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WESTERN SHOSHONE NATIONAL COUNCIL 

 P.O. BOX 140115 

 DUCKWATER, NV 89314-0115 

 TELEPHONE/FACSIMILE: (702) 863-0332 



^s^te?;: 



February 18, 1993 



To: House of Representative 



Committee on National Resources 



Sub-Committee 



Native American Affairs 



From: Western Shoshone Wildlife S. Plant Resource Commission 



Subject: Management of Wildlife and etc. 



Management problems of fishery and wildlife conservation are as varied 

 and as changing as the habitats themselves. They depend on various kinds of 

 land use and on human population pressure. Basically, the role of wildlife 

 management is to keep animal populations optimal, diversified, and hannonized 

 with the environment in order to satisfy the needs of man. These needs are 

 economic, recreational, scientific, educational, social. A sound management 

 policy also requires some basic conservation concepts, including ecological 

 and biological considerations and a respect for native plants and animals, 

 which should always have priority over exotic species. The development and 

 application of management measures to obtain the greatest sustained public 

 benefit from wildlife, or any other natural resource, should never be allowed 

 to go so far as to threaten a species or subspecies with extinction. 



Wildlife management includes restoring, protecting, conserving, and 

 maintaining animal populations. All these stages require successful co- 

 operation with the environment, a long-term, ecologically based policy, and 

 synchronization with other kinds of land use within and outside the area 

 involved. No management can ever be successful if it is not based on biolog- 

 ical research. 



Modern wildlife management must function by planning ahead, foreseeing 

 the future's tremendous human pressure on habitat and wild animals. It can 

 draw a great deal from numerous human mistakes and land misuse during past 

 centuries to reduce as far as possible man's detrimental impact on the en- 

 vironment and wildlife. Much of the damage done to wildlife and its habitats 

 during past centuries is irreparable. Nevertheless management measures 

 should include environmental restorations designed to put back the natural 

 interactions that lead to wildlife fertility in a healthy landscape. 



