WHEREAS, the loss of tropical forests and other large-scale habitat changes are resulting in reductions of biological diversity worldwide; and
WHEREAS, many traditional approaches to international development have contributed to habitat destruction; and
WHEREAS, international development can be modified so as to promote sustainable projects that allow biological diversity to persist; and
WHEREAS, Congress is seeking to promote sustainable international development through passage of a tropical deforestation bill (HR 2957) and a biological diversity bill (HR 2958), both to be directed through the US Agency for International Development;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Society of Mammalogists supports passage of these and other measures designed to promote international sustainable development and to allow for the persistence of biological diversity.