WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Today, a powerful national coalition of religious, scientific and conservation groups called on the Administration and Congress to better fund endangered species programs in order to protect our nation's most imperiled plants, animals and habitat. Expressing "grave alarm" at President George W. Bush's budget proposal, the Endangered Species Coalition urged the federal government to adequately fund programs to list endangered and threatened species and to designate critical habitat.
"Our federal endangered species programs are the best - and often the only - tools our country has to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the rich wildlife and biological heritage that we now cherish," said Brock Evans, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. "But right now, they are dying the death of a thousand cuts because they are just not funded at a level anywhere near adequate to do that job."
"Today we are very concerned to learn that the Bush proposal will most likely accelerate this bleeding, not stop the hemorrhage," observed Evans, noting that the President's plan seemed likely to slash species protection programs by as much as 10-15%. "This is just plain wrong and the whole nation is the loser - because extinction is forever."
"We believe the budget would be fairer and more balanced if environmental programs received the money they desperately need and deserve," said Evans. "Whether or not there is a tax cut, we believe that existing environmental programs, such as endangered species protection, and existing agencies, like the Fish and Wildlife Service, should be adequately funded first. The American public has consistently stated that the environment and endangered species are high priorities to them." According to a recent poll, 84% of Americans want a stronger Endangered Species Act.
"Funding for endangered species programs hit rock bottom last year, when the Fish and Wildlife Service announced that they had run out of money for programs to list endangered species and designate critical habitat," said Sarah Matsumoto, the Coalition's Western Regional Organizer and Species Funding Coordinator. "We cannot let this illegal and immoral funding crisis to continue. When the government cannot fulfill its duties under the Endangered Species Act because of under-funding, we are all, in essence, breaking the law."
Matsumoto was referring to a recent "listing moratorium" announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has brought a halt to the listing of endangered species and the designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The moratorium denies and delays protection to millions of acres of wildlands and hundreds of critically imperiled species, including the coastal cutthroat trout, Mississippi gopher frog and piping plover. Currently, there are approximately 25 species proposed to be listed, 193 species with proposed critical habitat and 249 candidate species that will not receive the protection they need. Yet another unknown number have outstanding listing petitions on file which will not be considered during the moratorium.
"We need adequate funding for the Fish and Wildlife Service to clear up the backlog of listing and critical habitat decisions. For many of these plants and animals, it is the last chance they have to survive at all. We invite the Bush Administration and Secretary Norton to work with us to solve this endangered species funding crisis instead of perpetuating it," said Evans.
The Endangered Species Coalition, founded in 1982 and based in Washington, D.C., represents over 430 environmental, religious, scientific, humane and business organizations. Its purpose is to defend, strengthen and improve biodiversity protections in the United States, including the defense of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, our country's strongest environmental law. For more information on endangered species funding, the ESA or the ESC, please visit www.stopextinction.org.
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CONTACT: Endangered Species Coalition, Washington
Brock Evans, Executive Director
(202) 682-9400