ENDANGERED SPECIES

Momentum Gathers For Endangered Species Recovery Act (Sept. 2001)

In 1973, Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to assure the preservation of plant and animal species in immediate danger of extinction (endangered species) and those that may become extinct in the future (threatened species). For the past several years, the Endangered Species Coalition, has worked for enactment of complimentary legislation called the Endangered Species Recovery Act (ESRA) to strengthen the original law. ESRA is expected to be introduced in Congress this fall. The Coalition is asking Michigan residents to call on their Members of Congress who have not yet done so to sign on as cosponsors and to thank Representatives Bonior, Kildee, Levin and Rivers for cosponsoring ESRA.

In addition to protecting species from direct harm such as hunting and trapping, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) authorizes protection of habitats and ecosystems of endangered and threatened species. Saving an individual species and its habitat is now understood as a component in preserving the diversity of plant and animal species that has evolved over the earth's lifetime. Biodiversity or biological diversity means the ecosystems, species and genes that together constitute the living world. The richest ecosystems are found in the tropical rain forest ecosystems, which are believed to shelter at least half of the earth's life forms. But ecosystems outside the tropics are valuable to species diversity. In the U.S., wetlands, coral reefs, temperate rain forests, and coastal areas are only a few of the plant and animal habitats in need of protection. ESA is the only comprehensive program for preserving these areas. The ESA has not provided adequate protection for endangered and threatened species in this country. According to the Endangered Species Coalition, a network of national groups such as Defenders of Wildlife and local groups such as EMEAC, more than 250 species have become extinct in this country since 1980. The Endangered Species Recovery Act (ESRA) would improve protection for species and habitats by providing earlier identification of potentially endangered species, outlining more guidelines for the establishment of critical habitats and giving more guidance and tax incentives to landowners to set up habitats for threatened and endangered species on their lands.

What You Can Do

Call your Representative and ask that she or he cosponsor the Endangered Species Recovery Act. If your Representative is already a sponsor (Representatives Bonior, Kildee, Levin and Rivers), call and thank them for their support and ask them to urge other members of the Michigan Congressional delegation to sign on. The Capitol Switchboard number is: 202-224-3121.

Keep informed by visiting the Endangered Species Coalition webpage at: www.stopextinction.org.

Environmental Groups Urge Support for Endangered Species Recovery Act

A bill to strengthen the ESA is under consideration in Congress. This bill, H.R. 960, also called the Endangered Species Recovery Act (ESRA), is co-sponsored by several of Michigan1s Congressional delegation. The Endangered Species Coalition, which includes national groups such as the Defenders of Wildlife and local groups such as EMEAC, are building support for the ESRA. Congressional support for ESRA is seen as the best way to both strengthen protection for endangered and threatened species and fend off bills to weaken the Endangered Species Act.

Background
The ESA was passed in 1973 to assure the preservation of plant and animal species in danger of extinction (endangered species) and those which may become extinct in the future (threatened species). In addition to protecting the species from direct harm such as hunting and trapping, ESA authorizes protection of habitats and ecosystems of endangered and threatened species.

Although the ESA is the nation1s only comprehensive program for preserving species, much more is needed. More than 50,000 native plants and animals have vanished during the last 200 years. According to Liz Godfrey, the Midwest ESA Organizer for the Grass Roots Environmental Effectiveness network (GREEN), 250 species have vanished since 1980.

When the ESA was enacted, environmentalists were primarily concerned that destruction of habitat would bring about the loss of particular species. Twenty-seven years later, it has become clear that the battle for species protection is also about the loss of biodiversity. Saving an individual species and its habitat is now understood as a component in preserving the diversity of plant and animal species that has evolved over the earth1s lifetime.

Protecting species diversity protects human health and welfare. Approximately one/fourth of prescription medicines sold in the U.S. contain at least one compound originally derived from a plant. Destruction of habitat destroys the potential for future discoveries that could save lives.

Protecting species and their habitat makes economic sense. For example, stronger protection for Florida1s coral reefs is needed to protect that region1s tourism-based economy. In the western states, stronger protection for salmon runs would protect recreation and tourism.

Congress has been debating reauthorization of the ESA since 1992. The Endangered Species Coalition, supports strengthening the ESA by expediting designation and protection of habitat that is crucial to the survival of a species, which the ESRA would do. Private property organizations, by contrast, support bills to weaken the ESA by imposing greater obstacles to the designation of habitat, by requiring payment to property owners for limitations placed by the Act upon destruction of species habitat on their property.


How ESRA Would Improve Protection for Endangered Species

1. ESRA would improve the design of recovery plans by:
-focusing on species recovery, not just bare survival
-identifying specific management actions and biological criteria in recovery plans
-using best available science to plan for recovery
-placing deadlines for final recovery plans
-encouraging federal agencies to take preventative measures before a species becomes endangered
-requiring federal agencies to help plan for species recovery and implement the plans.

2. ESRA would encourage landowners to assist in species recovery by:
-providing tax incentives for implementing proactive conservation measures (such as prescribed burning or tree planting) not already required by law
-streamlining and providing assistance in the permitting process

3. ESRA would close a loophole in the ESA by:
-revising the Administration's current policy which allows private landowners to alter or destroy habitat under a long-term unmodifiable permit
-ensuring the permit to modify habitat is as good as it can be up front and that the developer file a performance bond to cover the costs of all reasonably foreseeable circumstances that can have devastating impacts on weakened populations of wildlife
-establishing a Habitat Conservation Plan Trust Fund to cover all other unforeseeable costs--a safety net for landowners and species--while allowing changes to the permit when needed to protect species.

4. ESRA would encourage community and regional habitat protection by:
-allowing local governments to administer habitat plans
-structuring planning to coincide with ecosystem boundaries
-expanding opportunities for public participation in managing habitat
-requiring public notification when a federal activity may impact wildlife in a community
-requiring balanced public participation in large-scale regional habitat planning
-allowing citizen enforcement when local plans go awry.

What You Can Do
Contact the Michigan Congressional delegation, in both the House and Senate. Urge strong support for the Endangered Species Recovery Act, H.R. 960. Urge that any bills to weaken protection for endangered species be opposed. You can reach the Capitol switchboard by calling 202/224-3121.

Keep up to date on Congressional action regarding endangered species protection by contacting the Endangered Species Coalition at 202/682-9400 or elytwak@defenders.org or visit its web page at www.stopextinction.org.