Investing in America's Natural Resources

• Douglas B. Inkley
• May 27, 2008

America is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. These natural resources are essential for our food, shelter and economic vitality, provide for our physical and spiritual well being, and are integral to what it means to be American.

Since the conservation leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt, millions of Americans have devoted their talents and energies to protecting, restoring and enhancing our country’s natural resources.

Because of global warming, a century of conservation achievements is in jeopardy. It used to be that direct habitat destruction was the most prominent cause of decline and extinction of our nation’s wildlife. Soon this will no longer be the case. Today, global warming has become the single greatest threat to wildlife, and to the natural resources on which we all depend.

Congress has an historic opportunity to help sustain America’s unsurpassed natural legacy for our children and grandchildren. Scientists tell us that cutting global warming pollution by 80 percent by 2050 is the only way we can avoid catastrophic global warming.

This report describes effects of global warming on several types of wildlife habitats in the U.S., and presents the case as to why Congress should pass legislation which:

• Reduces global warming pollution by 2 percent annually through 2050with a cap-and-trade program.
• Invests dedicated financial resources in restoring and protecting natural resources threatened by global warming.