115 



Although The Nature Conservancy believes the existing authorizing legislation is very sound, 

 we currently support three issues to be considered in reauthorization. 



Issues for Reauthorization 



The Nature Conservancy supports three minor changes to the authorizing legislation. First, 

 we believe the Foundation should be reauthorized through FY1998, with an authorized ceiling of 

 $25 million annually. 



Second, the legislation should specifically include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration (NOAA) as a specified agency for cooperative projects, to solidify the existing 

 relationship between the Foundation and NOAA, and to help bring additional resources to the agency. 



Third, the Foundation's Board of Directors should be expanded from nine to 15, with a 

 minimum of four of the 15 to be "educated and experienced in principles of fish and wildlife 

 management." Given that all Foundation operating funds must be raised from private sources, an 

 active and dedicated Board is extremely important. 



Conclusion 



In closing, I'd like to emphasize three points. First, the Foundation has forged many creative 

 and effective conservation partnerships since its inception in 1984, partially demonstrated by the 

 projects described above. Second, the Foundation has provided tremendous leveraging of resources 

 for these projects, stretching $28.7 million of federally-appropriated funds into over $90 million for 

 conservation: a ratio of $2.03 of non-federal money for every $1 appropriated to the Foundation. 

 Last, we support reauthorizing legislation which includes a $25 million annual authorization through 

 FY 1998, recognition of NOAA as a specified agency for cooperative projects, and an increase in the 

 number of individuals on the Board of Directors to 15. 



Thank you. 



