Call your Representatives!! Australian scientist needs to Mind his Own Business!!! This can not be allowed to happen at the hands of big money Cattle and Oil!!
In the US, Republicans have vowed to roll back the Endangered Species Act, saying the law doesn’t protect vulnerable wildlife as intended, but hurts industries such as logging and drilling instead. Meanwhile, due to global warming, we are in the midst of a mass extinction event of unprecedented proportions. Up to two-thirds of all species will vanish utterly by mid-century. Climate change is by far the biggest driver of this trend scientists say, disrupting habitats and winnowing food sources.
The Endangered Species Act has been under assault several times in the last eight years. But in each foray, the White House or Democrats in Congress have intervened, or lawsuits from environmental groups have halted efforts. Now, Republicans say that the law has been hijacked by environmentalists, and so hasn’t been used as intended. Rather than protect species, critics argue the law is used mainly to safeguard land. But supporters say conserving precious habitat is what safeguards vulnerable species.
The law was first enacted in 1973 to save the country’s national symbol from extinction. They’ve come back in record numbers, and in 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list. Even so, efforts to conserve other species have run up against difficulty or opposition. Protecting California salmon for instance, has complicated water management in the state. Efforts to preserve the Canadian lynx obstructs logging efforts, and wolf attacks on livestock have put ranchers at odds with conservationists. Possible Republican reforms include limits on lawsuits and a cap on how many species will be offered protection. As a result, conservationists and wildlife advocates are gearing up for a legal battle.
Activists say any species getting in the way of corporate interests may be in Republican’s sites. But some Democrats too see the law as restrictive. Minnesota Congressman Collin Petersen and two others from his party joined 11 colleagues across the aisle, to call for an end on the ban on hunting wolves in Wyoming and the Great Lakes region. President Trump’s position on the matter remains unclear.
Over 1,600 plant and animal species are currently protected under the act. Hundreds more are up for consideration. Republicans and other opponents say few species are ever removed from the list. Even so, hundreds may be reliant on the protections the act provides. Once removed, advocates say they would become vulnerable. This issue is likely to heat up among an already divided populous. And even the most business friendly don’t want to see all of our wildlife disappear.
What can be done to ensure businesses stay profitable and ranchers can protect their livestock, while vulnerable species remain protected? One Australian scientist believes he has the answer. He proposes privatizing wildlife conservation and in doing so, empowering citizens and giving them control over their own fauna.