16 U.S.C. § 2901: Congressional findings and…

Summary

Provides money and technical help to States so they can make, update, and carry out plans to protect nongame fish and wildlife. Says fish and wildlife are valuable for nature, learning, beauty, culture, recreation, jobs, and science. Notes that better protection of nongame species will help restore wildlife and improve the environment. Points out many city residents have few chances to enjoy or learn about wildlife. Observes that past conservation money came mostly from hunting and fishing fees and taxes and that this is not enough for nongame species. Urges States to work with federal, local, and regional partners on plans for native species. Has two main goals: 1) give financial and technical assistance to States for nongame conservation plans and programs; and 2) encourage all federal departments and agencies to use their legal authority, as much as possible and consistent with their duties, to conserve nongame fish and wildlife and their habitats.

Title 16, §2901

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Findings

The Congress finds and declares the following:

(1)Fish and wildlife are of ecological, educational, esthetic, cultural, recreational, economic, and scientific value to the Nation.

(2)The improved conservation and management of fish and wildlife, particularly nongame fish and wildlife, will assist in restoring and maintaining fish and wildlife and in assuring a productive and more esthetically pleasing environment for all citizens.

(3)Many citizens, particularly those residing in urban areas, have insufficient opportunity to participate in recreational and other programs designed to foster human interaction with fish and wildlife and thereby are unable to have a greater appreciation and awareness of the environment.

(4)Historically, fish and wildlife conservation programs have been focused on the more recreationally and commercially important species within any particular ecosystem. As a consequence such programs have been largely financed by hunting and fishing license revenues or excise taxes on certain hunting and fishing equipment. These traditional financing mechanisms are neither adequate nor fully appropriate to meet the conservation needs of nongame fish and wildlife.

(5)Each State should be encouraged to develop, revise, and implement, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and local and regional agencies, a plan for the conservation of fish and wildlife, particularly those species which are indigenous to the State.

(b)Purpose

It is the purpose of this chapter—

(1)to provide financial and technical assistance to the States for the development, revision, and implementation of conservation plans and programs for nongame fish and wildlife; and

(2)to encourage all Federal departments and agencies to utilize their statutory and administrative authority, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with each agency’s statutory responsibilities, to conserve and to promote conservation of nongame fish and wildlife and their habitats, in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 96–366, § 1, Sept. 29, 1980, 94 Stat. 1322, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980’.”

§2901 Congressional Findings and Declaration of Purpose

Summary

Title 16, §2901

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Citations & Metadata