Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Yaron Miller, Director of National Outreach

Wow – what an incredible couple of days! Last week over 30 Defenders’ citizen advocates flew to Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to speed the recovery of endangered wildlife, and to kick off our exciting new grassroots campaign “Conservation Crossroads: Extinction or Recovery?” And what a kick off it was!

Two supporters from Colorado arrive on Capital Hill.

Advocates from across the country, from California and Montana to Florida and New York, arrived at Defenders’ headquarters for a day of lobby training and a legislative briefing by our talented Government Relations team. The room was buzzing as folks swapped advice, shared information, and related to one another why they made the trip to D.C. It was clear that each participant had a unique background and story to tell their elected leaders about the importance of recovering endangered wildlife.

We had members of the military, including a retired Marine Corps Lt. General, a Marine veteran, and an active duty CA Air National Guardsman, who talked about protecting endangered species on military bases, emphasizing that defending our way of life includes wildlife. We had two priests from Arizona and New Mexico and a wildlife enthusiast who started an environmental lecture series in her church speak about the need to be good stewards of God’s planet. And we had educators, wildlife photographers, writers, and health care professionals – folks who could be our neighbors – speak about why protecting and recovering endangered wildlife is a value shared by all Americans, regardless of political party.

Equipped with printed materials and important conservation messages, we headed to Capitol Hill to ask our elected officials for two things: 1) to provide increased funding for key wildlife management agencies to accelerate the recovery of endangered species, and 2) to vote against any attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act, a law that has seen a 99% success rate in preventing extinctions.

We met with legislators of both parties to educate and encourage them to support wildlife recovery, especially those freshmen who were just recently elected six months ago. While some of our meetings were to thank our greatest champions for wildlife recovery, such as Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Representative Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), we also met with legislators who do not always vote consistently on behalf of endangered wildlife. Those meetings are especially important, and having constituents speak directly to their members of Congress and key staff members makes a profound impact. Legislators take their direction on what issues to focus on and how to vote from constituent input – especially when the constituent has flown across the country for the meeting! And while face-to-face meetings are the most direct way to share the pulse of the district with members of Congress, there are many ways to let your voice be heard.

Ambassador wolf Atka was our guest of honor at the Hill reception.

Once our marathon day of 70+ meetings was over, our weary but empowered group of citizen advocates gathered with volunteers, congressional staff, and other guests to recap the day and celebrate 40 years of the Endangered Species Act. We were joined by some long-time friends of wildlife: Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jim Moran (D-VA), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and one of the original authors of the Endangered Species Act and Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). Each of them spoke to the crowd about the tremendous successes the Endangered Species Act has spurred, and the importance of protecting it against legislative attempts to undermine it. Hopefully the rest of Congress will heed their call!

After inspiring words from these notable legislators, the reception moved outside to greet our guest of honor: Atka, the ambassador Arctic wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) in New York! Joined by Maggie Howell and Rebecca Bose of the WCC, we learned all about arctic wolves, how they survive in such harsh conditions, and why Atka was so excited to roll in perfume sprayed on the grass (so he can share the smell with his pack back home and cloak his scent from prey!). We tried our best to make Atka howl, but I think he was more interested in lounging in the sun. Many thanks to the men and women of the Capitol Police Department and Sergeant-at-Arms office for making Atka’s visit possible!

Although this Congressional lobby day is over, the campaign is just beginning. In the coming weeks and months, we will need as many concerned citizens as possible to help support the recovery of endangered species. If you’re interested in joining our stellar team of citizen advocates at home or during our next Capitol Hill grassroots lobby day take a minute to sign up and join our campaign today and become part of our growing team. There are many ways to get involved at home or in DC: letters to the editor, meetings with your elected leaders in your district, writing and calling Congress, and many more. I hope we’ll hear from you soon!

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Lobby Training

Before we went to the Hill, our Government Relations team sat down with volunteers for a day of lobby training.

Lobby Training

Lobby Training

Two supporters from Colorado arrive on Capitol Hill.

Two supporters from Colorado arrive on Capitol Hill.

