It is with a heavy heart that I write this entry. For years, the United States has worked to preserve endangered and threatened species through the Endangered Species Act. A core tenet of the Act is having scientists from the Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service study proposed development for impact on habitat critical to our endangered species. Now, President Bush is proposing to do away with this important protection, effectively gutting the Endangered Species Act.
Under the proposal, government agencies will make their own determination about future projects without mandatory scientific reviews. Agencies run by Presidential appointees will be free to make their own decisions. In my opinion, this is a recipe for disaster. It is poor corporate governance. Without a background in science, these leaders will likely not understand the ramifications of their decisions . . . that is, until it is too late and more species have perished.
Significant progress has been made under the current version of the Endangered Species Act. Just look at the success with birds of prey and condors. Peregrine Falcons are nesting in high-rise building across the country. California Condors spread their majestic wings over the Grand Canyon just as their ancestors did. But perhaps the greatest victory of all, the population of Bald Eagles has rebounded to a level that allows them to be removed from the Endangered Species list.
The bottom line is that the Endangered Species Act works. What’s more, the animals need it.