workforce is necessary for development of conservation and management practices and communications that resonate with all of society. Furthermore, fostering a professional culture that embraces diversity in perspectives will increase retention of skilled practitioners.

Adopted: February 2003

WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society represents approximately 600 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the State whose vision is to assure a sustained diversity of wildlife and their habitats in Texas through sound wildlife management based on scientific and biological principles; and WHEREAS riparian areas are highly productive components of the Texas landscape that support diverse fish, wildlife, and plant populations, which is particularly true in arid portions of Texas; and WHEREAS riparian areas in Texas are subject to increasingly frequent and disruptive use by off road vehicles; and WHEREAS the use of riparian areas by off road vehicles can altered soil structure through soil compaction, increased erosion, disruption of microfloral soil crusts, and river bank destabilization; and WHEREAS the use of riparian areas by off road vehicles can reduce the number and diversity of fishes and further disrupt aquatic communities through pollution, increased solutes and suspended solids, and altered microclimates; and WHEREAS the use of riparian areas by off road vehicles can disrupt terrestrial plant communities as a result of plant mortality, promotion of non-native plants, and changes in soil structure; and WHEREAS the use of riparian areas by off road vehicles degrades soils, aquatic ecosystems, and plant communities which can negatively impact wildlife by reducing food production, cover for escape and reproduction, and water quality; and WHEREAS the use of riparian areas by off road vehicles can disturb wildlife, causing animals to avoid the riparian corridor, which is a highly productive component of the landscape containing critical resources, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports all regulatory actions, legislation, and conduct by recreational motorists that promote the integrity and productivity of riparian areas in Texas by minimizing or ameliorating negative impacts of off road vehicle use in riparian zones.

Adopted: October 2002

WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society represents approximately 600 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the State whose vision is to assure a sustained diversity of wildlife and their habitats in Texas through sound wildlife management based on scientific and biological principles; and WHEREAS the ownership of large tracts of habitat in the United States, capable of supporting diverse wildlife populations, increasingly is economically sustained by wildlife management and hunting, which is particularly true in Texas; and WHEREAS the rural and agricultural economy of the United States increasingly is sustained by wildlife management and hunting, which is particularly true in Texas; and WHEREAS the continued support within Texas and throughout the United States for wildlife management and hunting is sustained by assurances to the public that hunting is ethical and the hunted resources are healthy both as populations and as individuals; and WHEREAS the spread of infectious diseases such as Brucellosis, Bovine Tuberculosis, and Chronic Wasting Disease across the United States frequently is linked to the continued exchange of privately held elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer; and WHEREAS the importation of elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer into Texas threatens native deer populations as a whole because recent history shows the certainty of introducing infectious diseases into Texas by this source; and WHEREAS the importation of elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer into Texas places the emphasis of wildlife management on buying and selling captive deer and away from management of native wildlife populations and their habitat, to the detriment of each; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society opposes any regulatory action and legislation that promotes or increases the importation of elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer into Texas, and; The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports all regulatory actions and legislation that reduces importation of elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer into Texas, or that minimizes or ameliorates the negative effects of such importation.

  Adopted: October, 2000 WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society (TCTWS) represents approximately 800 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the state whose mission is to promote sound wildlife management based on scientific and biological principles; and WHEREAS the TCTWS recognized the American system of wildlife management has evolved into on the at is the envy of the world, and its cornerstone is public ownership of wildlife administered by state and federal wildlife agencies in trust for the people – history has demonstrated results of privatization; e.g. lack of public access which erodes public support for wildlife programs; and WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes that indigenous wildlife are a public resource existing primarily on private lands in Texas and supports the legal authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and regulate this public wildlife resource under authority of Title 1, Subchapter B, Section 1.011, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code; and WHEREAS the TCTWS supports sound harvest and habitat management on private lands for economic return, which in turn helps provide a sustainable resource base; and WHEREAS the TCTWS is concerned by the efforts of a few to create a trend toward privatization of state-owned wildlife resources for their own personal gain, thus eroding the legal authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and regulate these public wildlife resources; and WHEREAS the TCTWS believes that these privatization efforts are counter productive to public support and confidence in wildlife management over the long term; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the TCTWS supports the long-standing tradition and legal precedents in Texas of native wildlife being a resource owned by the public and regulated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and opposes legislation that threatens this proven system of wildlife management and regulation.

