No.
310, July 18, 2002
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SONOMA CALIFORNIA
TIGER SALAMANDER LISTED AS ENDANGERED; PROTECTION OF ENTIRE SPECIES TO FOLLOW
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57,000 ACRES
PROPOSED AS CRITICAL HABITAT FOR PREBLE'S MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE
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SEA TURTLE
PROTECTION MAY INCREASE IN SC, GA, FL; FISHERIES SERVICE DETERMINES ENDANGERED
STATUS MAY BE NECESSARY
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SUIT CHALLENGES
"EXPERIMENTAL" LONGLINE FISHING OF SWORDFISH WITHIN ENDANGERED
SEA TURTLE RESERVE
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POPE JOHN
PAUL II ASKED TO SAVE SEA TURTLES
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IRONWOOD FOREST
NATIONAL MONUMENT NEEDS YOUR HELP
SONOMA
CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER LISTED AS ENDANGERED, PROTECTION OF ENTIRE SPECIES
TO FOLLOW
In keeping with a legal
settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service used its emergency powers to immediately list the Sonoma County population
of the California tiger salamander as an endangered species on 7-16-02. It is
only the fourth California species ever listed on an emergency basis. The Center
petitioned to list it in June, 2001 and filed suit in January, 2002 when the
petition was not acted upon.
The California tiger salamander
formerly occurred throughout most of the Central Valley, adjacent foothills,
and the Coast Ranges. Disjunct populations occurred in Sonoma and Santa Barbara
Counties. Both of those populations have now been listed under the Endangered
Species Act. According to the terms of the settlement, the Fish & Wildlife
Service is required to propose Endangered Species Act listing for the entire
species (California tiger salamander) by 5-15-03 and finalize the listing by
5-15-04.
The species breeds in vernal
pools, but spends the majority of the year in underground refuges, primarily
abandoned rodent burrows, in grassland or oak woodland habitat. It is threatened
by pollution and habitat loss and fragmentation, especially by suburban sprawl
and agricultural expansion.
57,000
ACRES PROPOSED AS CRITICAL HABITAT FOR PREBLE'S MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE
In keeping with a legal
agreement reached with the Center for Biological Diversity, the Biodiversity
Legal Foundation, Biodiversity Associates and the South Dakota Resources Coalition,
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proposed to designate 57,446 acres of critical
habitat for the endangered Preble's meadow jumping mouse on 7-17-02. The critical
habitat zones lie along 658 miles of streams in CO and WY.
Historically, the Preble's
meadow jumping mouse lived along heavily vegetated riparian areas along the
front range of the Rocky Mountains. Today it is found in only seven CO and two
WY counties. Much of its former habitat has been fragmented, degraded, and destroyed
by commercial, agricultural, and residential development. Habitat loss is accelerating
as front range cities and towns expand.
Though Preble's meadow
mouse was placed on the candidate list for federal protection in 1985, it was
not listed as an endangered species until 5-3-98. The listing was prompted by
a petition by the Biodiversity Legal Foundation.
SEA TURTLE
PROTECTION MAY INCREASE IN SC, GA, FL; FISHERIES SERVICE DETERMINES ENDANGERED
STATUS MAY BE NECESSARY
On 6-4-02, the National
Marine Fisheries Service issued an initial positive finding on a 1-14-02 petition
by Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Center for Biological Diversity
to upgrade the status of northern and Florida Panhandle populations of loggerhead
sea turtles from threatened to endangered. The petition also asks that the populations
be treated as populations distinct from other loggerhead sea turtles and that
critical habitat areas be designated for them.
The northern population nests along beaches from North Carolina to northeast
Florida. It has declined dramatically over the past 20 years. The Florida panhandle
population nests on beaches near Eglin Air Force Base and Panama City. It contains
fewer than 1,000 individuals. Both are threatened by commercial fishing, coastal
development, and pollution.
SUIT
CHALLENGES "EXPERIMENTAL" LONGLINE FISHING OF SWORDFISH WITHIN ENDANGERED
SEA TURTLE RESERVE
On 6-28-02, the Center for
Biological Diversity, Ocean Conservancy and Turtle Island Restoration filed
suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service to stop "experimental"
longline fishing of swordfish in areas of the Pacific Ocean that are supposed
to be under a longline fishing ban to protect sea turtles. The longline fishery
kills many leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles by catching them on the fishing
lines. The Fisheries Service own biologists have warned that the allowing "experimental"
longlining within the sea turtle protective area will jeopardize the species.
The lawsuit is being argued
by Paul Achitoff of Earthjustice (HI).
POPE
JOHN PAUL II ASKED TO SAVE SEA TURTLES
On 7-8-02, a coalition
of 64 scientists and environmental groups asked Pope John Paul II to save sea
turtles around the world from extinction by clarifying for Catholics that sea
turtles are not fish, and therefore are not an appropriate substitute for meat
during Lent. Thousands of sea turtles are killed and eaten each year during
Lent by Catholics seeking to eat fish rather than meat during the holy season.
Though habitat loss and bycatch by commercial fisheries is a major cause of
sea turtle declines, consumption is not insignificant. In Mexico alone, tens
of thousands of sea turtles are killed each year, most during Lent.
His Excellency, Pope John
Paul II
Vatican City, Rome ITALY
Your Holiness:
We are writing to you on
behalf of one of Earth's creatures that does not have a voice of its own.
We are writing to you on
behalf of ancient mariners that have long graced our planet with their presence.
We are writing to you on
behalf of gentle giants that have touched many human hearts throughout time
and across cultures.
We are writing to you on
behalf of thousands that could be saved by a few simple words from Your Holiness.
We are writing to you on
behalf of the sea turtles, which are consumed during the Lenten season.
All sea turtle species
face extinction and are protected by the national laws of many countries. During
the Lenten season, devout Catholics around the world consume thousands of turtles
as a substitute for meat. Turtles, however, are not fish. They are air-breathing
reptiles (still reliant on dry land for the bearing and incubating of their
young), and their flesh is meat, and therefore does not fulfill strict Lenten
requirements.
IRONWOOD
FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT NEEDS YOUR HELP
The newly created Ironwood
Forest National Monument is threatened by extensive off-road vehicle abuse,
urban sprawl, and overgrazing. Luckily, the BLM is developing a management plan
for the Monument that could fix these problems once and for all. Or it could
lock them in for another decade. The direction the BLM takes is up to you. The
BLM needs to hear from as many environmental advocates as possible to ensure
the Monument is managed for all people and all generations, not just the short-term
interests of a few.
Attend a meeting:
Marana: 7-18-02, Sunflower
Community, Fiesta Room, 9401 N. Sunflower Park Dr. 5-8 pm.
Green Valley: 7-31-02,
Green Valley Fire Department, 1285 West Camino Encanto, 5-8 pm.
Write a letter:
Send written comments by
9-27-02. Bureau of Land Management, Tucson Field Office, 12661 E. Broadway,
Tucson, AZ 85748.
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