No. 336, June 20, 2003

200 HOMES BURN AS BUSH ADMINISTRATION FUNNELS "FUEL-REDUCTION" MONEY TO WILDERNESS LOGGING

   

55,000 ACRES PROTECTED FOR HAWAIIAN SPHINX MOTH

   

SUIT FILED TO PROTECT FLORIDA AND ALABAMA BEACHES

   

SUIT FILED TO PROTECT PUERTO RICAN FROG

   
NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO HABITAT PLAN STRENGTHENED
   
TUCSON APPROVES BOND TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES, OPEN SPACE
   
ENDANGERED SPECIES WEB PAGES REMODELED

Tell your friends about the Center for Biological Diversity's Email Newsletter!
Click here...


and support the Center's work
Click now

To view past newsletters.

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Endangered Earth Online.

 

200 HOMES BURN AS BUSH ADMINISTRATION FUNNELS "FUEL-REDUCTION" MONEY TO WILDERNESS LOGGING

The human-caused Aspen fire burning on Mt. Lemmon outside of Tucson, yesterday burned through the mountaintop village of Summerhaven, destroying over 200 houses and structures. The lack of fuel-reduction treatments conducted outside of Summerhaven starkly illustrates the shortcomings of the Bush Administration’s so-called “Healthy Forests Initiative,” as well as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, passed by the House of Representatives in May and currently pending before the Senate.

With support from local residents, scientists, and conservationists, the Coronado National Forest attempted to burn and thin dense stands of small trees surrounding Summerhaven. It estimated that the project would cost in excess of $1 million, prompting Center for Biological Diversity director Kieran Suckling to predict: "you can be quite sure the Bush administration isn't going to favor doing anything of this sort on Mount Lemmon. Instead, it will divert millions of dollars to log large trees that are dozens of miles from the nearest house." Those predictions came true. A Forest Service official was quoted on 6-20-03 in the Arizona Daily Star as stating “We had an allocation of $120,000 last year. That wasn’t enough. We had to beg, borrow and steal to get $50,000 more.” With such little funding, the Forest was only able to treat 200 acres last year, prompting Summerhaven residents to circulate a petition demanding treatment of a defensible perimeter around the community. According to Forest Service documents, a key project to reduce hazardous around Summerhave has been on hold since October, 2001 due to lack of funding.

Meanwhile, the administration is spending tens of millions of dollars subsidizing the logging of large trees in roadless and wildland areas dozens of miles away from the nearest town.

For more information.


55,000 ACRES PROTECTED FOR HAWAIIAN SPHINX MOTH

In keeping with a legal settlement negotiated by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 55,451 acres as critical habitat for the endangered Blackburn sphinx moth on 6-10-03. The designation includes native dryland forest on Maui, Hawaii, Molokai, and Kahoolawe. These are among the rarest remaining habitats on the heavily developed, logged, and grazed Hawaiian Islands. Seventy percent of these forests have been destroyed or degraded. In typical Bush administration fashion, however, the final decision sliced 44,000 acres from the proposal developed by Fish and Wildlife Service biologists.

With a wingspan of 5 inches, Blackburn's sphinx moth is one of Hawaii's largest native insects. When discovered in 1880, it was abundant across the 2 million acres of forests on the main Hawaiian Islands. After massive forest loss and degradation, it was declared extinct in the 1970's. It was rediscovered in 1984 and put on the federal "candidate" list for protection, but was not listed as an endangered species until 2000, and only after two lawsuits by the Center.

The sphinx moth is threatened by livestock grazing, agricultural expansion, wildfire, and the spread of exotic plants and animals. Remaining populations are closely associated with large stands of `aiea (Nothocestrum sp.) trees. Two of the four ‘aiea species are themselves listed as endangered species.

The Center was represented by Dave Henkin of Earthjustice (Honolulu).


SUIT FILED TO PROTECT FLORIDA AND ALABAMA BEACHES

The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 6-17-03 for delaying habitat protection for the Alabama, Perdido Key, and Choctawhatchee beach mice. These highly endangered species live in sand dunes along the Gulf Coast between Fort Morgan, Alabama, and Shell Island, Florida. Critical habitats were designated for them in 1985, but excluded areas known to be essential to their recovery. The Fish and Wildlife Service agreed that expansion of critical habitat was warranted in 2000, but has stalled in response to opposition by developers.

The case is being argued Robert Wiygul (Biloxi) and Daniel Hannan (Mobile). For more information.


SUIT FILED TO PROTECT PUERTO RICAN FROG

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Maunabo Development Committee file suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 6-10-003 for refusing to protect the habitat of, and develop a recovery plan for the endangered coqui guajon, also known as the Puerto Rico rock frog. The guajon lives in caves and grottos in southeastern Puerto Rico. It was listed as an endangered species six years ago due to threats from development, deforestation, and pollution, but is still lacking a federal recovery plan. The Fish and Wildlife Service refused to designate critical habitat for the species, arguing that local people fear it and would kill it if they knew where it lived. The coqui, however, beloved throughout Puerto Rico where it appears on everything from t-shirts, posters, key chains, stuffed toys, to corporate logos.

The case is being argued by Center staff attorney Jay Tutchton. For more information.


NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO HABITAT PLAN STRENGTHENED

At the urging of activists, and in opposition to developers and the city of Carlsbad, the California Coastal Commission expanded habitat protections and scaled back coastal property development in northern San Diego County on 6-12-03. The decision followed Carlsbad’s request for Coastal Commission endorsement of a city-wide Habitat Management Plan allowing some harm to endangered species in exchange for habitat protection elsewhere. Testimony by Center and others convinced the commission of the legitimacy of a disputed and endangered vegetation community – southern maritime chaparral – and a decision to scale back development by 75% on properties supporting the vegetation.


TUCSON APPROVES BOND TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES, OPEN SPACE

In a major victory for endangered species, the Pima County Board of Supervisors has agreed to place a new open space bond on the May 2004 ballot. The decision on 6-17-03 followed a major organizing effort by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Coalition for Desert Protection, and others that produced an overflow crowd of more than 300 cheering supporters at the hearing.

The Supervisor’s endorsement of the bond measure brings Pima County’s regional habitat conservation plan a significant step closer to reality. A County-appointed citizens advisory committee for the plan has recommended that funds from the bond be used to acquire state and private lands according to science-based conservation priorities. The Center is working as a member of the desert protection coalition to ensure that the plan will live up to Endangered Species Act and other legal and scientific standards.


ENDANGERED SPECIES WEB PAGES REMODELED

We have just completed a redesign of our endangered species web pages. The new pages feature full-color artwork designed especially for the Center for Biological Diversity by artist and poet Andrew Rodman, and a new look and feel. The new design will provide you with a web of information on each species, and our work to protect them and their habitats.

For more information on the various creations by Andrew Rodman visit his website.


Click now and become a member of the Center for Biological Diversity, and ensure a future for wildlife and habitat.


This message was sent to [email]. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from Center for Biological Diversity - Biodiversity Activist, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line).


Center for Biological Diversity | PO Box 710 Tucson, AZ 85702 | 520-623-5252 | center@biologicaldiversity.org