Adopted: November, 1997. Conservation of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) The Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society (TCTWS) is comprised of nearly 500 wildlife professionals who promote the science-based stewardship of our State’s rich wildlife heritage. We believe that habitat is the key to perpetuation wildlife in Texas, and that voluntary partnerships with private landowners are paramount to conservation and restoration of quality habitat, especially in states such as Texas where 97% of the state consists of privately-owned lands. The Lesser Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is now involved in federal listing process under the Endangered Species Act. In February 1995, representatives from state wildlife agencies from five states encompassing the LPC’s known range, (i.e., Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) met to evaluate the species’ current status and research needs. This group determined that the most effective means for conserving the LPC and related prairie wildlife was for each state to commit to working cooperatively in developing a comprehensive, proactive habitat-based conservation strategy. Subsequently, the Lesser Prairie Chicken Interstate Working Group (LPCIWG) was formed in February 1996. Since that time, the LPCIWG has developed an information exchange network (at this time 5 state wildlife agencies, 4 federal agencies and private partners are included) and is now working to craft and implement such strategy throughout the 5-state range of the LPC. In addition to the efforts that each state and federal agency is putting into monitoring, research and management, the LPCIWG has investigated the standardization of survey methodology, identified regionally-important research needs, compiled current habitat status, initiated special outreach/education efforts aimed at private landowners, and emphasized the use of wildlife benefits provided by the 1996 Farm Act to conserve and restore habitat for prairie wildlife. The TCTWS strongly supports a voluntary, incentive-based approach such as is being espoused by the LPCIWG as an effective means for conserving this species that resides almost exclusively on private lands in Texas. Furthermore, we are concerned that a formal listing as Threatened or Endangered, in lieu of voluntary conservation efforts with private landowners, will prove counter-productive to the maintenance and/or restoration of habitat for LPC’s and other prairie wildlife in Texas, and throughout LPC range. In light of recent positive experiences in Texas and other states relative to voluntary private landowner cooperation for species and habitat conservation strategies, and because of possible detrimental effects to said efforts by the federal listing process, the TCTWS strongly favors the working group strategy for effective conservation of PLC’s and other related prairie wildlife in Texas at this time.

Adopted: May, 1997 WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society (TCTWS) represents approximately 800 wildlife and natural resource professionals across the state whose mission is to promote sound wildlife management based on scientific and biological principles; and WHEREAS the TCTWS recognized the American system of wildlife management has evolved into one that is the envy of the world, and its cornerstone is public ownership of wildlife administered by state and federal wildlife agencies in trust for the people – history has demonstrated results of privatization; e.g. lack of public access which erodes public support for wildlife programs; and WHEREAS the TCTWS further recognizes that indigenous wildlife are a public resource existing primarily on private lands in Texas and supports the legal authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and regulate this public wildlife resource under authority of Title 1, Subchapter B, Section 1.011, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code; and WHEREAS the TCTWS supports sound harvest and habitat management on private lands for economic return, which in turn helps provide a sustainable resource base; and WHEREAS the TCTWS is concerned by the efforts of a few to create a trend toward privatization of state-owned wildlife resources for their own personal gain, thus eroding the legal authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and regulate these public wildlife resources; and WHEREAS the TCTWS believes that these privatization efforts are counter productive to public support and confidence in wildlife management over the long term; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the TCTWS supports the long-standing tradition and legal precedents in Texas of native wildlife being a resource owned by the public and regulated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and opposes legislation that threatens this proven system of wildlife management and regulation.

Adopted: 1997 WHEREAS the Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society is comprised of nearly 500 wildlife professionals in Texas who promote the scientifically-based stewardship of our State’s rich wildlife heritage, and WHEREAS legislation allowing for the Initiative and Referendum (I&R) process, when and if introduced, would allow the right of Texas voters to pass or repeal legislation by popular vote, as opposed to the representative form of government currently in place, and WHEREAS natural resource issues, especially political issues relative to wildlife like trapping and certain hunting methods, often invoke strong arguments, with voters’ perceptions fueled more by emotional rhetoric than science, and WHEREAS other states that have passed I&R legislation have experienced that wildlife issues, if left solely to popular vote, are often decided by those who wage the most expensive media relations campaign, and WHEREAS such media campaigns are counterproductive to state wildlife agencies who are often forced to divert funds to combat misinformation rather than using them for their intended purpose, i.e., managing wildlife habitats and populations, and WHEREAS we believe that wildlife management should be based upon sound biological information derived from scientific research, and WHEREAS recent events involving I&R relative to wildlife management in other states, including AZ, CA, CO, ID, MA, MI, OR, and WA have resulted in legislation that is neither scientifically sound nor endorsed by most wildlife management professionals in those states, and WHEREAS wildlife management tools like hunting, trapping, livestock grazing and prescribed burning are especially threatened by the I&R process and are vulnerable to prohibition by such legislation, and WHEREAS the Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society believes that wildlife management issues are being adequately served with Texas’ current representative form of government and the regulatory process, and WHEREAS in light of problems other states have incurred relative to wildlife management following implementation of I&R legislation, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society strongly opposes the introduction of any legislation enabling the Initiative and Referendum form of government.

