SJ0001 - Grizzly Bear & Gray Wolf National Conservation Trust.

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0132

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0001

Grizzly Bear & Gray Wolf National Conservation Trust.

Sponsored by: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and
Cultural Resources Interim Committee

A Bill

for

1 A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to establish a
2 Northern Rocky Mountain Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf
3 Conservation Trust to fund management and conservation of
4 these wildlife populations.

6 WHEREAS, the grizzly bear and gray wolf are wildlife
7 species of national significance; and

9 WHEREAS, the people of the United States have repeatedly
10 and enthusiastically expressed strong support for the
11 recovery and long term conservation of the grizzly bear and
12 gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain region; and

14 WHEREAS, the strong national support for the restoration of
15 the grizzly bear and gray wolf in the Northern Rocky
16 Mountain region must be matched by national financial

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1 support from an equally broad segment of the general
2 population to be effective in recovery and long term
3 conservation of these species; and

5 WHEREAS, significant portions of the range of the grizzly
6 bear and gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain region
7 occurs on lands managed by the United States Department of
8 the Interior and the United States Department of
9 Agriculture; and

11 WHEREAS, the management of resident wildlife species not
12 listed under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
13 amended, has traditionally been and rightfully is the
14 responsibility of the states; and

16 WHEREAS, grizzly bear and gray wolf populations are
17 increasing and may be removed from the federal list of
18 endangered species within the foreseeable future, thereby
19 shifting a substantial responsibility for conservation and
20 management of these wildlife species to the states of
21 Idaho, Montana and Wyoming; and

23 WHEREAS, the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming fully
24 recognize their responsibility and authority for the

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1 conservation and management of the grizzly bear and gray
2 wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain region; and

4 WHEREAS, providing a substantial permanent and stable
5 source of funding is essential for the successful
6 conservation and management of the grizzly bear and gray
7 wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain region in perpetuity;
8 and

10 WHEREAS, due to the nature of the grizzly bear and gray
11 wolf, the costs for conservation and management of these
12 wildlife species in the Northern Rocky Mountain region will
13 be significantly greater than can be sustained through the
14 annual operating budgets of state and federal agencies; and

16 WHEREAS, the establishment of a national trust for the
17 conservation and management of these wildlife species will
18 be made with the understanding that the appropriate state
19 and federal agencies will continue to seek necessary
20 appropriations from respective legislative bodies for the
21 management and recovery of these wildlife species,
22 consistent with statutory mandates.

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1 Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By The Members of the
2 Legislature of the State of Wyoming, a majority of all the
3 members of each house, voting separately, concurring
4 therein:

6 Section 1. That the Wyoming State Legislature
7 endorses the establishment of the Northern Rocky Mountain
8 Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf Conservation Trust as a special
9 fund within the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to
10 assist with funding the necessary management and
11 conservation activities conducted by state and federal
12 entities to sustain grizzly bear and gray wolf populations
13 in the Northern Rocky Mountain region.

15 Section 2. That the Wyoming State Legislature
16 encourages the United States Congress to establish the
17 corpus of the Conservation Trust at a minimum of forty
18 million dollars ($40,000,000.00) by January 1, 2003.

20 Section 3. That the Wyoming State Legislature
21 encourages individuals, businesses, corporations and
22 organizations across the United States to contribute to the
23 corpus of the Conservation Trust to ensure the long term

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1 conservation of the grizzly bear and gray wolf in the
2 Northern Rocky Mountain region of the United States.

4 Section 4. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming
5 transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the
6 United States, to the President of the Senate and the
7 Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United
8 States Congress, to the United States Secretary of Interior
9 and the United States Secretary of Agriculture and to the
10 Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

12 (END)

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