impacts as a result of unsustainable human activities, which
have created a growing crisis relative to biodiversity that is
driven by climate change, habitat loss, invasive organisms,
pollution and illegal wildlife trafficking; and
WHEREAS, Federal and State legislation, including the Federal
Endangered Species Act, established a means through which
threatened and endangered species and ecosystems may be
conserved and protected; and
WHEREAS, In 1974 and 1978, legislation was enacted to provide
the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission with jurisdiction over
the Commonwealth's amphibian and reptile populations; and
WHEREAS, These legislative measures have been designed to
help prevent or, at the very least, help slow the rate of
extinction of threatened and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
considers the bog turtle, massasauga rattlesnake, Kirtland's
snake, rough green snake and eastern mud turtle to be endangered
reptile species in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission has listed the red-bellied turtle, Blanding's turtle,
broadhead skink and timber rattlesnake as reptiles deemed to be
threatened species; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize October
21, 2020, as "Reptile Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Commonwealth observe and promote "Reptile
Awareness Day" as a means of encouraging learning about the
natural habitats of reptiles and the ecological threats that
reptiles face, both here in the Commonwealth and throughout the
world.
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