[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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