June 14, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 11821 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS This trend in our waterfowl population is im­ These processes will be subject to continu­ CONSERVATION ACT portant for two reasons. First, waterfowl are ous review to ensure they are compatible readily visible indicators of environmental and consistent with waterfowl population crisis. They rely heavily on the wetland eco­ needs on a continental basis, and to evaluate HON. SILVIO 0. CONTE their environmental impacts and to ensure systems, and act as barometers, indicating public participation. OF MASSACHUSETTS environmental decay. Second, waterfowl are 8. The concept of stabilizing hunting regu­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the most prominent and economically impor­ lations-with review at five-year intervals tant group of migratory birds in North America, and provisions for predetermined responses Wednesday, June 14, 1989 generating a direct expenditure of several bil­ to substantive waterfowl population fluctua­ Mr. CONTE. Mr. Speaker, on June 8, 1989, lion dollars annually. tions-is desirable to encourage long-term introduced, along with Congressmen DIN­ To deal with this international environmental waterfowl management efforts. GELL, JONES, DAVIS, and WELDON, the North problem, the United States and Canada To implement these principles and the American Wetlands Conservation Act signed in May 1986 the North American Wa­ goals of the plan, I introduced H.R. 2587, the (H.R. 2587). terfowl Management Plan, a comprehensive North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This legislation was developed in response approach to the problem of declining water­ The development of this legislation was to a growing environmental crisis in our coun­ fowl populations and the destruction of wet­ guided by three broad principles which form try: disappearing wetlands and a severe de­ lands. The plan stresses international coop­ the foundation and justification for the bill. cline in our waterfowl population. Since the eration and a unique public-private sector First, the bill provides the resources neces­ European settlement of North America, over partnership. Broadly stated, the goal of the sary to implement the plan. Investment pro­ half of the wetlands on the continent have plan is to restore the North American breeding ceeds from the Pittman-Robinson fund and been destroyed. Agricultural conversions, eco­ waterfowl populations to historic levels by pro­ general funds authorized to be appropriated nomic development, urban encroachment, and tecting and restoring about 5.5 million acres of are made available by this legislation. wetland and upland habitat in the United water source development have taken a tre­ Second, the bill provides a coherent and ef­ States and Canada. The plan outlines an am­ mendous toll on this fragile natural resource. ficient framework for implementing projects bitious program of habitat acquisition, restora­ In fact, between the mid-1950's and the mid- under the plan. In this process, an advisory tion, and development to achieve the popula­ 1970's, about 11 million acres of marshes and committee screens and evaluates each tion goals. Since the plan focuses on wet­ swamps were destroyed, for an alarming project slated for funding, and those recom­ annual loss averaging 458,000 acres. lands habitat, it is basically a continental wet­ land management plan as much as it is a: wa­ mendations are then submitted to the Migrato­ The effect of such a dramatic loss on wa­ ry Bird Conservation Commission for approval. terfowl can be plainly observed, but the de­ terfowl plan. The principles of the plan are outlined in This two step process ensures that each struction of wetlands has a much wider impact project is closely examined and that this effort on the environment. For example, the "Final "North American Waterfowl Management Plan: A Strategy for Cooperation" as follows: is coordinated with the activities now under­ Report of the National Wetlands Policy way by the Migratory Bird Commission. For PRINCIPLES Forum" found that: several years now, the Commission has been Wetlands have great value in their natural 1. Protection of waterfowl and their habi­ tats requires long-term planning and the working on projects to implement the plan, state. Their biological productivity can and this process of funneling all North Ameri­ exceed that of the best agricultural lands. A close cooperation and coordination of man­ broad array of wildlife, fisheries and other agement activities by Canada, Mexico and can waterfowl projects through one panel will aquatic resources depend on them. Wet­ the United States, within the framework of increase coordination and reduce overlap and lands sustain nearly one third of the na­ the 1916 and 1936 Migratory Bird Conven­ duplication. Moreover, the Migratory Bird Com­ tion's endangered and threatened species. tions. mission has over 50 years of experience in They provide breeding and wintering 2. In waterfowl management decisions and the business