2008 RESOLUTIONS

REGULATING THE TAKE OF NORTH CAROLINA SNAPPING, MUD, AND MUSK TURTLES

WHEREAS, turtles are disappearing all over the world, making North Carolina turtles a valuable commodity for consumption abroad and in-state. This rapid threat to turtles is well documented and is known as “The Asian Turtle Crisis”; and,

WHEREAS, this is attributed to that demographic population’s increased demand for turtle meat as a prized delicacy food source primarily and due to secondarily presumed medicinal attributes; and,

WHEREAS, an increased turtle harvest is alarming from scientific wildlife management standpoints for the following reasons: turtles are slow to mature and have high egg and hatchling mortality; turtles are long-lived and depend on high survivorship of adults; turtles recruit few individuals annually; large numbers of reproductive adults are being lost to fragmented and disappearing habitats and road-kill; and,

WHEREAS, the threat of over harvesting turtles was justly recognized by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (hereto referred as “Wildlife Commission), conservation groups, and legislators as evidenced by the passage of Senate Bill 825 “Protect Certain Reptiles and Amphibians during the 2003-2004 session of the General Assembly; and,

WHEREAS, this legislation effectively protected Emydad and Trionychid turtles but did not pertain to snapping, mud, or musk turtles; and,

WHEREAS, the Wildlife Commission is attempting to address turtle harvest situation as evidenced by the proposal to limit the take of snapping, mud, and musk turtles to 100 per year and 10 per day; and,

WHEREAS, this proposal rightly addresses the allowance for continued personal harvest as a traditional and legitimate practice for private consumption; and,

WHEREAS, a limit of 100 of turtles in question would affect personal harvest for consumption, and this amount would over-accommodate this constituent base; and,

WHEREAS, a limit of 100 will not be effective in curbing the commercial harvesting of these turtles in question as market driven demand will escalate turtle values and lure in-state and out of state collectors; and,

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation has expressed the aforementioned concerns in comments prepared and provided to the Wildlife Commission on said turtle take regulations; and,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered at the Annual Meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC on February 23, 2008, reconfirms its support for the Wildlife Commission’s efforts to control the over hunting of snapping, musk, and mud turtles in North Carolina.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, in order that implementation of these desired rules may be effectively enforced while at the same time affording opportunities for reasonable taking for personal use, supports establishing a daily bag limit not to exceed 5 snapping, mud or musk turtles in aggregate, and possession limit of 10 of these species in aggregate.

ESTABLISH A WILDLIFE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA: “WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY” CERTIFICATION

WHEREAS, North Carolina is among the most rapidly growing states in the country with a projected population increase of 50% by 2030¹; which has contributed to the loss of 2.37 million acres of North Carolina forestland and cropland during the past 20 years; and the state is estimated to lose an additional 2 million acres of these lands in the next 30 years²; and,

WHEREAS, it is well documented that habitat loss, including fragmentation and degradation, is the leading threat to all flora and fauna, especially endangered and threatened species and species of concern; and,

WHEREAS, given that future development of habitat is imminent, smart growth, as a practical aspect of the conservation puzzle, is needed in order to minimize negative impacts on all wildlife; and,

WHEREAS, in some cases, regulatory measures have not fully realized optimum conservation results, and a market driven initiative may complement current or future regulatory measures; especially given the positive signs that the market demands sustainable building efforts as evidenced by the proliferation of green-building materials and practices, and by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification gaining popularity; and,

WHEREAS, by working together at the early, pre-grading stages of the planning process, developers and planners can minimize the effects of development on wildlife; and with technical guidance,  could avoid inappropriate land disturbance and management while at the same time protecting wildlife or restoring degraded habitats; and,
  
WHEREAS, having criteria for achieving a  terrestrial-based certification, similar to LEED criteria for sustainable building, would guide developers to implement best management practices for wildlife in order to achieve the desirable similar certification status; and,

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has created a comprehensive strategy- the Wildlife Action Plan- for conserving wildlife and habitat which, in conjunction with other science-based resource management principles, would provide the cornerstone criteria for a wildlife accreditation initiative; and,

