By:  Brown                                            S.C.R. No. 66

                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Generations of Texans, from timber harvesters in the

 1-2     east to cattle ranchers in the west, have always known that good

 1-3     stewardship of the land is the smartest and simplest way to ensure

 1-4     that the valuable natural resources that fuel our economy are

 1-5     renewed and protected for the future; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Among our many natural resources, Texas wetlands are

 1-7     one of the most extensive and valuable; they provide the link

 1-8     between land and water and are present throughout the state; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, These unique ecosystems are recognized for the many

1-10     benefits they provide to both the environment and the economy,

1-11     including the control of flood and erosion, water purification and

1-12     groundwater recharge, fish and wildlife habitat, commercial fishing

1-13     and hunting opportunities, and areas for recreation and nature

1-14     tourism; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Current estimates indicate that Texas has lost over

1-16     half of its original wetlands as a consequence of our state's

1-17     growing need for food, fiber, housing, and industrial development;

1-18     while meeting these needs is essential to maintaining the economic

1-19     health of Texas, wetlands are now recognized as having inherent

1-20     ecological and financial benefits that warrant action to protect,

1-21     preserve, and renew these areas; and

1-22           WHEREAS, With 97 percent of all land in the state owned and

1-23     controlled by private landowners, their input and participation is

 2-1     absolutely essential for successful conservation efforts; rather

 2-2     than burdening landowners with additional regulations, state

 2-3     agencies have sought to establish an ongoing partnership and

 2-4     dialogue with private citizens to create new and innovative methods

 2-5     for wetlands management; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, The Texas Wetlands Conservation Plan, drafted by the

 2-7     Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, presents a nonregulatory,

 2-8     voluntary approach to conserving wetlands in this state;

 2-9     formulation of the plan brought groups representing diverse

2-10     interests together to create solutions to problems, including

2-11     education, economic incentives, conservation, private ownership,

2-12     and governmental relations; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Under the leadership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife

2-14     Department, the conservation plan was developed and supported by

2-15     such governmental agencies as the Texas General Land Office, the

2-16     Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Texas Forest

2-17     Service, the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Agricultural

2-18     Extension Service, the Texas Department of Transportation, the

2-19     Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas State Soil and Water

2-20     Conservation Board, the United States Department of Agriculture's

2-21     Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the United States Fish

2-22     and Wildlife Service; and

2-23           WHEREAS, The Texas Wetlands Conservation Plan also was

2-24     developed and supported by the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas

2-25     Chemical Council, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers

 3-1     Association, Champion International Corporation, the Texas

 3-2     Utilities Service, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers, International

 3-3     Paper, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Texas Rural

 3-4     Development Council, the Big Thicket Association, the Wetland

 3-5     Habitat Alliance of Texas, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy

 3-6     of Texas, and the Texas Committee on Natural Resources; and

 3-7           WHEREAS, Public input was also solicited from private

 3-8     landowners, and notice of the plan's availability for public review

 3-9     and comment was advertised in the Texas Register, the Texas Review

3-10     and Comment System, the Parks and Wildlife Department's Internet

3-11     site, and in more than 40 special interest newsletters around the

3-12     state; and

3-13           WHEREAS, The extensive formulation process of the Texas

3-14     Wetlands Conservation Plan over the last three years has

3-15     incorporated the views and suggestions of all affected parties, and

3-16     the plan itself is a common sense approach for managing wetlands

3-17     across the state through voluntary conservation efforts; now,

3-18     therefore, be it

3-19           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

3-20     hereby support the implementation of the Texas Wetlands

3-21     Conservation Plan; and, be it further

3-22           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

3-23     copy of this resolution to the members of the Parks and Wildlife

3-24     Commission and the executive director of the Texas Parks and

3-25     Wildlife Department.