We maintain that state and federal wildlife agencies should focus on preserving and re-establishing habitat for wild animals, instead of practicing game species management for maximum sustainable yield. Protection of native animals and plants in their natural surroundings must be given priority over economic development plans. Where possible, native species should be reintroduced to areas from which they have been eradicated. Furthermore, drainage of wetlands and development of shore areas must be stopped immediately. Internationally, the U.S. government should take steps to prevent further destruction of wilderness, such as rain forests.
Funding is needed to expand public germplasm banks and genetic preserves.
In addition, companies holding private seed stock should be required to make it available to the public germplasm banks and to return older, open-pollinating varieties to the market. Farmers in the Third World should be encouraged and supported to continue growing remaining cultivars. We should also encourage a broader range of cultivated fruit, vegetable, and grain varieties, similar to the diversity that existed early in this century before seed companies came into existence. We support ethical and humane treatment of animals and ecologically sound utilization of plants for food or decoration, while recognizing the value of their species' existence and the integrity of the biotic communities to which they belong. A substantial body of evidence suggests not only that effective alternative testing methods exist, but that a different overall philosophy might ultimately be far more effective and safer in promoting human health.