Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Wolverines were just one of the 260+ species that would have been denied protections had the 'Extinction Rider' passed.

Now that Congress is on recess until after Labor Day, it’s a good time to take stock of what has happened so far this session and,  more important, what battles are still to come.

Since the mid-term elections last fall, the 112^th Congress has introduced, debated and held hearings on at least 13 different provisions that would undermine protections for our nation’s endangered plants and animals. That doesn’t even count all the other awful anti-environmental legislation that would indirectly harm wildlife by fouling our air and water, depleting our natural resources and sacrificing our public lands.

The attacks on the Endangered Species Act—one of our nation’s most successful and forward-thinking environmental laws—have taken many forms. From barring protections for particular species to sweeping changes to how the law can be applied, these assaults strike at the very foundation of the law and thus our country’s great commitment to conserving all species for the benefit of future generations of Americans.

But even amidst all these attacks, there have been important victories. Just a few weeks ago, with the help of wildlife champions in the U.S. House of Representatives on both sides of the aisle and our supporters across the country, we were able to defeat the so-called “Extinction Rider.” This provision of the Interior appropriations bill would have blocked life-saving protections for more than 260 species that could be headed for extinction.

Peregrine falcons have made a tremendous comeback as a result of the Endangered Species Act.

Defeating the extinction rider was a major milestone for wildlife conservation and showed that there is still strong, bipartisan support for upholding the ESA and saving imperiled species from extinction. It is the first real win for the environmental community during this Congress, and one of just a few in the last several years.

Yet the fight is not over. While Congress is not likely to take up the rider-riddled Interior appropriations bill again, many of those damaging provisions could still get rolled into a larger omnibus appropriations bill or continuing budget resolution. We saw it happen last year with the wolf rider, and it could easily happen again.

Once closed-door negotiations begin, there’s little we can do to oppose bad environmental provisions until it’s too late. What’s worse, policy riders are often added without any public debate, short-circuiting our opportunity to weigh in.

That’s why it’s so important for all of us to take a stand now and hold our elected leaders accountable FROM THE START. We will be working hard in the coming months to make sure that no bad riders are included in budget bills, even before negotiations begin. And we need you to do your and tell Congress not to sell out America’s imperiled wildlife. Help us carry this message to Capitol Hill: HANDS OFF THE ESA!

Wildlife-protection amendment passes with strong bipartisan support
House strikes “extinction rider” from Interior appropriations bill

Photo courtesy US Military

WASHINGTON (July 27, 2011) – The U.S. House of Representatives approved (224-202) an amendment today to the Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 2584) that preserves critical protections for  America’s imperiled wildlife. The amendment—introduced by Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI)—strikes the so-called “extinction rider,” a provision that would have increased the risk of extinction for imperiled species by blocking protections for adding new species under the Endangered Species Act.

The following is a statement from Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife:

“This is a tremendous victory for our nation’s imperiled wildlife and a testament to strong, bipartisan support for upholding the Endangered Species Act—one of our nation’s most successful and forward-thinking environmental laws. While the Interior appropriations bill contains numerous anti-environmental provisions, it’s very encouraging that, even in this extremely polarized political environment, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are still willing to stand up for core American values like saving imperiled wildlife from extinction. Thirty-seven Republicans voted for the pro-ESA amendment, but we owe all the men and women who supported it our sincere gratitude for putting our country’s great conservation legacy before partisan politics.  We are particularly grateful to Representatives Dicks, Fitzpatrick, Thompson, and Hanabusa for their leadership in offering this amendment.

“Nearly 40 years ago, our nation made a commitment in the form of the Endangered Species Act to preserve the entire web of life for the benefit of our children and grandchildren. Those who led and supported this amendment today to uphold endangered-species protections have shown that they continue to honor America’s commitment to good stewardship. This is a strong signal to Congress and the Obama administration that the American people continue to support the Endangered Species Act and will not allow it to be destroyed on our watch.

“For years, Big Oil, mining, logging, and development interests have been trying to do away with protections for our most imperiled plants and animals. With the help of House leadership, they tried using an appropriations bill to make a sneak attack on these policies. Provisions like the extinction rider are not about cutting the budget, they’re about gutting our most important environmental laws and delivering kickbacks to corporate polluters and special interests. But the majority of House members showed today that they will not tolerate such reckless efforts to dismantle America’s safety net for protecting endangered species.”

Learn more about the extinction rider.

Find HR 2584 on THOMAS.

Note: The Extinction Rider referenced in this column is likely to be on voted on in the House of Representatives today or tomorrow.

Jeff Corwin at Defenders Annual Dinner 2009. Photo courtesy of Scott Robinson

GUEST OPINION

By Jeff Corwin, Defenders’ board member and MSNBC science correspondent

Throughout my life, I have stared extinction in the face. In the eyes of the polar bear and her cub that I darted and tagged in Alaska. In the hazel eyes of the red wolf as I released her in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge to join the last 100 in the wild. And in the eyes of the majestic condor that I held to my chest, one of just 321 in existence.