  Adopted: 1993 WHEREAS fire has played a major role in many of the natural ecosystems of Texas for thousands of years; and WHEREAS prescribed fire has long been recognized by wildlife professionals as a valid, useful and powerful tool to achieve various goals of wildlife managers which include manipulation of successional levels, plant composition and diversity; BE IT RESOLVED; that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recognizes that prescribed burning is a valuable tool which can be used integrally and compatibly with other wildlife management practices to maintain and promote diverse and healthy plant communities for the benefit of both game and nongame wildlife.

Adopted: 1987 WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests are wetlands ecologically dependent on fluctuating water levels produced by over-bank flooding from rivers and streams, and WHEREAS approximately 54 percent of the 215 million acres of wetlands that originally existed in the United States has been lost as a result of various land-use changes, and WHEREAS more than 60 percent of the original 16 million acres of bottomland hardwood and riparian vegetation that occurred in Texas has been lost, and WHEREAS there is a continuing threat of significant losses of the remaining bottomland hardwood forests and riparian vegetation in Texas, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests ameliorate flooding, reduce soil erosion and scour, retain river borne sediments that may otherwise result in impediments to water traffic, filter river borne pollutants thereby helping to purify water, and contribute to the recharge of underground aquifers, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forest are among the most productive ecosystems in North America and contribute in critical ways to the productivity of associated ecosystems, including inland waters and coastal estuaries, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests and riparian vegetation support a higher diversity of wildlife species than do upland ecosystems, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests provide critical habitat for many wildlife species of special concern in Texas, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society will Promote the conservation, protection, management, and proper stewardship of bottomland hardwood ecosystems and associated wetlands in Texas, Oppose development and land-use practices with significant adverse effects on the existing quality and net quantity of bottomland hardwood ecosystems and associated wetlands in Texas, Actively SUPPORT mitigation of losses of bottomland hardwood ecosystems in Texas, Seek support and concurrence from State and Federal land-use agencies for this policy, and Seek enforcement of applicable laws, Executive Orders, and regulations which support the policy.

Adopted: 1993 WHEREAS ungulate grazing animals have played a major role in many of the natural ecosystems of Texas for many thousands of years; and WHEREAS properly managed grazing by domestic animals has long been recognized by wildlife professionals as a valid, useful and powerful tool to achieve various goals of wildlife managers, which include manipulation of successional levels and plant composition and diversity; BE IT RESOLVED; that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recognizes that carefully planned and properly managed grazing is a valuable tool which can be used integrally and compatibly with other wildlife management practices to maintain and promote diverse and healthy plant communities for the benefit of both game and nongame species.

Adopted: 1993 WHEREAS the Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for the planning, maintenance, and safety of over 77,000 miles of Texas highways, and WHEREAS over 700,000 acres of highway rights of way are under vegetation management programs, and WHEREAS these highway roadsides provide “ribbons of green” through every ecological region in the state and serve as valuable and often unique habitat for native fish, wildlife, plants, and WHEREAS the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is the state agency with primary responsibility for protecting the state’s fish and wildlife resources, and WHEREAS these two state agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to avoid, minimize, or compensate for environmental impacts and provide an environmentally sound transportation system. THEREFORE THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY heartily endorses this action and commends these two agencies for their joint efforts to make Texas roadsides, safe, environmentally sound, and ecologically beautiful.

