[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13621-13622]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  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:

                              S. Res. 598

       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's 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).

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, the evidence is clear. We stand at the 
brink of major losses among the living species on our planet. By the 
end of this century, as many as two out of every three plant and animal 
species could be in danger of extinction. This disturbing trend has 
many causes, but several are clear and manmade--they are our 
responsibility and they are within our control.
  Our industrial emissions are changing our world's climate and, in so 
doing, drastically altering habitats--

[[Page 13622]]

habitats already threatened by deforestation and other landuse changes. 
Unsustainable fishing and the spread of invasive species due to 
enhanced global commerce pose similar manmade challenges.
  That is why I am introducing, along with Senators Snowe, Boxer, 
Lugar, Kerry, Specter, Menendez, Brownback, Bayh, Stabenow, and 
Feingold, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the 
United States should take a leadership role in protecting international 
biodiversity. With one out of every ten species facing extinction, with 
habitats declining, and with developing countries searching to build a 
better economic future while protecting their natural environments, now 
is the time for renewed efforts to protect our living world.
  This morning, my colleagues and I hosted a briefing by Dr. Edward O. 
Wilson, renowned University Research Professor Emeritus at Harvard and 
author of two Pulitzer Prize-winning books, and Dr. Eric Chivian, who 
shared the Nobel Peace Prize and is Founder and Director of the Center 
for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. These 
two eminent scientists made the case that biodiversity is not just a 
moral, ecological, and economic issue, but also one of major importance 
to human health.
  We often find, Mr. President, that the areas most in danger are in 
developing nations, which have the least ability to protect them. 
Developing nations face very real economic and human challenges. Many 
are struggling to provide enough food for their people, especially 
given the recent rise in food prices. They now face the choice between 
feeding their people and preserving their environment. We know how that 
will turn out. We must give them another choice.
  To do that, the United States and other wealthy nations must help. 
The 10 colleagues with whom I worked on this resolution understand that 
protecting our global biodiversity is actually in our own national 
interest. Sustainable agricultural practices promise sustainable 
economies in the developing world. A stable climate will reduce the 
threat of water shortages, shifting growing seasons, population 
movements, and resource wars. Protecting habitats not only protects the 
rich diversity of life on earth--protecting habitats will preserve some 
of the most basic building blocks of our economies and societies.
  Not least, as Dr. Wilson and Dr. Chivian so persuasively argue, the 
preservation of biodiversity is an investment in human health. More 
than a quarter of the world's medicinal drugs possess active 
ingredients from wild species, and more than half of the most 
prescribed medicines in the United States are based on natural 
compounds. If we hope to advance medicine, to ease pain and suffering 
and to extend lifespans, the bounty of nature offers an indispensable 
guide and resource.
  Finally, we have a moral obligation to protect biodiversity. Ensuring 
that we can feed and clothe and shelter millions more people while 
preserving the elaborate tapestry of creation will allow our children 
and grandchildren to inherit the rich planet that we were bequeathed. 
Species extinctions are nothing new. But species extinctions that are 
avoidable, that are within our power to prevent, extinctions due to our 
greed, or our ignorance, impose on us a special responsibility. Those 
are mistakes that can never be undone. We must resolve to do all we can 
to replace greed with a better calculation of our long-term interests. 
We must resolve to replace ignorance with knowledge and with wisdom.
  That is why my colleagues and I are offering the resolution, to 
express the will of the Senate to redouble United States efforts 
internationally to protect our world in all its complexity, and 
diversity.

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