These creatures are among the 1,973 animals and plants that make up a list none ever want to be on–the list of threatened and endangered species.  Unfortunately, there are 264 other species that are literally dying to get on this list.  But they may never make it.

Why? Because Congress is playing Russian roulette with our nation’s imperiled wildlife.  Congressman Simpson of Idaho has included a provision in a funding bill, which has already passed out of committee, which could seal the fate of species sliding toward extinction.  Dubbed the ‘Extinction Rider,’ this provision would put a freeze on placing any more of these imperiled animals and plants on the list of endangered species, putting the brakes on providing them with the life-saving protections they need to survive.

This is a dangerous step for Congress to take.  Many species have been in a sort of hospital waiting room for years after being placed on the candidate list.  That means that the government experts believe there is substantial scientific data that proves the species is in jeopardy, but they don’t have the resources to put them on the endangered species list or send them to the hospital to recover.  Now, Congress is preparing to kick them out of the waiting room, sending them home to fend for themselves.  Sorry, the hospital is closed. Don’t expect any help here.

This is shocking on so many levels.  Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 to protect our treasured wildlife from extinction.  It placed the responsibility for protections with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, so that wildlife experts could make appropriate decisions on how to manage species based on the latest science.  For nearly 40 years, our nation has protected the most vulnerable of our wildlife and celebrated our successes.  Many Americans like me were filled with pride when the bald eagle recovered to the point of being taken off the endangered species list.  In California, tax payers are donating funds on their state tax form to support sea otter conservation, to the tune of over a million dollars.  Tourists flock to Yellowstone to get a glimpse of the recovered gray wolf.  Young students in Florida raise money to purchase lands around their school to protect the Florida scrub jay.

But now, Congress is seriously considering turning its back on our nation’s commitment to protecting our most vulnerable wildlife.  By issuing a moratorium on new listings, we could lose countless animals and plants.  Animals such as the wolverine, whose population is declining due to the loss of snow pack to hibernate and raise its young. The red knot, whose migration route from the tip of South American to the Arctic each year is one of the longest migrations on the planet, and is being decimated by the overharvest of horse shoe crabs in the Delaware Bay, a critical food source to get them to the Arctic to breed each year. And numerous species of bats are taking a nose dive due to the deadly white nose syndrome, but are critical to controlling the insect population.

What is Congress thinking?  Have they no pride in the successes we have achieved? Do they not understand the role that so many species play on this planet… from the insects that pollinate our crops to the medicinal value of plants.   Have they no commitment to ensuring that we leave this planet a better place for our children and grandchildren?

I have seen the power of people to destroy and save wildlife.  Now Congress has placed that power in its own hands.  Members of Congress have a choice to make.  And they need to take it seriously.  Extinction is forever.  There is no do-over.  Hopefully, members of Congress will be able to look their own children in the eye and tell them they did the right thing for them and for their country and continued the commitment we made nearly 40 years ago to be heroes and to save our nation’s treasured wildlife for generations to come.

Short Bio:

Jeff Corwin has worked for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems around the globe. He is the host of a variety of popular television shows, including Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin Experience, Corwin’s Quest, Giant Monsters, Spring Watch, and King of the Jungle; Disney’s Going Wild with Jeff Corwin; Investigation Earth with the Discovery Networks; NBC’s Jeff Corwin Unleashed, and the Travel Channel’s Into Alaska and Into the American West.   Jeff powerful book and MSNBC documentary 100 Heartbeats investigate the plight of our planet’s most endangered wildlife species along with the conservation heroes trying to save them. He is presently the correspondent for science and the environment for MSNBC and host of Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin on the Food Network. His latest endeavor is Ocean Mysteries, which is a television series focusing on our planets oceans and marine species. It begins broadcasting on ABC this fall. Mr. Corwin is a member of Defenders’ executive board of directors.

Four endangered Mount Graham red squirrels have been brought to the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona, offering hope for the species' survival.

It’s a modern-day twist on the tale of Noah’s Ark. Four endangered Mount Graham red squirrels, two females and males, have been brought to the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona after a recent spate of intense wildfires raised concerns for the species’ survival.

Related: Check out videos of the squirrels.

Down to about 214 animals, the sole wild population could be wiped out by wildfire, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement. Wildlife officials took emergency action in June, ordering the critters captured after meteorologists flagged the potential for lightning strikes to spark a blaze on the dry Pinaleño Mountains in southern Arizona.

The four squirrels could anchor a captive-breeding program to save the species from extinction, or they could be released back into the wild after the fire danger has passed, wildlife officials said.

This tragic tale comes a timely reminder of how important the Endangered Species Act is to protecting America’s most vulnerable wildlife.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to pass an “Extinction Rider“, killing federal funding for adding imperiled wildlife to the Endangered Species List and protecting habitat that’s critical for their survival.

Had these furry fellows been denied ESA protections afforded to them in 1987, chances are they would be gone already.