WHEREAS, additional benefits from such an initiative would include: utilization of native vegetation within the footprint, direct hands on conservation via walking/nature trails, wildlife observation sites, nesting box/feeder programs and a general heightened awareness and appreciation for wildlife; and,

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation currently has established habitat programs for workplaces, homeowners, places of worship, islands and educational facilities that recognize property owner’s efforts to restore, create and enhance acreage for wildlife.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered at the Annual Meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC on February 23, 2008, will work in partnership with the NCWRC and other appropriate entities to establish and launch a wildlife accreditation program for developments to be recognized as wildlife-friendly upon achieving specific best management practices.

SUPPORT FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ON PRIVATE LANDS: TAX RELIEF LEGISLATION

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, and continues to lose 100,000 acres of forests annually, 2,000 acres lost each week; 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).  Moreover 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 rapidly developing 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 Private Use Value Taxation (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,

WHEREAS, during the 2007 session, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed by a vote of 93 to 22 House Bill 1889, which would allow individual landowners up to 100 acres per county to be enrolled in a new wildlife use value category similar to the forestry and agricultural categories.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered at the Annual Meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC on February 23, 2008, calls upon the North Carolina General Assembly to enact House Bill 1889 and any similar legislation to complete the work to remove financial disincentives for private landowners to manage their land for high quality wildlife habitat.

UNITE NC SPORTSMEN FOR CONSERVATION VIA THE NC CAMOUFLAGE COALITION

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation was founded by sportsmen in 1945; and,

WHEREAS, the founders established said "statewide organization for the purpose of promoting and encouraging improvement of wildlife and fishing conditions in North Carolina"; and,

WHEREAS, these founding sportsmen worked for the creation of a science-based wildlife management agency which was accomplished with establishment of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in 1947; and,

WHEREAS, sportsmen’s issues have been a continuous focal point of the Federation’s six decades of conservation efforts as the leading organization working for all North Carolina wildlife and its habitat; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina hunters and anglers have historically been and continue to be among the States’ most committed and effective conservation leaders; and,

WHEREAS, a recent report, “Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy – a Force as Big as All Outdoors,” estimates  approximately one million hunters and anglers reside in North Carolina and contribute $1.7 billion annually to the state’s economy through expenditures on recreation-based activities; and,

WHEREAS, a united sporting community will provide a formidable force in ensuring healthy streams, forests and fields and continuation of a strong hunting, angling, and traditional values heritage; and,

WHEREAS, there has been a proliferation of species-specific sportsman groups established over the years,  including : bow hunters, fox, raccoon, black bear, salt and freshwater anglers, quail, wild turkey, bass, white-tailed deer, waterfowl, and many others; and,

WHEREAS, these entities are very effective voices for their special interests; however, the overall strength and effectiveness of the hunting and angling community can be enhanced by close coordination of these many diverse groups; and,
  
WHEREAS, current issues dictate that sportsmen unite now in common cause and effort to have a powerful impact on the management of natural resources and to counter threats to hunting and fishing values and habitat conservation; and,

WHEREAS, a sportsman’s coalition would provide the necessary unification and mobilization of sportsmen; and,

WHEREAS, such unification would be afforded via a statewide electronic network of North Carolina sportsmen allowing hunters and anglers to monitor important issues that affect hunting, fishing and/or conservation at the local, state and national level; and,

WHEREAS, these coalition members, banded together by the internet, would receive critical and timely information regarding legislation and policy changes that could affect wildlife management and outdoor recreation and that said information will allow members to conveniently and effectively voice their viewpoint to their elected officials.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered at the Annual Meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC on February 23, 2008, will unite hunters and anglers to protect fish and wildlife habitat and the sports of hunting and fishing by establishing the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, demonstrating its commitment to sportsmen, will maintain and operate in full the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition and will ensure that there will be no financial cost for interested sportsmen to join or utilize the services of the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition and that all funds given in support of the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition will be accounted for and spent only on activities of the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation pledges to utilize the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition as a united voice to achieve the common sportsman objective of sound natural resource management at all levels of policy making.