R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, Among the many environmental problems that threaten

 1-2     the health, economic, and political well-being of the United States

 1-3     and the world at large, the destruction of the planet's tropical

 1-4     rain forests is of paramount concern; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, These lush and vibrant regions lying in the

 1-6     equatorial areas of Central and South America, Africa, and

 1-7     Southeast Asia are the richest, oldest, and most productive and

 1-8     complex ecosystems in the world; rain forests cover less than two

 1-9     percent of the earth's surface but are home to over half of all

1-10     life forms on the planet; and

1-11           WHEREAS, In addition to their beauty and biological

1-12     diversity, rain forests provide flood control, reduce topsoil

1-13     erosion, and perform the vital function of transforming carbon

1-14     dioxide into life-sustaining oxygen; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The wealth of resources present in these areas has

1-16     led to their destruction by logging, cattle ranching, mining, oil

1-17     extraction, construction of hydroelectric dams, and subsistence

1-18     farming; scientists estimate that at current rates of

1-19     deforestation, equaling approximately 78,000,000 acres per year,

1-20     between 80 and 90 percent of the world's total rain forests will be

1-21     destroyed by the year 2020; and

1-22           WHEREAS, To stem this rapid rate of destruction, federal

1-23     agencies involved in international relations and the promotion of

1-24     agriculture and industry abroad, such as the Department of

 2-1     Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of State,

 2-2     and the Agency for International Development, should develop

 2-3     policies that help conserve these precious resources and promote

 2-4     sustainable development in rain forest areas; now, therefore, be it

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-6     Legislature hereby commend those Texans who have actively sought to

 2-7     preserve these natural resources and encourage all Texans to be

 2-8     mindful of world conservation policies to promote the preservation

 2-9     of our irreplaceable rain forests.

                                                                      Wilson

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 1031 was adopted by the House on May

         21, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House