2006 RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION

PEA ISLAND / BONNER BRIDGE

WHEREAS, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR) is located on the north end of Hatteras Island, and was created nearly 70 years ago by Executive Order to preserve wildlife and advance the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act; and,

WHEREAS, PINWR is known as a ''Birder's Paradise'' with more than 365 bird species present, including several shorebird nesting areas and wading bird rookeries along with 1,000 acres of manageable waterfowl impoundments; and,

WHEREAS, Several endangered and threatened species can also be found here, including peregrine falcons, piping plovers, and loggerhead sea turtles; and,

WHEREAS, The refuge is accessed across the Oregon Inlet from Bodie Island via the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, a 42-year old span that is nearing the end of its useful life and must be replaced; and,

WHEREAS, The refuge is accessed across the Oregon Inlet from Bodie Island via the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, a 42-year old span that is nearing the end of its useful life and must be replaced; and,

WHEREAS, When the Park Service purchased the land for PINWAR the original agreement stated that “traditional uses shall be preserved”; and,

WHEREAS, Constant dune-building and sand removal has been performed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to insure the integrity of the road system that runs through the refuge; and,

WHEREAS, In 1989, NCDOT built a 3,152-foot long mound of large rocks – known as the terminal groin – above the north end of PINWR to protect the landing of the bridge from the encroaching Oregon Inlet; and,

WHEREAS, This perpetual maintenance is very expensive and results in the loss of wildlife habitat within the refuge; and,

WHEREAS, A proposed short 6.2-mile bridge parallel to the obsolete Bonner Bridge that would cross 1.2 miles of refuge land through migratory bird habitat defeats the original purpose of PINWR; and,

WHEREAS, A longer 17-mile bridge would bypass PINWR – and federal permitting issues – by going further out into Pamlico Sound and making landfall below the refuge’s end; and,

WHEREAS, The longer bridge configuration has a higher initial building cost due to its greater length, but its total lifetime dollar amount would be much lower than the short bridge that would require constant beach nourishment, maintenance of the terminal groin and roadway, and the inevitable “hot spot” relocation of the highway sections within the refuge; and,

WHEREAS, The longer bridge placement is most compatible with PINWR and best for the area citizens’ transportation needs at a cost that satisfies the interests of the state’s taxpayers.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention at Raleigh, NC on March 11^th, 2006, supports the replacement of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge with a configuration that protects PINWR, and best serves the people who visit the refuge as well as the residents of Hatteras Island that need a safe and reliable route to the mainland.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation encourages the identification of ways to replace any lost public access into the refuge from the north so that traditional uses be adhered to and maintained.

RESOLUTION

SUPPORT OF “LAND FOR TOMORROW:”
$1 BILLION STATEWIDE BOND FOR WATER AND LAND CONSERVATION

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation is committed to protecting lands critical to the future of North Carolina’s drinking water, economy, outdoors recreation, and quality of life; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina is losing more than 150,000 acres of those special places to population pressures each year; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina’s population is expected to grow by 50 percent in the next 25 years; and,

WHEREAS, the important tourism industry can only survive with natural beauty, clean water and scenic vistas, and places to enjoy wildlife; and,

WHEREAS, there is inadequate funding for protecting game lands, stream banks and floodplains, legacy forests, prime farmlands, local parks and recreation, state parks, greenway and inactive rail corridors, natural, scenic and historic places; and,

WHEREAS, there is no second chance to protect North Carolina’s great resources and costs will only increase in the future; and,

WHEREAS, additional state funding will leverage twice as much funding from federal, private and local sources,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention in Raleigh, NC on March 11, 2006, strongly urges the 2006 General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing a bond referendum to increase conservation spending in North Carolina by $200 million per year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation will work to ensure that the Land for Tomorrow initiative places focus on game lands and that the Federation will work to include an additional 150,000 acres of such lands by 2009.

RESOLUTION

IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTERSTATE THREE (I-3) THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS

WHEREAS, in August 2005 Congress appropriated $1.3 million to study a process for determining if I-3 should be built; and,

WHEREAS, the purpose of the proposed I-3 is to connect Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee, with little if any benefit to North Carolina; and,

WHEREAS, travelers going from Savannah to Knoxville currently make the 415-mile trip through connecting highways, this route is shorter than any possibilities for the construction of I-3; and,

WHEREAS, no proposed routes have been identified; and,

WHEREAS, five Georgia counties – Habersham, Rabun, Towns, Lumpkin and White – have passed resolutions opposing the construction of an I-3; and,

WHEREAS, Macon, Cherokee, and Clay Counties in North Carolina recently passed resolutions opposing the construction of I-3; and,

