III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 598 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for the United States 

to lead renewed international efforts to assist developing nations in 

conserving natural resources and preventing the impending extinction 

of a large portion of the world’s plant and animal species. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 24 (legislative day, JUNE 23), 2008 

Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Ms. SNOWE, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. KERRY, 

Mr. SPECTER, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. BAYH, Ms. 

STABENOW, and Mr. FEINGOLD) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for 

the United States to lead renewed international efforts 

to assist developing nations in conserving natural resources and preventing the impending extinction of a 

large portion of the world’s plant and animal species. 

Whereas scientists estimate that approximately 1⁄10 of the 

world’s known biological diversity is currently in danger 

of extinction, including at least 1⁄4 of all mammals, 1⁄3 of 

all primates, 1⁄3 of all amphibians, and 1⁄8 of all birds; 

Whereas scientists have concluded that the initial stages of 

a major worldwide extinction event are occurring now 

and have estimated that by the end of the 21st century 


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as much as 2⁄3 of the world’s plant and animal species 

could be in danger of extinction; 

Whereas scientists estimate that approximately 3⁄4 of the 

world’s terrestrial plant and animal species reside in 

whole or in part in developing nations, where in many 

cases poor management of natural resources has exacerbated the threat of extinction to many species and directly harmed local communities; 

Whereas, in addition to producing 20 percent of the world’s 

carbon emissions, unsustainable forestry practices and illegal logging operations have led to the destruction of 

vast areas of forested land around the world, which, in 

turn, has led to species loss, increased flooding, erosion, 

insect infestations, and higher incidences of malaria and 

other infectious diseases; 

Whereas the degradation of the marine environment and 

unsustainable fishing practices in many parts of the 

world have led to dramatic declines of many fish and 

other marine species; 

Whereas the introduction of invasive species threatens natural habitats; 

Whereas scientists have concluded that many species could 

face an increased risk of extinction from global climate 

change; 

Whereas sound natural resource management and the conservation of species and habitats are vital to alleviating 

poverty for many communities in developing countries 

that depend on these resources for their livelihoods, food, 

medicinal compounds, housing material, and other necessities; 


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•SRES 598 IS 

Whereas there are significant risks to the global and national 

economies from the destruction of natural resources 

around the world and the valuable services they provide, 

such as water and air purification, soil fertility and erosion control, flood and drought mitigation, protection 

from storm surges, and the sequestration of carbon; 

Whereas human encroachment into natural ecosystems increases opportunities for the emergence and transmission 

of new animal-borne diseases that could cause high levels 

of human mortality and affect major global industries including travel, trade, tourism, food production, and finance; 

Whereas loss of species can jeopardize important future pharmaceutical discoveries, given that more than 1⁄4 of all medicinal drugs possess active ingredients from wild species 

and that at least 1⁄2 of the most prescribed medicines in 

the United States are derived from natural compounds; 

Whereas natural pollinators and the opportunities of wild and 

domesticated crossbreeding are vital to world and United 

States agriculture; 

Whereas poverty aggravated by natural resource degradation 

contributes to political instability, ethnic and sectarian 

conflict, and the social conditions that can fuel increased 

violence and terrorism; 

Whereas the extinction of plant and animal species raises 

profound ethical questions, and many religious traditions 

call upon human beings to act as good stewards of the 

Earth; 

Whereas opportunities for sustainably managing natural resources and conserving viable populations of species and 

their habitats rapidly diminish every year; 


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Whereas a substantial body of academic and field research 

has identified global strategies and market based approaches for better managing natural resources and protecting biological diversity; 

Whereas strategic large-scale and site-specific habitat conservation could help to buffer the impacts of climate 

change on endangered species and human communities; 

Whereas an effective international conservation effort that 

ensures the use of natural resources on a sustainable 

basis and prevents the worst predicted extinction scenarios from unfolding will require commitment and action 

from all nations; and 

Whereas the United States traditional role in confronting 

international challenges, protecting the environment, expanding opportunities for people, and articulating a 

moral vision for global action gives the Nation the opportunity to lead an international conservation effort: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) the Government should make full use of 

3 Federal laws, regulations and policies, diplomatic 

4 agreements, and other appropriate mechanisms to— 

5 (A) identify global conservation goals that 

6 help ensure the sustainable use of natural re7 sources and protect biological diversity in ter8 restrial and marine environments of developing 

9 countries; 

10 (B) focus international conservation efforts 

11 on natural areas that are important biodiversity 


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1 conservation priorities and for which there is a 

2 good likelihood of success; 

3 (C) raise the international profile of the 

4 debate by putting the issue of rapidly declining 

5 global biodiversity and poor natural resource 

6 management on the agenda of major inter7 national decision-making bodies; 

8 (D) work with other donor nations to in9 crease funding and other support for global 

10 conservation strategies that focus on achieving 

11 each of the goals identified in subparagraphs 

12 (A) through (C); and 

13 (E) achieve meaningful progress in the 

14 next 5 years toward the goals identified in sub15 paragraphs (A) through (C); 

16 (2) the United States should use diplomatic 

17 mechanisms, relevant international institutions and 

18 agreements, and other appropriate mechanisms to 

19 lead other nations toward the goals and actions iden20 tified in paragraph (1); and 

21 (3) the efforts of Federal agencies should re22 flect a recognition of the extreme urgency of the 

23 problem and recognize that opportunities for in24 creased conservation are rapidly dwindling, by annu25 ally providing to the appropriate Committees of ConVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:36 Jun 25, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR598.IS SR598

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1 gress progress reports and action plans with regard 

2 to the goals and activities identified in paragraphs 

3 (1) and (2). 

Æ 


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