Endangered Species Act at risk
Extinction is forever. Scientists – not Congress – should be making decisions about which species need protection. The Endangered Species Act is a law of last resort; species are only listed after state management has proven insufficient to protect habitat and prevent extinction. Rather than focusing on “modernization” of a law that works, Congress should improve the law’s implementation by fully funding recovery efforts for endangered species.
The Endangered Species Act is our nation’s most effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction. It has prevented 99 percent of species under its care from going extinct. One of its greatest success stories is our national symbol, the bald eagle.
Recent legislation - nine House bills and one Senate bill - and Department of the Interior regulatory reform seeks to undo this incredibly successful, effective law and jeopardize endangered species all for the benefit of industry and development.
A recent Ohio State University study (https://news.osu.edu/most-americans-support-endangered-species-act-despite-increasing-efforts-to-curtail-it/) shows 83 percent of Americans support the ESA. For the sake of our environment and our future generations, we must take a stand. Contact your local representatives and senators. Tell them to stand up for the ESA!
Chris Bachman, Wildlife Program Director of the Lands Council
Spokane