Adopted: 1993 WHEREAS the purpose of the Endangered Species Act includes “to provide a means whereby the ecosystem upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved…,” THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports the purpose of the Act, and WHEREAS the basis for listing determinations under the Act are to be based on the “best scientific and commercial data available,” and WHEREAS “best scientific and commercial data available” is not defined, and WHEREAS the amount of information available may not be sufficient to make an appropriate decision, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recommends that the Act require the Fish and Wildlife Service in conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences define by regulation the term “best scientific and commercial information”; and include some minimum standard, and WHEREAS the time provided to make a decision on whether or not a petitioned action to add a species to or remove a species from the list is warranted is one year, and WHEREAS this amount of time is frequently not sufficient to complete an adequate status review for making such a decision, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recommends that the amount of time for conducting this status review be extended, and WHEREAS listing of species and associated regulation are costly and time consuming, and WHEREAS there is a large number of candidate species for listing, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recommends that provisions be included in the Endangered Species Act to encourage proactive conservation of candidate species to reduce and alleviate the threats to them so as to prevent the need for listing these species, and WHEREAS the time from listing to completion of a recovery plan is often excessive, and WHEREAS conservation of wildlife habitat on private land is necessary for effective conservation of many species, and WHEREAS effective conservation on privately-owned lands is exceedingly complex and burdensome under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, and WHEREAS Section 10a permits are frequently difficult and time consuming to obtain, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports modification of the Endangered Species Act to provide for a cooperative program with private landowners that allows flexibility to manage land in such a way as to maintain the listed species while allowing some incidental take where that take will not adversely affect the species’ potential for recovery, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports a voluntary habitat reserve program be developed which may serve as a mitigation base for private landowners or communities under Section 10, and WHEREAS endangered species recovery plans can have significant potential to affect local economics and land management, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recommends that provisions be incorporated in the Endangered Species Act to provide recovery plans in a more timely manner, and that public notice and review include local input from areas affected by recovery plans, and WHEREAS there is much confusion about the meaning, implications, and effects of “take” and designated “Critical Habitat”, particularly on private property, and WHEREAS the process of designating critical habitat is extremely cumbersome and ineffective for certain species, and WHEREAS the scope of “take” has seemingly been extended beyond the original statutory intent of the Act, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recommends that a clearer definition and purpose for “Designated Critical Habitat” and “take” be included in the Act, and WHEREAS the conservation of threatened and endangered species provides benefits to the general public, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports incentives or compensation to assist landowners with conserving this public good, and WHEREAS education of the general public about threatened and endangered species, the importance of biodiversity, and how to maintain healthy ecosystems is not an integral part of the Endangered Species Act, and WHEREAS there is a lack of understanding about various provisions of the Endangered Species Act among the general public, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recommends that the mechanisms for public education be included in the revision of the Endangered Species Act.

  Adopted: 1991 WHEREAS the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering the construction of an inland waterway from Shreveport, Louisiana to Daingerfield, Texas, with a series of locks and dams extending through Caddo Lake, Lake O’the Pines, and Cypress Bayou Basin; and WHEREAS Caddo lake is one of the most diverse fisheries in the state; and WHEREAS the most extensive stands of bald cypress trees found in the state are found in backwater areas of the lake; and WHEREAS these stands provide a haven for numerous waterfowl and colonial nesting birds in high densities, an abundance of furbearers, and alligators that reach lengths of 12 feet or more in the area; and WHEREAS if the project is implemented, major impacts would include direct loss of very high quality wetlands, such as swamps and bottomland hardwoods and similar loss of adjacent wetlands from the disturbance of water circulation and drainage, and from the inundation and filling of wetlands and wooded upland habitats by placement of spoil material; and WHEREAS an additional concern is the potential contamination of portions of Cypress Basin from dredging of bottom material which is reportedly contaminated by toxic materials; and WHEREAS the Daingerfield Channel has been found previously to be economically infeasible; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society opposes the construction of this project.

Adopted: 1990 WHEREAS it is recognized that numerous organizations are actively involved in animal rights movements with some advocating the extreme position that no animals should be harvested and no use should be made of animal products; and WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society agrees with concerns about humane treatment of animals but not the extent of non-use of animal resources but through the wise use of resources; and WHEREAS many animals rights organizations are of a radical nature, even to the extent of advocating and participating in terroristic activities directed towards medical or veterinary medicine facilities, legal sport hunting, and the meat production industry; WHEREAS the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society recognizes the seriousness of the increasing influence on public opinion of these groups; and WHEREAS a newly formed organization known as Responsible Use of Animals Coalition came into being to organize a coalition of appropriate interest groups to protect the right to use animals in a responsible manner for activities involving wildlife conservation, research for human and animal health, and consumption by humans; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society elects to affiliate with the Responsible Use of Animals Coalition; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in regular session in Corpus Christi, Texas on 29 March 1990, further supports the Responsible Use of Animals Coalition through cooperation, surveillance and reporting of activities of a radical nature to the designated liaison, as appointed by the Chapter President, between the Chapter and the Responsible Use of Animals Coalition.

Adopted: 1990 HEREAS rattlesnake roundups are held in several locales within the State of Texas; and WHEREAS gasoline is the method of choice in extracting rattlesnakes from their dens; and WHEREAS research has shown that hazardous chemicals, specifically gasoline and “pit gas”, may have deleterious effects on a variety of fauna living in affected habitats; and WHEREAS the affected habitats are considered important sites for groundwater recharge in the region, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society supports a ban on the use of hazardous chemicals, specifically gasoline and “pit gas”, in the extraction of rattlesnakes from their dens; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife society supports research to establish an efficient, alternative method(s) of extracting rattlesnakes form their dens, thus decreasing effects on target and non-target species, and pollution of groundwater resources within affected habitats; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in regular session in Corpus Christi, Texas on 29 March 1990, supports ongoing research into the long-term effects of intensified harvest associated with rattlesnake roundups on rattlesnake population dynamics.

