By Brown S.C.R. No. 66 75R10679 EFD-D 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 in the Panhandle, East 1-9 Texas, and along the entire Gulf Coast; and 1-10 WHEREAS, These unique ecosystems are recognized for the many 1-11 benefits they provide to both the environment and the economy, 1-12 including the control of flood and erosion, water purification and 1-13 groundwater recharge, fish and wildlife habitat, fishing and 1-14 hunting opportunities, and areas for recreation and nature tourism; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, Current estimates indicate that Texas has lost over 1-17 half of its original wetlands as a consequence of our state's 1-18 growing need for food, fiber, housing, and industrial development; 1-19 while meeting these needs is essential to maintaining the economic 1-20 health of Texas, wetlands are now recognized as having inherent 1-21 ecological and financial benefits that warrant action to protect, 1-22 preserve, and renew these areas; and 1-23 WHEREAS, With 97 percent of all land in the state owned and 1-24 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 dialog 2-4 with private citizens to create new and innovative methods for 2-5 wetlands management; and 2-6 WHEREAS, The Texas Wetlands Conservation Plan, drafted by the 2-7 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, presents a non-regulatory, 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 Soil and Water 2-20 Conservation Service, the United States Department of Agriculture's 2-21 Natural Resource 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 2-26 Association, Champion International Corporation, the Texas 2-27 Utilities Services, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers, International 3-1 Paper, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Texas Rural 3-2 Development Council, the Big Thicket Association, the Wetland 3-3 Habitat Alliance of Texas, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy 3-4 of Texas, and the Texas Committee on Natural Resources; and 3-5 WHEREAS, Public input was also solicited from private 3-6 landowners, and notice of the plan's availability for public review 3-7 and comment was advertised in the Texas Register, the Texas Review 3-8 and Comment System, the Parks and Wildlife Department's Internet 3-9 site, and in more than 40 special interest newsletters around the 3-10 state; and 3-11 WHEREAS, The extensive formulation process of the Texas 3-12 Wetlands Conservation Plan over the last three years has 3-13 incorporated the views and suggestions of all affected parties, and 3-14 the plan itself is a common sense approach for managing wetlands 3-15 across the state through voluntary conservation efforts; now, 3-16 therefore, be it 3-17 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-18 hereby support the implementation of the Texas Wetlands 3-19 Conservation Plan; and, be it further 3-20 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 3-21 copy of this resolution to the members of the Parks and Wildlife 3-22 Commission and the executive director of the Parks and Wildlife 3-23 Department.