[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 175 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 175

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for a comprehensive 
    management strategy to save the tundra from continued excessive 
          depredations by the mid-continent lesser snow goose.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 24, 1997

  Mr. Hunter (for himself and Mr. Cunningham) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for a comprehensive 
    management strategy to save the tundra from continued excessive 
          depredations by the mid-continent lesser snow goose.

Whereas the tundra ecosystem of North America, including portions located in the 
        United States and in Canada, is a valued international resource that 
        provides habitat for hundreds of different species of nesting birds;
Whereas the population of mid-continent lesser snow geese is increasing at a 
        rate of five percent a year, from 900,000 in 1969 to more than 5,000,000 
        in 1997, and a majority of these snow geese nest in fragile arctic 
        tundra habitat;
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the 
        population of mid-continent lesser snow geese far exceeds the population 
        goal for this species and the excessive number of mid-continent lesser 
        snow geese is damaging its tundra nesting habitat;
Whereas the overpopulation of mid-continent lesser snow geese is causing 
        irreparable damage to this fragile tundra ecosystem because the 
        overabundant snow geese consume and subsequently destroy large areas of 
        vegetation in vital migratory bird nesting habitats;
Whereas the potential for disease outbreaks among large concentrations of mid-
        continent lesser snow geese is imminent because of overpopulation;
Whereas continued Government inaction will result in the destruction of 
        thousands of acres of tundra within 12 months; and
Whereas the overpopulation of mid-continent lesser snow geese could cause a 
        decline in other species that nest in the same arctic region: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (together with its State flyway council partners) 
should take comprehensive action to utilize the most efficient 
technological and conservation measures, including the modification of 
management practices on public lands, to reduce the population of mid-
continent lesser snow geese to levels that--
            (1) can be supported without the destruction of tundra 
        ecosystems; and
            (2) are consistent with sound biological management 
        principles.
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