  Adopted: 1989 WHEREAS sub-tropical Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitats are unique ecosystems within the United States, essentially restricted to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas; and WHEREAS sub-tropical Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitats support a high diversity of fish and wildlife species, including a number which are rare and peripheral in distribution; and WHEREAS sub-tropical Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitats are vital to the continued existence of the ocelot, jaguarundi, and other Federal and State listed threatened and endangered species; and WHEREAS native Tamaulipan habitats and associated wildlife contribute substantially to the Lower Rio Grande Valley economy through hunting, birding, and other recreational activities; and WHEREAS approximately 95 percent of the Tamaulipan acreage that originally existed in the United States has been lost as a result of various land use changes; and WHEREAS there is a continuing threat of significant losses of the remaining Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitat in Texas; and WHEREAS the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Lands, National Audubon Society, and other agencies have an ongoing land acquisition program designed to protect and conserve the remaining Tamaulipan communities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, will: Promote the conservation, protection, and proper stewardship of sub-tropical Tamaulipan communities in Texas; Oppose the indiscriminate clearing and associated development practices having significant adverse effects on the quality and quantity of sub-tropical Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitats in Texas; Seek support and concurrence from State and Federal land-use agencies for this policy; Seek enforcement of applicable laws and regulations which support this policy; Seek the elimination or modification of applicable regulations and programs which are contrary to the intent of this policy; Seek funding essential to the continuing land acquisition programs of Federal, State, and private conservation agencies; Seek the restoration of previously destroyed Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitats where practicable; and Seek the assistance of the Mexican Chapter of The Wildlife Society in combating the destruction of sub-tropical Tamaulipan thornbrush and riparian habitats in Mexico.

Adopted: 1989 WHEREAS Texas has numerous rivers that are worthy of protection; and WHEREAS all Texans are proud of these natural resources and wish to enjoy them and protect them for future generations; and WHEREAS a 1971 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department report entitled “Pathways and Paddleways” recommended creation of a river protection system for Texas; and WHEREAS the 1985 Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan recommended passage of legislation to “authorize and fund a Texas Natural Rivers System” (A Texas Rivers Conservation Program) to manage types of use, provide public access, and enforce limits on recreational use which are consistent with conservation goals; and WHEREAS the rivers and associated flood plain habitat of Texas support the greatest diversity of wildlife species in the state; and WHEREAS the highest density of many wildlife species can be found within the flood plains of Texas rivers; and WHEREAS riverine inflows provide nutrients, influence circulation, affect species composition, and alter salinity regimes essential to the existence and productivity of estuarine ecosystems; and WHEREAS the most threatened wetland system in the United States, the bottomland hardwood forests, are dependent on free-flowing rivers and the sediments carried by these bodies of water; and WHEREAS reservoirs and river modifications are causing irreparable harm to rivers of the state of Texas; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society urges the passage of the Texas Rivers Protection Act to provide for state recognition and protection of certain rivers or segments of rivers which are determined to have natural, scenic, or recreational qualities worthy of preservation.

Adopted: 1987 WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests are wetlands ecologically dependent on fluctuating water levels produced by over-bank flooding from rivers and streams, and WHEREAS approximately 54 percent of the 215 million acres of wetlands that originally existed in the United States has been lost as a result of various land-use changes, and WHEREAS more than 60 percent of the original 16 million acres of bottomland hardwood and riparian vegetation that occurred in Texas has been lost, and WHEREAS there is a continuing threat of significant losses of the remaining bottomland hardwood forests and riparian vegetation in Texas, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests ameliorate flooding, reduce soil erosion and scour, retain river borne sediments that may otherwise result in impediments to water traffic, filter river borne pollutants thereby helping to purify water, and contribute to the recharge of underground aquifers, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forest are among the most productive ecosystems in North America and contribute in critical ways to the productivity of associated ecosystems, including inland waters and coastal estuaries, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests and riparian vegetation support a higher diversity of wildlife species than do upland ecosystems, and WHEREAS bottomland hardwood forests provide critical habitat for many wildlife species of special concern in Texas, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society will Promote the conservation, protection, management, and proper stewardship of bottomland hardwood ecosystems and associated wetlands in Texas, Oppose development and land-use practices with significant adverse effects on the existing quality and net quantity of bottomland hardwood ecosystems and associated wetlands in Texas, Actively SUPPORT mitigation of losses of bottomland hardwood ecosystems in Texas, Seek support and concurrence from State and Federal land-use agencies for this policy, and Seek enforcement of applicable laws, Executive Orders, and regulations which support the policy.

