The 21st Century Schoolhouse
International Youth Environmental Summit Participants
1910 Church Street, S.E.
Salem, Oregon 97302

Dear Summit Participants:

I regret that I am not able to join you at this most important event. I do, however, want to let you know that you have my full support for your efforts. As Secretary of the Interior, my role is to provide leadership to an organization of some 80,000 employees, all working toward protecting and providing access to the natural and cultural heritage of the United States. To achieve this mission, we are working to restore and maintain the health of federally managed lands, waters, and renewable resources and by preserving our natural and cultural heritage for future generations. We also encourage the preservation of diverse plant and animal species and protecting habitat critical to their survival.

When I learned of your activities last year from my friend Phil Keisling, I was excited by the thought of youth around the world working toward a mission very similar to the United States Department of the Interior. Your efforts to educate others about the importance of conservation, preservation, and restoration of our natural resources facilitates the work of the Interior, and I thank you. But more importantly, I thank you for recognizing the interdependence of humans and the environment and working to ensure that our langds, waters, and renewable resources remain healthy.

I am very excited to see the youth of our world working together to make positive environmental changes on the planet we call home. Resource-dependent communities can only be sustained by lands that are in a healthy condition. As we learn more about the factors that affect the health of the land, we can make significant strides in developing and applying sustainable management practices. We must continue to develop cost-effective methods to measure and track the health of the land, and your use of today's technology as a tool for global collaboration and citizenship serves as a model for others.

Congratulations to each and every one of you for the achievements you have made thus far, and best wishes for a successful Summit. Our world faces a brighter future because of your efforts. Best regards.

                       Sincerely,

                        Bruce Babbitt