[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H6891-H6892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF CONGRESS SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE PEACE PARKS FOUNDATION 
                    IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 80) expressing the sense of 
Congress relating to efforts of the Peace Parks Foundation in the 
Republic of South Africa to facilitate the establishment and 
development of transfrontier conservation efforts in southern Africa.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 80

       Whereas on February 1, 1997, the Peace Parks Foundation was 
     established in the Republic of South Africa as a non-profit 
     company to facilitate the establishment of transfrontier 
     conservation areas in the Southern African Development 
     Community (SADC) countries;
       Whereas the overall purpose of the Peace Parks Foundation 
     is to facilitate the establishment and development of 
     transfrontier areas involving two or more countries without 
     compromising national sovereignty, and allowing the free 
     movement of humankind and animals across international 
     borders within the peace park and thereby contributing to 
     economic development, job creation, and peace and 
     understanding between the countries concerned;
       Whereas former South African President Nelson Mandela is a 
     patron emeritus of the Peace Parks Foundation and the heads 
     of state of the SADC countries are honorary patrons of the 
     Foundation;
       Whereas the Peace Parks Foundation has received the full 
     support and endorsement for its efforts and activities from 
     the heads of state of the SADC countries;
       Whereas eight transfrontier conservation areas totaling 
     approximately 232,000 square miles are supported by the Peace 
     Parks Foundation in the SADC countries; and
       Whereas the United States values peace and stability in the 
     global community, and in particular Africa, and has long 
     recognized the significance of sustainable economic 
     development and the conservation of biodiversity: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States should support efforts to facilitate 
     the establishment and development of transfrontier 
     conservation areas in the Southern African Development 
     Community (SADC) countries; and
       (2) nongovernmental organizations and foundations in the 
     United States should be encouraged to support and promote 
     sustainable economic development and benefits through the 
     preservation of wildlife in peace parks on an expanded and 
     inclusive basis to the benefit of the countries concerned and 
     their people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), with the support of 
several members of the Subcommittee on Africa, including the vice 
chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) and myself, 
introduced House Concurrent Resolution 80 supporting the efforts of the 
Peace Parks Foundation in the Republic of South Africa.
  The Peace Parks Foundation, a nonprofit organization, helps with the 
establishment and development of transfrontier conservation areas among 
two or more of the southern African development community countries. 
The idea for the Peace Parks Foundation came about when it was realized 
that ecotourism has benefited South Africa but has not benefited its 
neighboring countries, including Mozambique.
  The purpose of the Peace Parks Foundation is to better allow wildlife 
to move freely across national borders, which wildlife is wont to do, 
which will promote biodiversity, economic development, and peaceful 
cooperation between all countries involved. By giving local populations 
an economic incentive to protect the environment, wildlife poaching and 
other unsustainable practices should decrease.
  The Peace Parks Foundation enjoys the full support of all SADC 
countries and all of their heads of state and is currently developing 
232,000 square miles of conservation area between them. This resolution 
expresses U.S. support for these efforts and encourages nongovernmental 
organizations and foundations in the United States to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 80.
  Mr. Speaker, House Con. Res. 80 calls on the U.S. to support the 
Peace Parks Foundation of Southern Africa. The Peace Parks will support 
the establishment of a transfrontier conservation area involving 
several countries in southern Africa to boost tourism and to help 
alleviate poverty. The effort by the Southern African Development 
Community, SADC, will allow the free movement of humans and animals 
across international borders. It represents a major advance in 
conservation efforts worldwide.
  The Peace Parks will not only contribute to conservation but also to 
economic development, job creation, and peace and understanding between 
the countries involved. This is a big step forward.
  Animals have no borders. They move throughout. However, borders that 
have been written by countries sort of presented a problem, and for the 
countries in the SADC region to come together to say that you can cross 
our borders, for the people to be able to cross the borders so that the 
animals could be protected is very important.
  As a matter of fact, a tragedy has happened recently in Kenya because 
of the lack of rain in the game parks right outside Nairobi. There are 
tremendous numbers of game there, including lions and tigers. But the 
Masai people have cattle, a tremendous amount of cattle. Cattle is a 
way to express wealth. During the past 4 or 5 months, because of the 
drought, the wildlife has moved outside of the park grounds seeking 
water. As the wildlife, the zebras and other animals go out, the lions 
must follow them, and they have gotten near Nairobi. There have been 
killings of Masai cattle. Unfortunately, the Masai people have said 
that they need to have some protection and, actually, during the past 
month or so, have killed 10 lions in the area around Nairobi. They are 
saying we should be compensated for the last of our cattle.
  So there is a very important aspect to wildlife, and I hope that the 
new government of Kenya will be able to have some program to compensate 
for the tremendous loss to the Masai people.
  But this is an example where countries are coming together, creating 
jobs, and living with the wildlife can serve as an economic engine.
  So I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 80.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. BOEHLERT), the prime sponsor of this 
legislation.
  (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the House floor 
House Concurrent Resolution 80, which encourages support for the Peace 
Parks Foundation of South Africa in helping to establish and develop 
transfrontier conservation areas or peace parks in sub-Saharan Africa.
  In 2001, I had the opportunity to visit South Africa with the Speaker 
of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert). We saw 
firsthand the positive achievements of the Peace Parks Foundation, a 
nonprofit organization headed by conservationist Dr. Anton Rupert.
  In general terms, peace parks are very large, ecologically 
significant natural areas that straddle the borders of two or more 
countries and that are attractive to visitors.

