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Up one levelSenate Unanimously Passes Endangered Species Resolution
The Senate last night passed by unanimous consent a resolution declaring May 11, 2006 as Endangered Species Day.
Four Wild Lynx Released in Southwestern Colorado
The Colorado Division of Wildlife today released four additional wild lynx into the rugged mountains of southwestern Colorado, bringing to 208 the total number of lynx released since the program began in 1999.
Feds Ignore Continued Pygmy Rabbit Decline
A coalition of conservation groups including Center for Native Ecosystems filed suit today seeking to overturn a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denying Endangered Species Act protection to the highly imperiled pygmy rabbit.
Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse Slips Toward Extinction
Now extinct on Utah's Wasatch Front and in many places across its historic range, the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is quickly sliding toward extinction, according to a lawsuit filed today by a coalition of conservation groups.
More than 5,700 Scientists Call for a Strong Endangered Species Act
A letter signed by 5,738 scientists around the country supporting a strong Endangered Species Act was delivered today to the U.S. Senate.
Gunnison Sage Grouse: CNE on Colorado Matters
Center for Native Ecosystems' staff biologist Erin Robertson was a featured guest on today's Colorado Matters report on the Gunnison sage grouse.
Federal Relief Sought for Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs
Last week, a diverse coalition of scientists, spiritual leaders, and conservation groups announced their intention to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for refusing to even consider Endangered Species Act protection for the highly imperiled Gunnison's prairie dog.
Reward for Information in Lynx Killings Increases
The Humane Society committed another $2,500 in reward money - on top of the $5,000 already committed by Center for Native Ecosystems and others - for information in the two early November lynx killings in southwestern Colorado.
Congressmen call for Interior Department Clean-up
Congressman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is leading a full committee hearing next week on political interference in endangered species management in the Interior Department, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is holding up the confirmation of former Colorado State Parks director Lyle Laverty to a post in the Interior Department until he has "reassurance" that the culturewithin Interior that allowed former political appointee Julie MacDonald to manipulate scientific results is changed.
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout to Be Considered Again for Protection Under Endangered Species Act:
In response to litigation brought by conservation groups, the Bush administration announced it will again consider protecting the Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
Feds Asked to Include New Mexico Lynx
Conservation groups submitted formal comments today asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to update its protections for lynx to include those inhabiting New Mexico.
Removal of the American Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species List: CNE Statement
The bald eagle was officially removed from the Endangered Species list today. Its recovery is a testament to the effectiveness of the law that helped reverse its decline and sheltered it during the last several decades of gradual improvement.
House Natural Resources Committee Expands Investigation of Political Interference in Endangered Species Decisions to Include Cheney
After receiving a letter from thirty six members of Congress from Oregon and California, House Natural Resources Committee chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) announced he would reopen hearings into political interference in decisions about endangered species management. This time, the focus will be the role Vice President Dick Cheney may appears to have played in reversing Interior Department policy on the Klamath River. The circle of suspects is widening, and the culture of political tampering with science and endangered species protection seems to include the very highest levels in the Bush administration.
Senator Salazar Uses Senate Rule to Slow Down BLM's Roan Plateau Drilling Plan
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) today announced he would place a Senate hold on the nomination of James Caswell to head the Bureau of Land Management until the agency agrees to extend the time available for review of the Roan Plateau managemeng plan.
Gunnison's Prairie Dog Gets a Second Chance
Gunnison's prairie dog, one of many species that was initially denied protection under the Endangered Species Act due to interference by a political appointee in the Interior Department, was given a second chance yesterday. Under the terms of a court settlement, the Fish and Wildlife Service is required to issue a new decision on protection for the Gunnison's prairie dog by February 1, 2008.
Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Plans to Review 8 Tainted Endangered Species Decisions
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced they will review and possibly revise recent decisions affecting protection for several endangered species, including Canada lynx, Preble's meadow jumping mouse, white-tailed prairie dog, and southwest willow flycatcher.
House Passes Its Version of 2007 Farm Bill
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, setting stage for the Senate debate in September. Despite failing on many of the reforms to the commodity title and adequately funding conservation incentive programs that many were calling for, it did manage to do a few good things for family farmers and conservation.
National Day of Action - Conservation Incentive Programs in the 2007 Farm Bill
As part of a national day of action by national and regional conservation and agriculture groups, Center for Native Ecosystems urges Senator Salazar, who holds important seats on the Senate Agriculture and Finance committees, and other U.S. Senators to adequately fund conservation in the 2007 Farm Bill.
Idaho Court Reverses Federal Denial of Greater Sage Grouse Protection
The Federal District Court of Idaho rebuked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday for failing to consider the best available science when it refused to list greater sage grouse as "threatened" or "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act. The court reversed and remanded the agency's 12-month "not warranted" listing decision issued in 2005.
BLM Pulls Oil and Gas Leases from Sage Grouse habitat
After receiving protests and other expressions of concern from Grand County, the city of Granby, Representative Mark Udall (D-CO), and many conservation groups, including Center for Native Ecosystems, the Bureau of Land Management withdrew more than 50,000 acres from their proposed November sale of oil and gas leases in Colorado.
Consensus of Scientists and Western Wildlife Agencies: Greater Sage-Grouse is in Trouble and Action is Needed
Last week a panel of biologists from the Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies concurred with recent scientific findings suggesting that rampant drilling for oil and gas in the West had serious negative effects on greater sage-grouse. The report also confirmed the implications of recent scientific studies that the current protections used for oil and gas leasing by the Bureau of Land Management are insufficient to prevent the species' decline.
Coalition Seeks to Protect Lynx in New Mexico
A coalition of conservation groups is seeking to extend Endangered Species Act protection for the lynx to include those animals that cross the state border from Colorado into New Mexico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contends that once an individual lynx cross the state border it is no longer protected.
Feds Identify 279 Species Needing Endangered Species Act Protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday issued an updated “candidate notice of review” that recognizes 279 species as candidates for protection as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The review lists eight new “candidate species” and also raises the priority status for nine others due to increased threats and/or further population declines.
Clinton Roadless Rule Reinstated
A federal court yesterday struck down President Bush's effort to undo protections for roadless forests and reinstated President Clinton's Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
Conservation Groups Join State Agency to Offer $5,000 Reward for Information on Killing of Two Lynx
Center for Native Ecosystems today joined in a coalition offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the persons responsible for killing two of Colorado's lynx. The coalition is offering $4,500 in addition to the $500 already being offered by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