  Adopted: 1986 WHEREAS the State of Texas owns approximately three million acres in the Trans-Pecos land resource area, and the majority of these lands are part of the income base for the funds for public education, and WHEREAS there is a constant need for range improvement on this public land estate, and funding for public lands restoration and conservation is very difficult to obtain, and WHEREAS the Texas Legislature has determined that the state low-level radio-active waste disposal site should be located on state-owned land, and the Texas Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority is agreeable to undertaking a large-scale range improvement/wildlife management project on state-owned lands in the Trans-Pecos, and WHEREAS the Authority would dedicate long-term funding to such a project through user fees from the actual disposal site, and the scale of the range restoration project would greatly exceed any mitigation requirements for the disposal site, and WHEREAS the project would be based on a technically sound, long-term conservation plan developed with the assistance of the USDA Soil Conservation Service working through the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the appropriate local Soil and Water Conservation District(s), and in consultation with appropriate universities and other agencies, and WHEREAS many important public benefits would be derived from such a project in water quality and conservation, development of high quality range and wildlife habitat, on-site laboratory opportunities for study and research, demonstration of positive economics from wildlife management, and the overall desirability and feasibility of good public land management. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, endorses the concept of funding a large-scale, long-term range improvement and wildlife management project on state lands through user fees from the low-level radioactive waste disposal site, and FURTHER, requests the Texas Legislature and the appropriate elements of the Executive Branch to effectuate policy as required to enable such a project.

Adopted: 1985 WHEREAS soil and water resources are critical ecological components to the welfare of fish and wildlife resources as well as human well being in the United States; and WHEREAS the sound management of soil and water resources is vital to fish and wildlife conservation; and WHEREAS the fate of these valuable natural resources is vested in the land stewardship where thousands of farmers and ranchers control millions of acres in private tract in the nation; and WHEREAS the activities of these land managers are influenced significantly by technical information exchange in extension programs of governmental resource agencies; and WHEREAS the United States Soil Conservation Service has been the single agency of long duration in this important area of land resource management; and WHEREAS the Reagan Administration recently has proposed a reduction in funding of 67% which will effectively incapacitate the Soil Conservation Service in the near future. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in regular session on 21 March, 1985, supports the continuation of Soil and Water Conservation Programs by the United States Soil Conservation Service and opposes any budget reductions of this important federal agency.

  Adopted: 1985 WHEREAS the lands in the highway system of the State of Texas are in the public domain; and WHEREAS the management of these roadways is the result of decision-making processes in the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation; and WHEREAS the roadsides of the Texas Highway System contain public lands useful as habitat for wildlife and native plants also in the public domain; and WHEREAS the roadside management of Texas highways often involves mowing operations that are detrimental to wildlife and native plants; and WHEREAS these mowing operations are expensive and frequently over-utilized; and WHEREAS natural resource management expertise is available to the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation through consultations, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in regular session on 21 March, 1985, recommends that the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation develop a mowing policy oriented toward minimizing impacts to wildlife and native plants on highway rights-of-way.

  Adopted: 1985 WHEREAS fishing and boating recreational activities have been long standing outdoor pursuits of the American people; and WHEREAS intelligent management activities are necessary for sport fish restoration and enhancements are required for facilities for boating recreation; and WHEREAS the Congress of the United States has recognized these needs of the American people by providing the Wallop/Breaux Fund as an expansion of the Dingel-Johnson Act; and WHEREAS the Wallop/Breaux Fund is the user-fee tax specifically designated for sport fish restoration (90% of fund) and boating facilities enhancement (10% of fund); and WHEREAS the Reagan Administration has impounded the Wallop/Breaux Fund; and WHEREAS this action is in violation of the Reagan Administration’s “user-pay” policy, and furthermore is inappropriate and seemingly unconstitutional; and WHEREAS the impoundment of these funds has prevented the implementation of fisheries management programs and enhancement of boating facilities through state and federal natural resource agencies, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting in regular session 21 March, 1985, opposes the impoundment of the Wallop/Breaux Fund and supports the disbursement of the fund as Congress intended, and further urges that the impoundment be lifted immediately to permit the appropriate use of these monies.

  Adopted: 1984 The position of The Wildlife Society is that the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting be eliminated as soon as possible but not later than 1989. By this position, The Wildlife Society: Recognizes the widespread problem of acute and chronic lead poisoning of waterfowl and other wildlife caused by using lead shot for waterfowl hunting. Urges governments to take leadership roles to protect wildlife resources by immediately prohibiting lead shot for waterfowl hunting on all government-owned lands. During the phase-out period, supports establishment of nontoxic shot zones in local areas based on previous history of lead poisoning, ingestion rates of lead shot, and/or lead residues in body tissues of waterfowl and other wildlife. Recognizes steel shot as the only currently available and suitable substitute for lead shot. Encourages coordinated research to improve our understanding of the effects of toxic materials on ecosystems and wildlife populations. Promotes public and professional education programs concerning the biological effects of toxic and nontoxic shot used for hunting.

