[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 598 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 598

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for the United 
   States to lead renewed international efforts to assist developing 
 nations in conserving natural resources and preventing the impending 
 extinction of a large portion of the world's plant and animal species.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                June 24 (legislative day, June 23), 2008

 Mr. Biden (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Kerry, 
 Mr. Specter, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Stabenow, and 
Mr. Feingold) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for the United 
   States to lead renewed international efforts to assist developing 
 nations in conserving natural resources and preventing the impending 
 extinction of a large portion of the world's plant and animal species.

Whereas scientists estimate that approximately \1/10\ of the world's known 
        biological diversity is currently in danger of extinction, including at 
        least \1/4\ of all mammals, \1/3\ of all primates, \1/3\ of all 
        amphibians, and \1/8\ of all birds;
Whereas scientists have concluded that the initial stages of a major worldwide 
        extinction event are occurring now and have estimated that by the end of 
        the 21st century as much as \2/3\ of the world's plant and animal 
        species could be in danger of extinction;
Whereas scientists estimate that approximately \3/4\ of the world's terrestrial 
        plant and animal species reside in whole or in part in developing 
        nations, where in many cases poor management of natural resources has 
        exacerbated the threat of extinction to many species and directly harmed 
        local communities;
Whereas, in addition to producing 20 percent of the world's carbon emissions, 
        unsustainable forestry practices and illegal logging operations have led 
        to the destruction of vast areas of forested land around the world, 
        which, in turn, has led to species loss, increased flooding, erosion, 
        insect infestations, and higher incidences of malaria and other 
        infectious diseases;
Whereas the degradation of the marine environment and unsustainable fishing 
        practices in many parts of the world have led to dramatic declines of 
        many fish and other marine species;
Whereas the introduction of invasive species threatens natural habitats;
Whereas scientists have concluded that many species could face an increased risk 
        of extinction from global climate change;
Whereas sound natural resource management and the conservation of species and 
        habitats are vital to alleviating poverty for many communities in 
        developing countries that depend on these resources for their 
        livelihoods, food, medicinal compounds, housing material, and other 
        necessities;
Whereas there are significant risks to the global and national economies from 
        the destruction of natural resources around the world and the valuable 
        services they provide, such as water and air purification, soil 
        fertility and erosion control, flood and drought mitigation, protection 
        from storm surges, and the sequestration of carbon;
Whereas human encroachment into natural ecosystems increases opportunities for 
        the emergence and transmission of new animal-borne diseases that could 
        cause high levels of human mortality and affect major global industries 
        including travel, trade, tourism, food production, and finance;
Whereas loss of species can jeopardize important future pharmaceutical 
        discoveries, given that more than \1/4\ of all medicinal drugs possess 
        active ingredients from wild species and that at least \1/2\ of the most 
        prescribed medicines in the United States are derived from natural 
        compounds;
Whereas natural pollinators and the opportunities of wild and domesticated 
        crossbreeding are vital to world and United States agriculture;
Whereas poverty aggravated by natural resource degradation contributes to 
        political instability, ethnic and sectarian conflict, and the social 
        conditions that can fuel increased violence and terrorism;
Whereas the extinction of plant and animal species raises profound ethical 
        questions, and many religious traditions call upon human beings to act 
        as good stewards of the Earth;
Whereas opportunities for sustainably managing natural resources and conserving 
        viable populations of species and their habitats rapidly diminish every 
        year;
Whereas a substantial body of academic and field research has identified global 
        strategies and market based approaches for better managing natural 
        resources and protecting biological diversity;
Whereas strategic large-scale and site-specific habitat conservation could help 
        to buffer the impacts of climate change on endangered species and human 
        communities;
Whereas an effective international conservation effort that ensures the use of 
        natural resources on a sustainable basis and prevents the worst 
        predicted extinction scenarios from unfolding will require commitment 
        and action from all nations; and
Whereas the United States traditional role in confronting international 
        challenges, protecting the environment, expanding opportunities for 
        people, and articulating a moral vision for global action gives the 
        Nation the opportunity to lead an international conservation effort: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the Government should make full use of Federal laws, 
        regulations and policies, diplomatic agreements, and other 
        appropriate mechanisms to--
                    (A) identify global conservation goals that help 
                ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and 
                protect biological diversity in terrestrial and marine 
                environments of developing countries;
                    (B) focus international conservation efforts on 
                natural areas that are important biodiversity 
                conservation priorities and for which there is a good 
                likelihood of success;
                    (C) raise the international profile of the debate 
                by putting the issue of rapidly declining global 
                biodiversity and poor natural resource management on 
                the agenda of major international decision-making 
                bodies;
                    (D) work with other donor nations to increase 
                funding and other support for global conservation 
                strategies that focus on achieving each of the goals 
                identified in subparagraphs (A) through (C); and
                    (E) achieve meaningful progress in the next 5 years 
                toward the goals identified in subparagraphs (A) 
                through (C);
            (2) the United States should use diplomatic mechanisms, 
        relevant international institutions and agreements, and other 
        appropriate mechanisms to lead other nations toward the goals 
        and actions identified in paragraph (1); and
            (3) the efforts of Federal agencies should reflect a 
        recognition of the extreme urgency of the problem and recognize 
        that opportunities for increased conservation are rapidly 
        dwindling, by annually providing to the appropriate Committees 
        of Congress progress reports and action plans with regard to 
        the goals and activities identified in paragraphs (1) and (2).
                                 <all>