Feature Story

In another 1947 resolution, the Federation urged that all violations for game and fish laws be enforced by all officials, and directed Federation chapters to make contact with their respective officials to call this to their attention and see that violators are properly prosecuted with commensurate punishment. Over the years, there have been similar resolutions. Getting local officials to prosecute wildlife violations to the full extent of the law has been an ongoing concern.

Many of the early resolutions are targeted directly to the US Congress as well as federal agencies. A 1947 resolution encourages the US Attorney General to assign a special counsel to prepare condemnation suits for trial to complete the acquisition of properties for the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.

There is a 1949 resolution to Congress objecting to reduced funding for US Forest Service, another in 1956 to earmark funds from forest receipts to improve recreation and wildlife habitat, and another in 1957 supporting the expansion of US forestry programs. There are several resolutions beginning in 1956 urging Congress to allow the use of funds from duck stamp sales for land acquisition. A 1959 resolution petitions Congress to double the sewage treatment plant construction grant program.

Conservation Education resolutions began to appear in 1960, when a resolution requests that the State Commissioner of Education appoint a permanent Conservation Education Committee to promote conservation education in schools and colleges. This resolution was again passed in 1961. A 1963 resolution commends the Commissioner of Education for the Joint Conservation Education Conference that was held fall of 1962 and urges that it be held annually in the fall of each year. Another resolution in 1963 requested college teacher preparatory institutions to require a 2–3-hour course in conservation and natural resource management for all teacher certification and that summer workshops be offered for graduate and undergraduate credit.

A 1964 resolution calls for the establishment of a 501(c)3 conservation education Foundation. This was followed by a 1965 resolution commending the Conservation Education Association for resource leadership and for publishing a 1965 directory of conservation workshops and courses offered during the summer sessions in the various colleges of the US and Canada.

A 1966 resolution commends the Conservation Education Association and presidents of a number of colleges for instituting conservation education courses. A 1968 resolution urges a requirement that elementary teachers receive 5 hours of training in natural resources education for certification by 1975.

As one would expect, many resolutions were drafted to MDC and the Commission regarding fisheries and wildlife management. These ranged from access to trout fishing, urging increased habitat management for upland game, deer and turkey population research and management, license fees, seasons and limits, waterfowl hunting areas, and more. A 1967 resolution directed MDC to NOT hold convention during turkey season; up until that time, most of the conventions took place in April.

Along with requests, there are many resolutions thanking the Commission for their work, including this one from 1961: “inasmuch as fishing and fishing waters …have been so well managed, the fisheries committee finds itself at a loss to find more than a very few suggestions for improvements, and with this obvious happy fishing situation in mind…. commends the Commission and State Park Board for a job well done.”

One can begin to see the beginnings of the environmental movement in resolutions from the mid to late 1960s, and for the fight to come in the Meramec River basin. A 1966 resolution endorses the principle of establishing a Federal Department of Natural Resources similar to provision of Senator Mosse’s bill in the Senate which would give Cabinet status (the EPA was formed in 1970). There are resolutions on reclamation of open pit mining, support for the Wilderness Act and National Scenic Riverways designations. A sampling of resolutions from 1966-1969 includes the following.

• Recommend residents of the Meramec Basin initiate proceedings to secure a Meramec Basin Conservancy District as soon as possible.

• A statement of philosophy that CFM will work for conservation of soil and water resources, assist in watershed protection and flood prevention, and support greater contribution of state funds for watershed planning

• Support the principle of highway beautification, including regulation of bill boards so Missouri can qualify for $23 million under the Federal highway beautification program.

• Study the formation of a state DNR and what it should include

• Commend the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife of the Interior Department for developing an endangered species program

• Support bills to improve joint land and water conservation programs under local sponsorship and SCS

• Stand in firm opposition to any lowering of water quality standards on rivers and streams

• Support increased funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund by adding revenues from the outer continental shelf lands

• Recognizes population as the ultimate conservation problem and calls for a Governor’s conference on Population

• Ban the use of DDT

• Earmark marine fuels tax for construction and maintenance of boating and other public access to public waters

Finally, CFM has passed many resolutions related to maintaining the Conservation Commission’s authority and funding, including the following:

• A 1957 resolution opposing legislation that would allow old-age pensioners to hunt and fish without permits.

• A 1957 resolution opposing HB204 that would cut $500,000 from the appropriation of Commission funds.

• A 1963 resolution encouraging the Governor to fill a vacancy on the Commission by appointing someone who has “demonstrated an abiding belief in and a true understanding of the fundamentals of conservation.”

• Another 1963 resolution opposing legislation that would repeal the statute giving the Commission their penalty provisions, and,

• In 1969, opposing a bill to add a $0.45 tax on all fishing and hunting permits to go into general revenue and be earmarked to provide free fishing and hunter privileges to the aged.

This dive into the history of CFM of resolutions has become something of a rabbit hole. I believe the subject to be worthy of a Master’s degree correlating Missouri’s (and the nation’s) conservation histories and CFM resolutions. We know the big stories – the formation of the Conservation Commission, the 1976 Design for Conservation sales tax, and the Parks, Soils and Water sales taxes. No doubt there are many smaller stories to be told.

Ginny Wallace CFM Vice President and Resolutions Chair