  Adopted: 1983 WHEREAS the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has professionally trained wildlife biologists on its staff to gather and analyze biological information upon which to base recommendations for the management of wildlife in all counties of the State of Texas, and WHEREAS in 85 counties in Texas fish and wildlife management is, in whole or in part, controlled by legislative acts, and WHEREAS the required legislative procedure to modify these laws is too inflexible to meet changing conditions in wildlife populations brought about in response to ecological modifications in habitat, and WHEREAS public funds are spent each year gathering and analyzing biological information in an additional 30 counties in which County Commissioners Courts have approval/disapproval over regulation promulgated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, and WHEREAS biological information has little influence on decisions made by the County Commissioners Courts, and WHEREAS in every county law provides for local public input into regulatory decisions made by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, but in Commission decisions such input is weighted against biological considerations presented by the Department, and WHEREAS regulations conceived on an individual provincial basis are extremely complicated, are difficult to comprehend by the public and to enforce by peace officers, and WHEREAS House Bill 1 provides for the conservation and management of the State’s Wildlife resources on a statewide basis, permitting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt regulations adaptable to changing wildlife conditions, yet cohesive in scope and reasonably uniform within geographical areas, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, assembled in Austin, Texas on January 20, 1983 endorses the concept contained in HB1 of giving the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission statewide regulatory authority, without exception, over the resident wildlife resources of the State of Texas.

  Adopted: 1983 WHEREAS the Parks and Wildlife Code states that all wildlife belongs to the people of the State, and WHEREAS the Texas Water Code specifies that surface water within the boundaries of the State belongs to the State, and WHEREAS management of water resources are vital to many wildlife management operations, and WHEREAS wildlife resources have proven to be important to the State economy and to the well-being of the citizens of the State, and WHEREAS the Texas Water Code discriminates against water development for wildlife purposes, and WHEREAS integration of regulations for the management of these two areas of natural resources is needed, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in formal business session in Austin, Texas, on January 20, 1983, requests the Texas Department of Water Resources to amend Section 11.142 (Domestic and Livestock Reservoir-Permit Exemption) of the Texas Water Code to read: “Without obtaining a permit, a person may construct on his own property a dam or reservoir to impound or contain not more than 200 acre-feet of water for domestic, livestock, and wildlife management purposes.” Note: The only change called for in this resolution is the addition of the words “wildlife management”.

Adopted: 1983 WHEREAS Texas winters approximately 50% of the ducks and geese in the Central Flyway, and WHEREAS wetlands and associated habitat conditions in Texas are vitally important to these wintering waterfowl, and WHEREAS Texas wetlands and associated waterfowl habitats are becoming increasingly subjected to impacts detrimental to the welfare of waterfowl, and WHEREAS the Texas legislature provided for the sale of a State waterfowl stamp to generate funds for acquisition and development of waterfowl habitat, and for waterfowl research and management programs, and WHEREAS these stamps are required by regulation of every person who hunts waterfowl in Texas, and WHEREAS the Wildlife Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has active programs both for the acquisition and development of waterfowl habitat and for research and management for waterfowl, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in formal business session in Austin, on January 20, 1983, supports the proposal that these revenues derived from the sale of duck stamps and art prints be appropriated totally to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for expenditure within the geographic confines of the State of Texas for the purposes of acquisition and development of waterfowl habitat, and for research and management of waterfowl species.

  Adopted: 1981 WHEREAS the federal lands within the geographical boundaries of the various states and territories are public lands belonging to all Americans, and WHEREAS these lands are being managed conscientiously by federal agencies, and WHEREAS efforts have been made and are continuing to be advanced to successfully resolve conflicts over land use policies among federal agencies and municipal, county, regional, state and other entities through memoranda of understanding and other cooperative agreements, and WHEREAS the transfer of these lands would work to the disadvantage of the majority of the citizens of the United States and include the significant loss of revenues to the various counties and states of this nation, and WHEREAS state management of many state lands, particularly in the West, has been based largely on the highest economic return, to the detriment of watersheds, soils, vegetation, wildlife, fisheries and access, and WHEREAS many states have divested themselves of former federal lands transferred to them, and may intend to transfer to private ownership any additional federal lands received. THEREFORE, The Wildlife Society, duly gathered at its annual business meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 23, 1981, does hereby request the citizens of the United States, the State Legislatures, and the Congressional delegations of the individual states to oppose efforts to turn the existing federal public lands over to the individual states, and to strengthen cooperative arrangements to reduce potential conflicts among federal land management agencies, state and local jurisdictions, and private landowners.

