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littio comprchenaivo information on what is here, what is sensitive, 

 rare and endangexed and wher*? fhpse unique species and natural 

 communities are. * 



Without much better data, every economic development proposal is 

 Eiibjp.ct to the criricigrn that "Oh, ycu can't or Ehouldn't do that. .." 

 because of the purported unsubstantiated impact on a particular species 

 or ecosysteni. Good data will serve everyone's long-terra interest. 



Several specific tsteps can and must be taken to begin the process 

 of increasing our knowledge of the biological diversity in the Black 

 Hills: 



The Nature Conservancy supports the Black Hills Forest 

 staff request for $115,000 in the FYS! budget to begin a 3- 

 yeac compreheasiva Natural Heritage inventory initiativo.^ 

 Our organisation is coinraltted to a Bubstantlal role in this 

 3-year initiative. 



Wo support ths passage of legislation establishing the 

 Natural Biological Survey that is currently under 

 consideration in the Congress (H.R. 1845). 



The last Congress, through efforts by the South Dakota 

 Congressional delegation, authorized the South Dakota 

 Biological Diversity Trust in the omnibus Vfater bill. We 

 believe that thia Truat io the vehicle by which the state 

 can deal with long-term necdo for more effective offorte to 

 conserve biological diversity. 



The Nature Conservancy .<;upporr8 erforts within the Black Hills 

 National Forest Revision Plan to designate a number of additional 

 special interest areas and research natural area.^ within the Forest. 

 We believe that these special areas recognize an irreplaceable natural 

 resource to the ttate and that the conservation of these areas is a 

 very aigniticant Step toward protecting overall biodiversity in the 

 Black Hills. 



Mi. Chairman, 1 want, to complimenC the .Senate Small Business 

 Coramictee for cominc to South Dakota to gain input concerning these 

 important issues. The diverse opiiions put forth represent the 

 importance of finding the "balance" that rauct exist between onar need 

 for economic viability and our need to conserve and enhance the natural 

 world and the biodiversity that ic key to suetaining this earth. 



Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony today. 



Joseph A. Satrom 

 Dakotaa Field Offic<3 

 The Nature Conservancy 



