Endangered Species Endangered Species Act (ESA) ReformAct (ESA) Reform

Picture this…Picture this…

A $100 million five-star resort, spa, and golf A $100 million five-star resort, spa, and golf course ceased development due to an course ceased development due to an existing habitat for the migratory Oregon existing habitat for the migratory Oregon Spotted ButterflySpotted Butterfly

BackgroundBackground

In the 1950s, America increased the development In the 1950s, America increased the development of untapped lands, paying little attention to of untapped lands, paying little attention to environmental care.environmental care.

With the increase of automobiles and factories, With the increase of automobiles and factories, pollution became a rising issue.pollution became a rising issue.

This resulted in an increased scarcity of resources, This resulted in an increased scarcity of resources, and raised awareness of much needed and raised awareness of much needed environmental protection.environmental protection.

Importance of Importance of BiodiversityBiodiversity

Biological diversity is the interaction Biological diversity is the interaction and cohabitation of the various and cohabitation of the various species of animals, plants, fungi, and species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms that inhabit a microorganisms that inhabit a particular area or ecosystem.particular area or ecosystem.

More than 25% of medicines and More than 25% of medicines and more than 3,000 antibiotics were more than 3,000 antibiotics were originally derived from various originally derived from various endangered organisms.endangered organisms.

The depletion of habitat resources, The depletion of habitat resources, like nutrients, spatial environments, like nutrients, spatial environments, and other survival necessities, is and other survival necessities, is placing enormous pressure on placing enormous pressure on remaining natural resources.remaining natural resources.

Ecologic interdependence is Ecologic interdependence is extremely important.extremely important.

The Creation of ESAThe Creation of ESA

In the late 1960s, people’s concern about In the late 1960s, people’s concern about environmental preservation was steadily environmental preservation was steadily increasing.increasing.

In 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was In 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was created to preserve biodiversity and protect created to preserve biodiversity and protect potentially endangered species.potentially endangered species.

Current PoliciesCurrent Policies

The US Fish and Wildlife The US Fish and Wildlife Service currently enforces the Service currently enforces the ESA and its listing processes.ESA and its listing processes.

Landowners are restricted from Landowners are restricted from further developing any property further developing any property that inhabits an endangered that inhabits an endangered species.species.

Consequences for violating the Consequences for violating the ESA include potential jail time ESA include potential jail time and immense monetary fines.and immense monetary fines.

Landowners responsibilities for Landowners responsibilities for endangered species are endangered species are numerous.numerous.

Problems with the ESAProblems with the ESA

Landowners are Landowners are unfairly compensated unfairly compensated for their financial for their financial losses due to ESA losses due to ESA restrictions.restrictions. Farmland water Farmland water

diverted to save diverted to save Chinook salmon and Chinook salmon and Delta SmeltDelta Smelt Result: $26 million in Result: $26 million in

damagesdamages

Problems, cont.Problems, cont.

Human lives are jeopardizedHuman lives are jeopardized Damaged levees could not be Damaged levees could not be

repaired due to Elderberry repaired due to Elderberry Beetle habitatBeetle habitat Result: 3 deathsResult: 3 deaths

Fire brush could not be Fire brush could not be removed due to Stephen’s removed due to Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat habitatKangaroo Rat habitat Result: Millions in property Result: Millions in property

damagedamage

Problems, cont.Problems, cont.

Listing fallacies and Listing fallacies and recovery planning are recovery planning are inefficient and inaccurate.inefficient and inaccurate. Grey Wolves and Grizzly Grey Wolves and Grizzly

Bears endangered in Bears endangered in continental UScontinental US

However, tens of thousands However, tens of thousands roam Canada and Alaskaroam Canada and Alaska

Problems, cont.Problems, cont.

ESA restrictions are damaging ESA restrictions are damaging corporate economies as well as corporate economies as well as endangered species populations.endangered species populations. Timber harvesters cut trees to Timber harvesters cut trees to

prevent inhabitation of Red prevent inhabitation of Red Cockaded WoodpeckerCockaded Woodpecker

““Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up”Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up” If woodpeckers were forced to inhabit If woodpeckers were forced to inhabit

elsewhere, then they would not elsewhere, then they would not damage the economies of various damage the economies of various corporations.corporations.

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solutions

AustraliaAustralia Introduced national park fencing Introduced national park fencing

systemsystem Based on voluntary involvement by Based on voluntary involvement by

private property owners (no official private property owners (no official government legislation is currently government legislation is currently enforced).enforced).

CanadaCanada Based on the United States’ ESABased on the United States’ ESA Attempted to correct ESA private Attempted to correct ESA private property problems associated property problems associated primarily with property primarily with property compensationcompensation

A New Solution…A New Solution…

Creation of a new committee called the Endangered Creation of a new committee called the Endangered Species Services (ESS)Species Services (ESS)

13 regional committees headed by a single national 13 regional committees headed by a single national committee formed by regional leaderscommittee formed by regional leaders

The ESS will work along side the US Fish and Wildlife The ESS will work along side the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service, Service, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service, as a committee under the Department of the Interior.as a committee under the Department of the Interior.

Committees implement new recovery processes and give Committees implement new recovery processes and give individual species attention.individual species attention.

Where’s the money Where’s the money coming from?coming from?

The ESS acts as an efficiency The ESS acts as an efficiency committee. It will be used to cut back the committee. It will be used to cut back the $400 million annually in expenditures $400 million annually in expenditures currently used for court settlements and currently used for court settlements and compensation.compensation.

This will reduce the number of court This will reduce the number of court cases and increase the number of cases and increase the number of species recovery plans.species recovery plans.

How does this solve the How does this solve the problem?problem?

The ESS will provide fair The ESS will provide fair compensation in a timely compensation in a timely fashion. (For example, the fashion. (For example, the San Joaquin Farmer’s San Joaquin Farmer’s situation – ten year layover)situation – ten year layover)

Accurate listing information Accurate listing information will assist in the will assist in the enforcement of better enforcement of better recovery processes that are recovery processes that are specific to each economic specific to each economic and environmental situation.and environmental situation.

How is this better than How is this better than existing ESA policy?existing ESA policy?

Currently, the ESA is not efficient in Currently, the ESA is not efficient in protecting the species or compensating protecting the species or compensating the landowners. Our policy will…the landowners. Our policy will…

Create a compromise between species recovery and Create a compromise between species recovery and property compensation. property compensation. Landowners will be able to use their land and resources more Landowners will be able to use their land and resources more

economically. They will be getting the most out of their time, economically. They will be getting the most out of their time, money, and efforts.money, and efforts.

Property owners will not be tempted to rid their land of a noted Property owners will not be tempted to rid their land of a noted endangered speciesendangered species

Species numbers will eventually increase since the risk of Species numbers will eventually increase since the risk of landowners killing off inhabiting species will significantly decrease.landowners killing off inhabiting species will significantly decrease.

But will it solve But will it solve everything?everything?

Obviously the implementation of our Obviously the implementation of our committee is only a minimal step to committee is only a minimal step to solving much larger problems solving much larger problems surrounding the current ESA policy. surrounding the current ESA policy.

If our policy solved everything, the If our policy solved everything, the problem wouldn’t exist! (and we would problem wouldn’t exist! (and we would be on our way to Washington…)be on our way to Washington…)

However, our step is a significant one in However, our step is a significant one in that it will initiate the reform process in that it will initiate the reform process in an effort to balance the benefit between an effort to balance the benefit between species recovery and property species recovery and property compensation.compensation.

Questions?Questions?