[ Endangered Species ]
WHY DO WE NEED A STRONG ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT?
We are currently faced with the greatest rate of species extinction worldwide since the disappearance of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. More than 50,000 species become extinct worldwide each year. Given this rapid decline in species, within 50 years, one quarter of the world's species could be lost forever. In the United States, more than 500 native plants and animals have disappeared ö 250 of them since 1980.
The dramatic extinction of species, problematic as it is in its own right, is also a stark warning. Plant and animals species are dying off because of the mass destruction of entire ecological systems -- the result of irresponsible action by humans. For example:
- The U.S. has lost more than half its wetlands.
- The U.S. has lost 95-98% of its virgin forests in the lower 48 states.
- At least 80% of the coastline in the lower 48 states has been developed.
The loss of species diversity is an indicator of the ways in which we are imperiling not only plants and animals, but ourselves. Extinctions, past and impending, are warning flags, signaling an emergency that threatens all life on earth.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1973, was enacted to halt this rapid loss of plant and animal life. Frequently referred to as the "crown jewel" of our environmental laws, the ESA has been responsible for saving many species on the brink of extinction, including the bald eagle, grey wolf, and California sea otter.
THE PROBLEM: THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IS UNDER FIERCE ATTACK
The ESA faces a well organized and well funded attack. Anti-ESA groups, including oil and petro-chemical companies, the timber industry, and real estate developers, are bombarding lawmakers and media with horror stories about the Act. Since 1989, anti-ESA industries have contributed nearly $75 million to political candidates. In the 104th Congress alone, $16.5 million in donations were made to political candidates.
This assault has resulted in a very real threat to the ESA -- the introduction of the Kempthorne bill (S.1180). The cosponsors of this bill are Senators Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID), John Chafee (R-RI), Max Baucus (D-MT) and Harry Reid (D-NV). While no environmental groups support this bill, virtually every organization and industry that has been working to undermine the ESA have endorsed the Kempthorne bill. In addition, it appears that President Clinton may support this bill.
S.1180 will roll back essential protections for endangered species in a number of ways, including by further delaying the listing of threatened and endangered species and undermining recovery of species. This bill is moving through the Senate at an incredibly rapid rate: in a fourteen-day stretch in September, the bill was introduced, discussed in a single hearing, and was approved by the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works by a vote of 15-3.
THE SOLUTION: WE NEED TO SAVE AND STRENGTHEN THE ESA.
Both wildlife and wild places must be protected. Extinction is forever. The PIRGs have been working over the past several years to defend the ESA from special interest attacks. To date, we have successfully defended the ESA, but the battle to save the ESA is far from over.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been responsible for halting the extinction of many species and protecting many unique and valuable ecosystems. Thus, we need to ensure that the current ESA is not rolled back in Congress. In particular, we need to make sure that the Kempthorne bill (S.1180), in its present form, never makes it to the President's desk for signature.
While the current ESA is better than a substantially weakened Act, the ESA does need to be strengthened if we are to stave off the extinction of many more species. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) have introduced the Endangered Species Recovery Act (H.R. 2351) as a means of both strengthening current protections for threatened and endangered species and drawing support way from the Kempthorne bill. There are currently 86 cosponsors supporting this bipartisan bill.
H.R. 2351 would improve the ESA by: (1) protecting imperiled species and their habitats faster; (2) promoting true species recovery rather than keeping species on the brink of extinction; and (3) offering financial incentives for landowners who manage their property in a way that promotes the recovery of species.
With Congress and the Clinton Administration threatening to undo over 20 years of conservation, write a letter to President Clinton to express your outrage over S.1180 and tell him that he should support legislation that will protect, rather than doom, our precious natural heritage. |
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