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STATEMENT OF GARY TAYLOR, LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL, 

 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE 

 AGENCIES 



Mr. Taylor. I am Gary Taylor. I am Legislative Counsel for the 

 International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and we ap- 

 preciate the opportunity to share with you today our perspectives 

 on H.R. 4308, reauthorization of the North American Wetlands 

 Conservation Act. 



As you are aware, Mr. Chairman, the Association represents the 

 public agencies charged with the conservation of fish and wildlife 

 resources in North America, and all 50 State fish and wildlife agen- 

 cies are members of the Association. 



The Association enthusiastically supports H.R. 4308 and the 

 graduated increases in the funding authorization levels over the 

 next .five years provided for in this proposal. We appreciate the 

 support of Congressman Dingell, yourself and the Committee for 

 the Act and for sponsoring its reauthorization. We truly believe 

 this is an excellent example of the application of an ecosystem or 

 landscape perspective management approach to the conservation of 

 our natural resources. 



Additionally, its outstanding success over a relatively short pe- 

 riod of time also reflects the value of the partnerships between the 

 private citizens and landowners, conservation organizations, and 

 State and Federal Governments engendered by the Act. 



We believe that the North American Wetlands Conservation Act 

 is certainly a model to be emulated as we seek to more comprehen- 

 sively address the conservation of the natural resources of the 

 United States for the enjoyment of our citizens, both present and 

 future. 



As you are aware, Mr. Chairman, the lAFWA was one of the 

 original supporters of the North American Waterfowl Management 

 Plan and subsequently the North American Wetlands Conservation 

 Act. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan became one 

 of the building blocks for the Act, and in 1988, $1 million from the 

 States and $1 million from Ducks Unlimited was matched with $2 

 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and lever- 

 aged with $4 million from Canada to support wetlands conserva- 

 tion efforts in Canada, providing opportunities to conserve the prin- 

 cipal nesting grounds for many of our migratory birds, both game 

 and nongame. 



Early efforts in implementing the North American plan dem- 

 onstrated how successful these partnerships could be and provided 

 an important impetus for the Act to bring together and fund the 

 vision and commitment of a broad array of conservationists dedi- 

 cated to reversing the decline in the loss of wetlands habitats and 

 associated wildlife species in North America. 



Unquestionably, the Act has been a tremendous success. Since 

 first funded in 1990, over 275 projects have been approved. 105 

 million Federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act dollars 

 have been approximately doubled by over $202 million partner 

 funds, well in excess of the 1 to 1 required match. This exemplary 

 program offers outstanding returns on the Federal investment in 

 wetland ecosystem conservation. 



