Resolution on Collecting and Export of New Guinea Wildlife

WHEREAS, the Territory of Papua and New Guinea contains a unique and valuable mammalian fauna, and

WHEREAS, the fauna must be considered fragile and badly in need of protective regulations, and

WHEREAS, the fauna and ecosystems involved are poorly known at present, requiring much more scientific study and collecting, and

WHEREAS, scientific expeditions for the purpose of such study and collecting require massive amounts of scientific time and expertise,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists commends the administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea and the Conservator of Fauna for their conservation regulations, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists respectfully requests the governing authorities, in their continuing formulation and reviews of regulations, to consider the economics and other problems involved in scientific collecting, and to enforce such regulations in such a way as not to hinder the gathering of scientific materials and their continuing study by scientists and institutions.