of preserving and restoring wet­ grounds for millions of waterfowl and shore actions, first priority should be to perpet­ uate waterfowl populations and their sup­ lands for the conservation of waterfowl popu­ birds every year. Coastal wetlands provide lations. nursery and spawning grounds for 60 to 90 porting habitats. Management actions percent of U.S. commercial fish catches. should be at intensities required to prevent And third, this bill provides for State, private, Wetlands also play key roles in regional hy­ the individual waterfowl populations from and international input into the process of im­ drological cycles-lessening flood damage, decreasing to low levels and to encourage plementing the plan. The North American wa­ reducing erosion, recharging ground water, optimum use of all available habitat. terfowl plan is not just another Federal pro­ 3. The maintenance of abundant water­ filtering sediment, and abating pollution." fowl populations is dependent on the pro­ gram. It's an international cooperative effort As this report indicates, wetlands are vital tection, restoration and management of that relies heavily on the financial and profes­ to the survival of many different fish and wild­ habitat. The persistent loss of important sional assistance of private organizations. The life species and of man as well. And as a waterfowl habitat should be reversed. plan assumes that private groups will contrib­ result, the benefits of preserving and conserv­ 4. Waterfowl populations should be man­ ute sizable sums to the implementing of the ing these environmentally important areas are aged by identifiable subpopulations where plan, and their active participation in the proc­ these can be biologically justified and for ess is essential to a successful program. For far reaching. which management regimes are feasible. The most extensive and recent wetland 5. Joint ventures of private and govern­ this reason, the advisory committee which re­ losses have occurred in California, Louisiana, mental organizations should be considered views all projects funded under this bill is Mississippi, Texas, Iowa, North Dakota, South as an approach to financing high-priority composed of three representatives from non­ Dakota, and Florida. Dramatic losses in these research and management projects of inter­ profit groups involved with implementing the areas can be directly linked to the recent de­ national concern that can only be addressed plan. The Secretary of the National Fish and cline in many species of migratory birds who through a pooling of resources. Wildlife Foundation Board is also a member of depend on these delicate systems. For exam­ 6. The managed subsistence and recre­ the advisory committee. ational harvests of the renewable waterfowl ple, national populations of several duck spe­ resource are desirable and consistent with This direct and active participation in the cies are down almost 50 percent from the its conservation. decisionmaking process by these nonprofit 1970's, and along the Atlantic coast, black 7. Recreational hunting will continue to groups will invigorate this program and sepa­ ducks have declined steadily over the last 30 be managed under existing regulatory proc­ rate it from other Federal conservation pro­ years. esses in Canada and the United States. grams. In addition, the States are represented e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 11822 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 14, 1989 on the advisory committee by agency heads Plan, the extent to which it would aid in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in restoring, from the four different flyways, and the Se­ conservation of migratory non-game birds protecting and enhancing wetland ecosys­ creary is encouraged to include, as ex officio, and species which are listed or candidates tems and other wildlife habitat within their nonvoting members, representatives of for listing under the Endangered Species jurisdiction. Agency heads are required to Act, the substantiality of the project, and give priority in any land disposal to the Canada and Mexico. This well balanced and the recommendations from existing partner­ transfer of real property interests for con­ diverse group should enhance the implemen­ ships between public and private agencies servation purposes. tation of the plan. carrying out wetlands conservation projects Section 11. Reports to Congress: Every The details of H.R. 2587 are outlined in a under the Act or the Plan. two years, reports are required assessing section-by-section summary that I will include The Advisory Committee will make recom­ overall wetlands protection and restoration for the RECORD. mendations to the Migratory Bird Conserva­ activities and migratory bird population Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not a final tion Commission by March 30 of each year trends. Annual reports on project status and solution to the problem of disappearing wet­ for projects to be funded under the act, in costs are required. lands and declining waterfowl populations, but priority order.