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Modernizing the Endangered Species Act to Save Species

Posted on: Monday, 19 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

GOLDEN, Colo., Sept. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA) introduced today by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) would provide the first meaningful improvements in the 32-year old Endangered Species Act (ESA) that has proven to be of virtually no value in recovering endangered and threatened species.

In over three decades only 10 of the more than 1300 species that have been listed as threatened or endangered have recovered sufficiently to be taken off the lists - and their recovery had little to do with the ESA. Contrary to claims of many environmental groups, the peregrine falcon recovered due to a privately-funded captive breeding program and a ban on DDT, which made eggshells brittle. Similarly, the bald eagle is near full recovery due to the DDT ban and a ban on hunting. Neither of these recoveries can be linked to the ESA.

While many environmentalists resist altering ESA in any way and others would like to see it repealed completely, Chairman Pombo seems to have found an approach in crafting TESRA that should satisfy all.

Pombo's bill would make a full recovery plan the first priority when a species is listed, rather than simply naming critical habitat, which may or may not have anything to do with a species' recovery, as is now the law.

It would also provide grants for private conservation efforts that are important because the majority of endangered species live on private land. It would also provide compensation to landowners when value is lost because of habitat designations.

The Save Our Species Alliance is a privately funded organization that advocates commonsense improvements in America's efforts to recover threatened and endangered species.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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