No. 302, May 13, 2002

**********************************
CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Biodiversity Activist No. 302
May 13, 2002
www.biologicaldiversity.org
**********************************
AGREEMENT RESULTS IN PROTECTION OF SEVEN ENDANGERED SPECIES

SEVEN NEWBORN MEXICAN WOLF PUPS DUG FROM MATERNITY DEN

HEARING HELD TO CHALLENGE LOGGING ON EIGHT MILLION ACRES IN AZ
AND NM TO PROTECT GOSHAWKS AND OLD GROWTH

**********************************

AGREEMENT RESULTS IN PROTECTION OF SEVEN ENDANGERED SPECIES

In keeping with a negotiated agreement to expedite the
protection of 29 species under the Endangered Species Act, the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently acted to protect seven
species in WA, CA, NM, TX, and NC. The agreement was negotiated
by the Center for Biological Diversity, the California Native
Plant Society, and the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project
in August 2001. Thus far it has resulted in 14 final listings,
six proposed listings, two initial listing decisions, and three
proposed critical habitat designations.

For more information on the agreement:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/activist/ESA/settlement.html

The Buena Vista Lake Ornate Shrew was listed as an endangered
species on 3-01-02. It formerly inhabited the million acres of
wetlands and riparian areas surrounding the massive Tulare,
Buena Vista, Kern, and Goose Lakes in the southern San Joaquin
Valley. Over 95% of these wetlands have been destroyed by
agribusiness, reducing the shrew to just four scattered, tiny
populations. Only thirty shrews have been sighted in the past
decade.

To learn more about the ornate shrew:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/shrew/index.html

The Showy Stickseed was listed as an endangered species on
2-06-02. It occurs in just a single population of 500 plants on
about 2 acres in Chelan County, WA. It is threatened by invasive
weeds, herbicide spraying, highway maintenance, and fire
suppression which allows unnatural encroachment of shading
shrubs and trees.

The Golden Sedge was listed as an endangered species on 1-26-02.
It occurs in just eight populations in the Cape Fear watershed
in Pender and Onslow Counties, NC. Its habitat - the ecotone
between pine savannas and wet hardwood, conifer/hardwood
forests, underlain by calcareous deposits - is very rare and
biologically diverse. Likened to an island archipelago system by
biologists, it is home to several other endangered and unique
species. The sedge is threatened by sprawl, industrial
development, mining, agribusiness, fire suppression, and
herbicide spraying.

The Roswell Springsnail, Koster's Tryonia, Pecos Assiminea, and
Noel's Amphipod were proposed as endangered species on 2-06-02.
They occur in four small wetland areas in the Roswell Basin of
southern NM and northern TX. The basin is underlain by two
aquifers that bubble up through soluble limestone and dolomite
deposits, creating unique karst formations including underground
streams, springs, seeps, and wetlands. The area in which these
three snails and Noel's amphipod are found is the last known
habitat for a number of endemic mollusks and crustaceans.
Unfortunately, they are threatened by groundwater pumping, oil
and gas exploration, water pollution, and wetland draining.

**********************************

SEVEN NEWBORN MEXICAN WOLF PUPS DUG FROM MATERNITY DEN

The only established pack of wolves in New Mexico lost their
entire litter of seven newborn pups to a government capture
operation. The pups of the Pipestem Pack, with eyes closed and
still nursing, were dug out of their den on Sunday. Their
parents are still free but slated for capture. This pair, the
only two survivors not recaptured of the two packs released into
the Gila Forest in March 2000, began scavenging on livestock
carcasses this spring and then transitioned into killing cattle.


The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a formal sixty day
notice of intent to sue the Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management over their failures to address the problem of
livestock carcasses, thus leading to wolves scavenging on them
and suffering removal from the wild.

**********************************

HEARING HELD TO CHALLENGE LOGGING ON EIGHT MILLION ACRES IN AZ
AND NM TO PROTECT GOSHAWKS AND OLD GROWTH

On 5-06-02, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra
Club presented legal arguments to a federal judge in Phoenix,
calling for the cessation of logging on eight million acres of
forest on eleven National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico. The
groups argued that the agency's 1996 goshawk "management plan"
was watered down in response to timber industry opposition and
ignored a large body of scientific evidence showing that
goshawks require large stands of mature, closed canopied forest.
The final plan, much weaker than the draft, was opposed by New
Mexico Game and Fish, Arizona Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, and the Department of Interior.

The case was argued by Mike Lozeau of Earthjustice (Palo Alto).
A decision should be issued this summer.

For more information on the suit:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/goshawk/swgoshawk.html

**********************************
Become a member of the Center for Biological Diversity, and
ensure a future for wildlife and habitat. Click here to join...
https://maxvps016.maximumasp.com/V016U45GEB/joinus/joinus.html

Go back