Our Delegation of Volunteers from California

Senator Bennet from Colorado Talks to our Volunteers on Capitol Hill

Brad Orsted meets with Senator Tester from Montana

The Florida Delegation

Brian Call, Paul Shannon and Tara Thornton meet with Rep. Ros-lehtinen from Florida

Getting Down to Business

Colorado volunteer Alicia Miers and Defenders' Outreach Representative Caitlin Balch-Burnett

Brian Call Meets With Rep. Radel from Florida

The Colorado Delegation

Kathie Broyles, Alicia Miers and Caitlin Balch-Burnett meet with Congressman Polis of Colorado

Volunteer Janet Hoben Meets With Rep. Adam Schiff from California

The Florida Delegation Meets With Rep. Radel

The Guest of Honor

Ambassador wolf Atka from the Wolf Conservation Center in New York

Atka meets Rep. Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania

Atka meets Senator Stabenow from Michigan

Defenders’ president and CEO, Jamie Rappaport Clark

Jamie Rappaport Clark, President and CEO 

It’s no secret Congress is gridlocked on climate change. Climate change challenges the sources of energy that fueled the industrial revolution and our current standard of living. Shifting to new sources of energy is a big deal, with lots of special interests with high stakes in the outcome.

We have to change. And we can. Think of the amazing technological revolutions we have seen in just the last decade. Yes we are powering 21st century technology with 19th century energy. There simply has to be a better way.

It has become clear that we can’t wait for Congress to help transition to a low-carbon energy system. In 2012, we experienced the most expensive storm on record, record heat waves, record wildfires and record lows in Arctic sea ice. Our communities and the natural systems we value and depend on are feeling these impacts now.

Our lawmakers finally took an excellent step in the right direction over the winter. When Congress funded emergency recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy, it put in provisions to encourage rebuilding with climate change adaptation in mind and preparing for future storms and weather events made more likely by our planet heating up. Now Congress needs to build on that foundation and get ahead of the curve, enacting laws to make our communities, wildlife and natural areas more resilient to the changes to come.

The Obama administration is trying to move forward, as exemplified by the recent release of the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy. That strategy now needs to be implemented, and Congress needs to incorporate climate risks throughout federal decision making to mitigate those risks and prepare for future impacts. This will save lives, livelihoods and dollars.

Hopefully, our political leaders have a growing awareness of extreme weather and the formidable threat it poses both to our communities and our natural resources. It’s time for them to focus on the future and put people, homes and habitat ahead of 19th century interests.

Originally published in the National Journal, in response to “What’s Holding Back Energy & Climate Policy?”

Defenders launches a new campaign to accelerate endangered species recovery.

Robert Dewey, Vice President of Government Relations

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), so we should all be celebrating its many successes. But don’t get too carried away—we need your help now more than ever.

Bald eagles were nearly wiped out in the 1970s due to the harmful effects of the pesticide DDT. Photo courtesy US Military

In the 1960s, America stood at a crossroads. Our rivers were polluted, our skies were choked with smog, and hundreds of species were on the brink of extinction. As a result, concerned citizens from coast to coast came together to demand stronger environmental protections. Politicians in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, responded by giving overwhelming approval for the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Then, on Dec. 28, 1973, President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act.

Since then, Defenders has been a leading champion for the Act and all our nation’s most vulnerable plants and animals. We have fought in Congress to adequately fund the ESA, battled efforts to weaken it, advocated ways to make it more effective for wildlife and people, and, when necessary, gone to court to defend it.

Our staff and committed volunteers have worked tirelessly in support of this landmark law, and we have done so for good reason. The ESA has been incredibly effective in rescuing species from extinction. Only 10 out of more than 2,000 listed species have been formally declared extinct – a success rate of more than 99 percent! Moreover, many iconic species, such as the bald eagle, American alligator, peregrine falcon and brown pelican have made impressive recoveries—so impressive that federal protections for those species have been safely removed. These animals were able to make a strong comeback because of our nation’s bipartisan commitment to good stewardship of our natural treasures.

Unfortunately, our nation once again stands at a crossroads. Climate change, habitat loss and reckless energy development all threaten to reverse many of the conservation gains our country has made over the last four decades. Congressional sneak attacks on individual species, frontal assaults on the ESA itself, and severe funding cuts for wildlife conservation all pose profound threats to the continued recovery of imperiled wildlife. If we surrender to these new and significant challenges, hundreds of species will quickly slip closer to extinction, making it even harder to help them recover.