  Adopted: 1981 WHEREAS the 50 Cooperative Wildlife and Fishery Research Units established at 31 universities in 29 states over the past 45 years have effectively produced a significant body of scientific research relevant to the management of fish and wildlife by state, federal and private agencies; and WHEREAS the Cooperative Units have assisted in the training of students who now occupy places of leadership in state, federal, private and university administrative, research and management organizations; and WHEREAS the Cooperative Units have greatly facilitated and enhanced the dissemination of information to professionals and lay people; BE IT RESOLVED that The Wildlife Society urge that the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and the Congress of the United States continue to support these cooperative programs in the 1982 and subsequent appropriations.

Adopted: 1980 WHEREAS management of Texas Wildlife by the responsible Texas agency historically has been outstandingly professional and effective; and WHEREAS this excellent record has been due in large part to wise use by the agency of Pittman-Robertson funds; and WHEREAS over the past 3 years (fiscal 1978-80) more than 10 million dollars of Pittman-Robertson funds have been apportioned to Texas, while more than 2 million will have reverted by the end of fiscal 80; and WHEREAS the reasons for the loss to Texas of available PR funds appear to lie within the policy and operation of the Texas Parks an Wildlife Department; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED: No. 1 – That the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission be asked by the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society to implement a review of the operation of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; and No. 2 – That this review be made by the appropriate staff of the Wildlife Management Institute; and No. 3 – That the purpose of this review be to recommend how the apportioned PR fund can be utilized to the maximum by Texas without reverting any PR fund back to the federal government.

Adopted: 1977 WHEREAS the Congress has proposed to the Secretary of Agriculture that he develop and maintain a cooperative extension program for forestry, as a means of increasing management, harvesting and use of wood, and to develop and disseminate creditable resource information for forest users, forest product consumers and the public; and WHEREAS wildlife is one of the forest products of major importance; and WHEREAS there is not now included any provision for wildlife extension by the Act; and WHEREAS any extension program developed needs the services of professionals with training in forest management and professionals with training in wildlife management to assure achievement of the program’s objective; and WHEREAS such an extension program would involve use of public funds for work on both public and private forest lands: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, recommend and support the inclusion of a sufficient amount in any budget provided to accomplish this end, and that budgeted funds be jointly available to extension workers in wildlife, forestry and other agricultural extension programs designed to achieve the desired objectives.

Adopted: 1977 WHEREAS a segment of the Rio Grande River was channelized and straightened for several miles downstream from El Paso more that 25 years ago: and WHEREAS operations associated with the original stream “improvement” project included no provisions for protection or enhancement of wildlife and/or fisheries habitat along the Rio Grande, to the disappointment of many citizens and to the detriment of the resources involved; and WHEREAS the International Boundary Water Commission now proposes by treaty with the Republic of Mexico, a river stabilization project from Ft. Quitman to Presidio, including minor alterations at points only where necessary; and WHEREAS the IBWC has been in constant consultation with both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the process of project planning, and are otherwise proceeding in accordance with the Federal Coordination Act: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society go on record as being strongly critical of the original stream stabilization project, but at the same time, commending the IBWC for its stated objective of maintaining constant consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Department, in planning and executing the proposed program, in the course of which execution, adverse effects of operations will be kept to a minimum from the stand point of fish and wildlife resources and the habitat along the Rio Grande.

Adopted: 1977 WHEREAS many residents of Texas and people from other areas in the United States have serious reservations concerning the cost/benefit ratios of certain proposed water development projects in Texas; and WHEREAS these projects will adversely affect critical fish and wildlife habitat; and WHEREAS The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, The Water Resources Planning Act, and The National Environment Policy Act provide for environmental planning and for mitigation of losses to fish and wildlife habitat on federally permitted, financed and licensed projects; and WHEREAS in Texas the provisions for mitigation have historically been ignored; and WHEREAS President Carter has expressed a desire to carefully renew proposed water development projects; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society that President Carter, and the Members of Congress from Texas insure that any legislation licensing or funding federal water projects in Texas provide for mitigation of fish and wildlife losses and maintenance of mitigation structures as provided by the aforementioned acts; and especially with respect to the following projects: Palmetto Bend, Lakeview, Trinity River, Choke Canyon, Tennessee Colony, Cooper, Wallisville, Tayor Bayou and Millican.

  Adopted: 1977 WHEREAS operations under the Federal Aid in Wildlife and Fisheries Acts (Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson) have resulted in tremendous improvement in the restoration and management of the resources involved in every State in the Union, stimulating the various States to up-date and strengthen their management programs; and WHEREAS citizens who have paid excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition and fishing tackle to support the Acts, continue to reflect much enthusiasm for the said Acts; and WHEREAS there has been no similar or comparable provision to benefit our nongame species of fish and wildlife, despite their increasing need for widespread help; and WHEREAS such help for these species would be in the best public interest; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society urge Texas Members of the Congress to support the proposed Act, and seek its enactment, with the territories within the boundaries of the State of Texas included under its provisions.