WHEREAS, both the Georgia and North Carolina Departments of Transportation refused to be the lead agency to conduct the study and it will now be lead by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); and,

WHEREAS, the proposed I-3 construction would impose massive habitat damage and disruption to wildlife, particularly to threatened or sensitive flora and fauna; and,

WHEREAS, there are bound to be unanticipated obstacles and consequences which would drive up any projected costs; and,

WHEREAS, both state and federal funds are scarce in current times, and not apt to get better anytime soon, and there are far better and less damaging ways to spend scarce public funds,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention in Raleigh, NC on March 11, 2006, opposes the construction of an Interstate 3 along any route in North Carolina; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the study process for the proposed I-3 be open to the public for full participation including dissemination of information and opportunities to provide oral and written public comment.

RESOLUTION

SUPPORT FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ON PRIVATE LANDS

WHEREAS, The National Wildlife Federation projects the loss in the United States of more than 22,000 acres of wildlife habitat around 35 major metropolitan areas during the next 25 years; and,

WHEREAS, Undeveloped private lands produce an array of important public benefits, and North Carolina is losing farm and forest lands at unprecedented rates; and,

WHEREAS, NC lost more than one million acres of forestland from 1990-2002. Forest loss was particularly severe in urban or urbanizing areas. For example, Mecklenburg County lost 47,000acres, or 35 percent of its forest cover during this period. Wake County lost 30 percent [75,000 acres] and Forsyth County lost 22 percent [25,000 acres] respectively. These trends are continuing and accelerating; and,

WHEREAS, Non-industrial private forest landowners (NIPFs) own 75 percent of the 18.3 million acres of forestland in the state. There are up to 700,000 NIPF landowners with an average parcel size of 17 acres; and,

WHEREAS, Agricultural land statewide declined by nearly 55.7 thousand acres annually over the most recent reporting period (1992-1997). And prime cropland declined by an even greater percentage, losing 33.7 thousand acres annually during the same period. Farmland loss was greatest in urban or urbanizing counties where both Mecklenburg and Wake Counties averaged 21 percent declines over the past five years, and Forsyth County averaged 10 percent declines. According to the American Farmland Trust, North Carolina ranks fourth nationally in the loss of farmland; and,

WHEREAS, Despite development pressure and forest loss, North Carolina still ranks among the top states in species and habitat diversity. Both residents and tourists enjoy our valuable game and wildlife populations, unique ecosystems and rare and threatened species; and,

WHEREAS, Farm and forest landowners strongly support the PUVT program and believe that maintaining and strengthening it is critical to their ability to retain farm and forest lands; and,

WHEREAS, in surveys, forest landowners cite a wide diversity of primary management objectives, including estate investment, green space enjoyment, wildlife and rural residence. Only some of North Carolina landowners have timber production as a primary objective, with great diversity in landowner objectives across the state,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention in Raleigh, NC on March 11, 2006 calls upon the North Carolina General Assembly and elected officials to support the establishment of a Wildlife Management category under the Present Use Value property tax program and work to remove other disincentives for private landowners to manage their land for high quality wildlife habitat.

RESOLUTION

PROTECTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRUST WATERS

IN NORTH CAROLINA

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Constitution in Article XIV, Section 5, recognizes the vital role of state government “to conserve and protect its lands and waters for the benefit of all its citizenry; and,

WHEREAS, the state of North Carolina adheres to the public trust doctrine, which provides that the navigable waters of North Carolina and the submerged lands below the mean high water line belong to the people of the state and shall be available for their use and enjoyment; and,

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation recognizes that access to harbors, boat ramps, beaches, inland, estuarine and ocean waters, and inlets is essential to the continuing shared use of public trust waters; and,

WHEREAS, specific measures can and must be taken to ensure maintenance of public access to public trust waters despite the ongoing trend of privatization, soaring real estate values and an overall reduction in commercial and recreational fisheries infrastructure readily available for general public use; and ,

WHEREAS, millions of dollars of state and federal monies are spent annually to renourish beaches so they will continue to be available for public access and usage,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention at Research Triangle Park, NC on March 11, 2006, strongly urges that state leaders should recognize the vital importance of public access to the state estuarine and marine fisheries resources and waters.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation urges the North Carolina General Assembly to identify ways to ensure public access to harbors, beaches, inland, estuarine and ocean waters, and inlets to maintain the cultural integrity and character of North Carolina for their benefit and enjoyment of all the people of North Carolina.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any project using public monies to renourish beaches must include an analysis of public parking and access, and further that no public monies can be spent to renourish beaches where adequate public parking and access are not provided.