We can and must reinforce our commitment to saving imperiled wildlife. In fact, if we respond effectively to today’s threats, increase federal funding and smartly target those resources, we can significantly boost the number of protected species on the road to recovery. By doing so, we believe that in five years the majority of listed species can be on track for recovery, and many more will follow in the years to come.

But, as with passage of the ESA itself, no single group has a strong enough voice to achieve this historic conservation goal alone.

That’s why we’re launching our new Conservation Crossroads campaign – to empower wildlife supporters of all stripes to rally together. Our goal is to accelerate the recovery of imperiled species and help concerned citizens share their voice by educating policymakers about actions that must be taken to renew the nation’s commitment to saving wildlife. It’s a simple choice: extinction or recovery?

Endangered wildlife need more champions in Congress, more funding for conservation efforts vital to their survival, and more legislators who will support policies to combat climate change and oppose attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act.

As we celebrate the ESA’s successes we must also affirm our commitment to conserving wildlife for future generations. There is no better way to do so than by working together to speed recovery efforts for imperiled species. Visit www.defenders.org/crossroads to learn more.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, President & CEO

Hurricane Sandy From space (c)NASA

President Obama has made it clear that he’s setting his sights on climate change in his second term.  In his State of the Union address, he said that “for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.”  He went on to acknowledge the weather disasters of 2012 and challenged Congress to act, echoing his inaugural speech: “We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science and act before it’s too late.”

The president vowed that “if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will,” and promised to create “executive actions…to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.”  With this speech, President Obama is poised to begin a second term that makes a difference in the fight against climate change.

Although there were many lost opportunities for responding to climate change during Obama’s first term, there also were some quiet success stories involving a series of initiatives to make our nation and natural resources more resilient to the impacts of climate change.  Early on, President Obama established the Interagency Climate Adaptation Task Force, which has expanded coordination on wildlife and plant adaptation issues and raised the level of attention on adaptation throughout the federal government.  The administration also published a national strategy for managing freshwater resources in response to climate change, and a landmark draft national wildlife adaptation strategy for making wildlife and ecosystems more resilient to climate impacts (the final strategy is still pending).  Finally, the president advanced solar, wind and other renewable energies and significantly raised fuel emissions standards for automobiles.

These initiatives, however, remained in the shadows in fear of Congressional and electoral attacks and have yet to change agency programs on the ground at the scale needed to combat the problem.  But with the climate reality of record-setting storms, wildfires, droughts, floods and heat waves, the president needs to take his gloves off and combat these issues head on and in public.

It’s time for the president to take the next steps in an aggressive approach that addresses the emissions that cause climate change and proactively prepares for the impacts we are already facing:

Development in flood-prone areas puts wetland ecosystems in danger.

Rebuild and Restore, Responsibly.  After a major weather disaster, the pressure is on to repair damage quickly.  But quick shouldn’t mean rash.  Some response efforts can harm natural systems and make things worse like when earth-moving or building seawalls after flooding damages wetlands.  But as Defenders of Wildlife showed in our Harnessing Nature report, many natural areas such as wetlands, dunes and forests are themselves effective buffers against extreme weather.  We should be managing them strategically to make them as resilient as possible, whether there’s been a recent extreme weather event or not.

Factor it in.  We’ve heard it over and over again: climate change is affecting us now, and it’s not going away any time soon.  But even though the administration has released high-level adaptation policies, many federal agencies still aren’t accounting for climate change when planning their programs.  Future storms, flooding and fires will be more frequent and severe than what we’ve seen recently.  Accepting and planning for climate change now won’t just save time, money and property later.  It could also save human lives and mean the difference between survival and extinction for many wildlife species.

Bring it all together.  Information about climate change science can be fragmented and hard to access for the public and lawmakers alike.  We need to create a “one-stop shop” for climate change information that collects the latest data and analysis, presents it in a way that’s accurate and easy to understand for decision makers and the public and conveys it through all types of media: TV, radio, publications and the web.

Connect it.  Climate change is forcing wildlife from their traditional ranges. Species are on the move, but we have fragmented the landscape with our roads, houses, industrial areas, farm fields and fences.  We need to protect more wildlife habitat and make sure it is connected to allow species to respond to climate impacts and shift to more hospitable habitat.  These natural areas will in turn provide us with clean water, flood protection, replenishment of our groundwater, open space and recreation.

