APPENDIX 



HONORABLE ALCEE L. HASTINGS 

 STATEMENT ON "AFRICA'S ECOLOGICAL FUTURE" 

 SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA 

 JUNE 21, 1995 



MADAME CHAIRWOMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS 

 HEARING TODAY DURING A CRITICAL PERIOD FOR AFRICA. THE ISSUES WE 

 WILL DISCUSS TODAY ARE PERTINENT NOT ONLY TO AFRICA, BUT TO THE 

 WHOLE WORLD, AS THE ENVIRONMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL BEAR A 

 SACRED RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE AND DEFEND. 



THERE IS A GROWING FEAR OF AFRICA'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO 

 FEED AND EMPLOY ITS RAPIDLY EXPANDING POPULATION. YET, AT A TIME 

 WHEN AFRICA IS EXPERIENCING MUCH ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, WE ARE 

 EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF 

 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. IN OUR VIEW, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RANKS 

 AS A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN THE PRESERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND NATURAL 

 RESOURCES. HOWEVER, UPON CLOSER SCRUTINY, IT IS APPARENT THAT THE 

 PRESERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE MOVEMENT 

 TOWARDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY. THERE IS A CLEAR 

 CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES TODAY 

 AND BETTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY TOMORROW. 



TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR AFRICA AS TROPICAL DEFORESTATION IS 

 REACHING ALARMING PROPORTIONS, LEADING TO CLIMATIC CHANGES AND 

 DEgERTIFICATION. AS THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO 

 DECLINE, PRECIOUS LAND AND MONEY ARE BEING LOST RATHER THAN GAINED. 



THE ECONOMIC AND SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE 

 GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL MORASS IN AFRICA. THE 

 RECENTLY DIMINISHED FOREIGN ASSISTANCE DEVOTED TO AFRICA WILL 

 PROVIDE LITTLE RESOURCES FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, 

 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION HAS MADE IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR 

 AFRICA TO DEVELOP AS A PRODUCTIVE MARKETPLACE FOR AMERICAN GOODS. 

 BOTH CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR 

 THESE VARIOUS ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY NO LEGISLATION HAS BEEN 

 SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. 



THE MUCH MALIGNED A.I.D HAS IN FACT BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN 

 PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND FOSTERING CONSERVATION 

 EFFORTS. PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO SLOW DOWN THE 

 DISTURBING RATES OF DEFORESTATION BY RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT, 

 REFORESTATION EFFORTS AND AGRO FORESTRY TECHNIQUES. HOWEVER, THERE 

 STILL REMAINS MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH. 



MADAME CHAIRWOMAN, I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH A UNION OF 

 TECHNOLOGY, PERSISTENT U.S ENCOURAGEMENT, AND WELL-DIRECTED 

 MONETARY SUPPORT THAT WE CAN THWART THE RAPID DEPLETION OF AFRICA'S 

 RICH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. WE MUST END THE THREAT TO HER 

 BIODIVERSITY AND PROTECT THE BREATHTAKING MAJESTY OF THIS 

 CONTINENT . 



I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN WELCOMING OUR MANY DISTINGUISHED 

 WITNESSES AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR TESTIMONY. 



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