(This is the inaugural article in a regularly scheduled feature of the White-tailed Kite, “The Conservation Corner”.  Altacal’s new Conservation Chairperson, Dawn Garcia, is the author. – Ed.)

The Endangered Species Act, up against adversity, needs your voice!

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is currently under attack by Senate Bill 2110 submitted by Senator Crapo (R- Idaho). Senator Crapo's “Collaboration for Recovery of Endangered Species Act” (S. 2110) is the equivalent of a bill introduced by California Representative Richard Pombo (R-Tracy). His bill, H. R. 3824, has already passed in the House.  Unfortunately, the bill significantly weakens the ESA, eliminates protection of critical habitat, home to endangered species; exempts pesticides from environmental review; undermines scientific information and decision-making; and pays corporations to not violate the law.

The ESA of 1973 was instituted to protect plants, animals and their habitats because it recognized that many species had already become extinct due to “economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.”  The Act recognizes that “these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people;”

An example of a well-known beneficiary of the ESA is our own National symbol, the Bald Eagle.  They have made an amazing recovery from 416 breeding pairs in the early 1960’s to 7,066 nesting pairs in the conterminous U.S. (February 2006.

  http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/BaldEagle/bald.eagle.info.pdf).

So exceptional was this recovery that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to remove the Bald Eagle from the endangered species list (although it is still listed).   This is great news; it’s what the ESA is about, and it’s why we need to keep the ESA in good form!

Please read the very succinct, one-page analysis of this ESA-eviscerating bill as provided by the Center for Biological Diversity link following this article.  I have also included the link to the text of Pombo/Crapo bill S.2110.  I encourage you to write or call our Senators and let them know that you do not support the undermining of the ESA as presented by Senator Crapo and bill S.2001.  They are waiting to hear from you! 

California Senators

Barbara Boxer – (D-CA)    email: boxer.senate.gov/contact

(202) 224-3553 in Washington DC or (415) 403-0100

Dianne Feinstein – (D-CA) email: feinstein.senate.gov/email.html

(202) 224-3841 in Washington DC 

Link to analysis of text provided by the Center of Biological Diversity

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/press/CBD-Crapo-12-15-05.pdf 

 Link to text of Pombo/Crapo “Collaboration” bill S.2110

http://www.cccturtle.org/pdf/crapo-as-introduced12-15-05.pdf