More Resources Help from Landowners Needed to Strengthen ESA

Contact: Michael Bean 202 387-3500

David Cherry 202 387-3500

At a hearing today before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, Environmental Defense senior attorney Michael Bean said Congress must work more closely with private landowners and provide more resources for science in order to meet federal obligations to aid the recovery of endangered species nationwide.

“Private landowners are essential for the recovery of many endangered species, but more must be done to encourage their participation in this effort, including meaningful incentives for land management,” Bean said. “Federal and state agencies must also be provided with adequate resources to make speedy and intelligent decisions about habitat and species recovery.”

Wednesday’s hearing on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) focused on two new bills, H.R. 2829, introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), and H.R. 3705, introduced by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA). Both bills call for changes in the way science and data are used by federal agencies during listing decisions and recovery activities related to endangered species. In his testimony, Bean questioned the approach taken by both measures and whether they will have the desired effect.

“The two bills before the committee today would make aspects of the Endangered Species Act more complex, rather than simpler, and would slow agency decision-making, rather than speeding it up. These measures also fail to provide new resources to meet federal obligations and do nothing to create positive incentives for conservation by private landowners,” Bean said.

Reports this week also indicate that the Bush administration is considering changes in critical habitat designations currently used to protect species in many parts of the country — a move that could have a significant impact on wildlife management efforts.

“The administration’s repeated contention that removal of critical habitat will make little practical difference in light of the other provisions of the Endangered Species Act necessarily assumes that the administration will make a serious and vigorous effort to enforce those other provisions. To date, there is scant evidence of any such effort,” Bean said.