RESOLUTION

OPPOSE PLAN TO SELL OFF NATIONAL FOREST LANDS

WHEREAS, more than 150,000 acres of natural lands are developed in North Carolina each year; and,

WHEREAS, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that North Carolina’s population will increase by 3.5 million in the next 25 years; and,

WHEREAS, each acre of protected natural land will therefore become increasingly precious with each passing year for both people and wildlife; and,

WHEREAS, the Federal Budget contains a provision for the sale of numerous parcels of National Forest lands in North Carolina as well as other states, some of which are integral parts of larger sections of National Forests and some of which are more isolated; and,

WHEREAS, even isolated tracts of National Forest land are likely to become more valuable for people and wildlife in the future, and not less valuable; and,

WHEREAS, some of these isolated tracts might be better used as trade lands to help augment and improve other National Forest sections; and,

WHEREAS, in place of a shortsighted plan to make a one-time sacrifice of a portion of our national treasure to aid rural counties, a permanent and sustainable means of assisting them needs to be devised; and,

WHEREAS, development of the tracts to be sold will likely degrade the quality of wildlife habitat in surrounding areas; and,

WHEREAS, there is no guarantee that the development of these lands will not increase the demands on the rural counties for services such as schools, police, and garbage disposal to a point of creating a net tax revenue disadvantage for them,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention in Raleigh, NC on March 11, 2006, opposes the plan to sell off parts of our National Forests in North Carolina as well as in other states and offers that this proposal should be struck from the Federal Budget; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that plans to sell off portions of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management also be removed for all of the aforementioned reasons.

RESOLUTION

SUNDAY HUNTING STUDY

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (the Commission) announced that it had been directed by the North Carolina State Legislature and Governor Easley to conduct a study of the economic and social impact of legal Sunday hunting; and,

WHEREAS, the Commission has already issued a contract for the study and the design is underway; and,

WHEREAS, heretofore Sunday hunting was an issue that no one was willing to publicly raise; and,

WHEREAS, there is considerable interest in Sunday hunting among North Carolina hunters; and,

WHEREAS, many North Carolina hunters purchase licenses and spend monies in South Carolina and Georgia where Sunday hunting is allowed; and,

WHEREAS, men and women who work five days a week or more have limited week-end hunting opportunities and the extra day would expand opportunities for current and new hunters; and,

WHEREAS, youth hunters, male and female, have only one day per week to hunt while school is in session and the extra day would give them additional hunting opportunities and could attract more youth hunters; and,

WHEREAS, Sunday hunting in North Carolina has been and is a contentious issue; and,

WHEREAS, having the social and economic impact of Sunday hunting as the only inputs to the decision making process ignores an important component,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention in Raleigh, NC on March 11, 2006, urges the Commission to make an assessment of the impact of Sunday hunting on wildlife resources and include the results of that assessment in the final discussion and decision making on whether or not to make Sunday hunting legal in North Carolina.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the results of the survey on the social and economic impact of Sunday hunting, as well as the Commission’s assessment of the impact of Sunday hunting on wildlife resources, be made publicly available in a timely fashion.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation awaits the availability of the studies’ results before its careful consideration of whether or not to support Sunday hunting.

RESOLUTION

SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA’S NATIONAL FOREST ROADLESS AREAS

WHEREAS, roadless areas represent the few remaining intact forest habitats within the National Forest system; and,

WHEREAS, these valuable public lands provide some of North Carolina's premier outdoor recreation while buffering many rivers and streams for quality drinking water; and,

WHEREAS, last July, the Bush administration lifted federal protection on roadless areas within National Forests across the country, setting aside a Clinton administration rule that prohibited development on 58 million acres of national forests -- placing over 728,000 acres of the nation’s most pristine forests in jeopardy by opening them up for road construction and logging; and,

WHEREAS, the Bush administration has called for a process in which individual governors must petition for greater or less protection than is called for under existing forest management plans; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Mike Easley petitioned the federal government, which manages our National Forests in North Carolina, to issue rules that would restrict road construction and timber harvesting on the forests that are designated as roadless areas; and,

WHEREAS, Easley’s petition includes roadless areas in the following National Forests: 100,480 acres in Pisgah National Forest; 52,650 acres in Nantahala National Forest; and 20,780 acres in Croatan National Forest; and,

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation fully supports non-fragmented roadless habitat areas in our National Forests, and recognizes the value these unique areas have for wildlife and recreation activities including, but not limited to: Habitat for endangered and threatened species; mega-fauna habitat; and outback camping, hiking and hunting opportunities,.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered in convention at Raleigh, NC on March 11, 2006, recognizes and supports Governor Easley's petition to keep nearly 174,000 acres of our state’s National Forest lands as roadless areas. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation will oppose any attempts to thwart or subvert protection and traditional uses of these important public lands.

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