President Obama says he is committed to facing these issues.  Now he has the opportunity to make good on this promise.

President Obama surprised many people when he said last week in his inaugural address: “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.  Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.”

Oiled debris field in Sheepshead Bay, NY. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.

“Powerful storms,” of course calls to mind Hurricane Sandy, the October super-storm that swept away our illusions that if we ignore climate change, it will go away. And this week, we are pleased to report that Congress finally acted to fund recovery in the areas so hard hit by that storm.

The $50 billion relief bill is important to Defenders’ priorities because it recognizes that restoring and rebuilding our natural infrastructure is just as important to our communities as rebuilding our roads, homes and businesses. We have long known that natural wetlands, dunes, forests and floodplains can absorb some of the impact from a major storm, thereby protecting communities from the ravages of winds and flooding. But the Sandy supplemental makes a historic commitment to restoring and preserving coastal areas as part of a comprehensive plan to prevent future storm damage.  (See our previous blog for details on the contents of the bill.)

It remains to be seen whether 2013 will mark the point where we finally embark on the road to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the “path towards sustainable energy sources” that the president spoke of last week. That will be the real key to reducing the risk of more billion-dollar weather disasters in the future. By providing the funding  to increase resiliency by harnessing the protective power of restored ecosystems, Congress has at least taken a step in the right direction.

Haley McKey, Communications Associate

Storm surge damage at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: USFWS Northeast)

This past Tuesday, the House voted on the $50.4 billion Hurricane Sandy supplemental bill.  The outcome?  Results are mixed, but overall, we were pleased to see that there’s good news for both wildlife and people thanks to Representative Frelinghuysen.

The Sandy hurricane supplemental bill (H.R. 152) originally slated for the House floor left out many of the forward-thinking provisions the administration and the Senate’s relief bill proposed for restoring coastal ecosystems.  But Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) saw the need to keep these provisions, and introduced an amendment restoring most of them to the bill.

His amendment included the full amount of much-needed funding that the Obama administration requested for repairs and restoration at national wildlife refuges.  The storm cost our refuges a total of $78 million in damages from flooding, erosion, and debris, 16% of the National Wildlife Refuge System’s total budget.  Unfortunately, nearly $10 million of this funding that would have gone to repairing damage on the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut was subsequently stripped by an amendment offered by Rep. John Fleming (R-LA).

The Frelinghysen amendment also provides the National Park Service with $348 million to repair damages that occurred on national parks.  The USDA will get funding for restoration and repair to private property: a total of $203 million for restoring damaged farmland and forestland and reducing flood risks.

In addition, the amendment provides a crucial $360 million to Department of the Interior programs to “increase the resiliency and capacity of coastal habitat and infrastructure to withstand future storms and reduce the amount of damage caused by such storms.”  The Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey and other programs will all be included.  Restoration will also be funded through grants and cooperative agreements with states, tribes and municipalities.

Finally, it gives $2.9 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers for planning and constructing flood-reducing projects that support the long-term sustainability of coastal ecosystems.  It also sets down some new ground rules: the amendment requires the Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider projects that were authorized before Hurricane Sandy and other extreme weather events.  These and all future project plans must take current scientific projections of climate-related risks into account.  This is a big step towards making climate planning a part of all building decisions, and will help ensure the success of future projects.

However, the House also passed two other amendments which aren’t so beneficial.   An amendment offered by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) prohibits use of any funds in the bill for land acquisition, which prevents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA from using these funds to acquire flood-prone habitat to act as a buffer to protect communities.  An amendment offered by Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) also passed, cutting $150 million in coastal funding that could have gone towards improving the quality and resilience of marine wildlife habitat.

Fortunately the House wisely voted down the disastrous amendment offered by Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), which called for offsetting $17 billion of the funds in the bill with discretionary funding cuts across the board.  The amendment would have forced cuts in important environmental programs, already underfunded, forcing these programs to scrape by even more and even eliminate essential activities.  Overall, the Hurricane Sandy supplemental bill passed by the House is a forward-looking and ground-breaking piece of legislation that will address important issues like preventing future flood damage, repairing damaged areas in refuges and parks, restoring habitat and helping wildlife adapt to climate change.