Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #39

Subject: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #39

* ************* Southwest Biodiversity Alert #39 *****************
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*            southwest center for biological diversity           *
*                      ksuckling@sw-center.org                   *
*             http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/sw-center           *
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1.  ESA VICTORY MAY PROTECT SO. CAL. VERNAL POOLS AND MONTANE MEADOWS
2.  JUDGE MUECKE RETIRES, WARNS OF DISEASE CALLED HUMANITY
3.  CONDORS ON WAY TO ARIZONA WILDS

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ESA VICTORY MAY PROTECT SO. CAL. VERNAL POOLS AND MONTANE MEADOWS

As a result of a suit by the Southwest Center, a Federal judge has
ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife  Service to issue a ruling, by
February 2, 1997, on whether  five southern California
invertebrate and plant species  deserve listing under the
Endangered Species Act.

Fewer than three hundred Laguna Mountain skipper butterflies,
and five thousand quino checkerspot  butterflies remain in
existence. Laguna Mountain skippers are threatened primarily by
grazing and elimination of  natural fire, while checkerspots are
threatened by development and climate change. Though likely
numbering in the  millions, San Diego fairy shrimp are limited to
the last remaining vernal pools in coastal  San Diego County.  All
are threatened by development.

The skipper and checkerspot are likely to be listed. The Fish and
Wildlife  Service, however, is loath to protect the San Diego
fairy shrimp due to opposition from powerful developers. Recently
completed "conservation agreements" will likely be used to justify
denial of ESA protection for the Cuyamaca Lake downingia and
Parish's meadowfoam.


JUDGE MUECKE RETIRES, WARNS OF DISEASE CALLED HUMANITY

Judge Carl Muecke, who has presided over a ongoing 15 month ban on all
logging on every Southwest National Forest and the Navajo
Nation has retired, transferring the case to Judge Strand. "I'm just
tired of all the crap being thrown around,"' Muecke said, "I don't
know anything about the forests or spotted owls or anything,
except I have a desire to see a world that isn't completely destroyed
by the disease known as mankind."


CONDORS ON WAY TO ARIZONA WILDS

Six condors have been brought from California to northwest
Arizona where they will be released near the Grand Canyon come
December. The move comes in the wake of federal court refusal to
block the Fish and Wildlife Service reintroduction plan. San Juan
County, Utah had sue to stop the program for fears it would slow
development. Bowing to country pressure, the Service will
designate the birds as "experimental, non-essential," decreasing
their legal protection.

This is the first time in 70 years condors have existed outside
California. Only 120 of the endangered birds exist.