[[Page H6892]]

  Peace parks allow wildlife to follow natural migration patterns and 
help conserve the magnificent native flora and fauna of the region. 
Very importantly, peace parks help support sustainable local economic 
development and regional peace and stability. Boy, are those worthy 
objectives. These are some of the issues President Bush discussed just 
last week when he visited South Africa and Botswana and several other 
African nations.
  Africa's competitive advantage in the international tourism industry 
lies in its unique and diverse ecosystems that include everything from 
deserts to rain forests. A recent study estimated that, with adequate 
infrastructure, the various transfrontier conservation areas could 
support about 8 million visits by tourists per year. Tourism is a 
wonderful job creator. Leaders of southern African governments have 
recognized this and have shown committed enthusiasm for the peace 
parks. They know peace parks can help alleviate poverty by creating 
business opportunities for communities and jobs paid for by tourism 
dollars. I applaud their foresight in recognizing this path to 
sustainable economic development.
  Economic realities and the consequences of war and political 
instability have helped erode conservation efforts in Africa. The 
incredible variety of Africa's wildlife and natural habitats should be 
protected and conserved for future generations. The Foundation's 
contributions to biodiversity conservation is significant because the 
space it seeks to protect covers large areas; and, in Africa, 
everything seems to be large.
  Since December, 2001, 22 transfrontier conservation areas have been 
identified by the Foundation and now enjoy the support of governments 
in the region. This unusual, but successful, approach deserves our 
encouragement and support.
  The process by which peace parks are created requires extensive 
consultations between interested parties, including governments, local 
communities, private landowners, and civil society. In addition, since 
peace parks straddle borders, their creation also requires cooperation 
between nations. Thus, the creation of peace parks contributes to the 
peace and stability for which the people of Africa yearn.

                              {time}  1215

  I am pleased to be able to say that in September 2003 Botswana and 
South Africa will sign an agreement establishing a new peace park. 
African leaders such as the revered former President Dr. Nelson Mandela 
and the leaders of Southern African Development Community countries, 
strongly support the Peace Parks Foundation. Dr. Mandela himself has 
said of peace parks, ``I know of no biological movement, no philosophy 
or no idealogy which does not agree with the peace parks concept as we 
see it going into fruition today. It is a concept that can be embraced 
by all. In a world beset by conflict and division,'' Dr. Mandela goes 
on to say, ``peace is one of the cornerstones of the future. Peace 
parks are building blocks in this process, not only in our region, but 
potentially the entire world.''
  Dr. Mandela was so right.
  I thank those Members who joined me in introducing this resolution, 
and I ask the support of all Members in adopting this resolution to 
honor the important achievements of the Peace Parks Foundation in 
helping the people of sub-Saharan Africa find peace and stability and 
economic benefit through their preservation of some of the world's most 
rare and beautiful wildlife and natural places.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Boehlert) for his wonderful resolution and those who support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the Africa subcommittee 
that I chair held a hearing on the Congo Basin Foreign Partnership, and 
this is an innovative international approach to the conservation of 
forests and wildlife in Central Africa.
  This plan was first unveiled by our Secretary of State Powell last 
fall, and the initiative is designed to combat illegal logging through 
better forest management and local economic empowerment. Of course, 
these forests play a critical role in sustaining the environment. They 
absorb carbon dioxide, they cleanse the water, they hold the soil. 
Their plants and animals are invaluable for so many reasons, including 
their genetic and biochemical information, which could spark advances 
in medical, agricultural, and industrial technology.
  Ten years ago, those forests in Africa were virtually untouched. 
Today, logging operations are shrinking these forests. One estimate has 
logging taking out Congo basin forest area at a rate of twice the size 
of Rhode Island each and every year. If current deforestation and 
wildlife depletion rates are not reversed world wide, the world will 
pay an incalculable environmental and social price and incalculable 
cultural price as well. This is the beginning of real commitment to 
conservation in Africa. That is what we are seeing with the Peace Parks 
Foundation, which deserves our support and deserves our encouragement. 
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Linder). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
80.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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