Los grupos californianos preocupados por el destino de las especies animales y vegetales, en peligro de extinción, tienen temores bien fundados de que también peligre la Ley que protege a esas Especies Amenazadas.
El tiempo corre, y también el lapso que se abrió para que la ciudadanía emita su opinión sobre algunos cambios propuestos a la Ley, mediante los cuales la administración Bush busca darle carta blanca a las agencias federales para que decidan por sí mismas en materia de riesgos al medio ambiente por diversos proyectos, esto es, sin escuchar voces expertas en la materia. Manos libres.
Existe el temor de que al construir obras como presas o carreteras, el impacto que éstas tienen en el medio ambiente afecte su equilibrio de muchas maneras. Los conservacionistas argumentan que la intención que tiene la administración federal de cambiar la Endangered Species Act (Ley de Especies Amenazadas), daría un golpe mortal a las medidas que hoy protegen a casi 300 especies animales y vegetales de California, que ya están en peligro de extinción.
Variedades de peces como el esturión verde o el salmón Chúnik del Pacífico Norte, son sólo algunas de las especies que ahora enfrentan nuevos peligros, según la opinión de los científicos de la conservación. Ante la perspectiva de que los cambios a la Endangered Species Act (Ley de Especies Amenazadas) se aprobaran al vapor, como es la intención de la Casa Blanca, Andrew Wetzler, del Natural Resources Defense Council (Consejo de la Defensa de los Recursos Naturales), opina que sería altamente peligroso que las agencias federales tomaran decisiones basadas sólo en su punto de vista, y omitir la opinión de los expertos, que son quienes realmente saben de temas de conservación de la naturaleza.
“Si les quitas de las manos las decisiones finales y en cambio las pones en manos de agencias federales que tienen otras misiones y otros intereses que no son proteger la vida silvestre, vas a tener una distorsión del proceso de toma de decisiones.”
Patti Goldman, de Earthjustice, dice que la aprobación de las nuevas reglas tendría un impacto dramático sobre las casi 300 especies vegetales y animales que están en peligro de extinción en California.
“Hay especies amenazadas que dependen del bosque o que son impactadas por proyectos hidráulicos o por el uso de pesticidas. Y en todos esos casos, la desatención de las agencias de la vida silvestre ha sido crítica.”
Bajo las reglas actuales, las agencias federales como el U.S. Forest Service (Servicio Forestal), el área de ingeniería de las fuerzas armadas, deben tomar la opinión de los expertos en vida silvestre antes de comenzar proyectos como puentes, carreteras o similares. El argumento del Department of Interior (Departamento del Interior) para impulsar los cambios a la Ley es que si se evita la consulta a los expertos se ahorraría papeleo y el proceso sería más rápido. El lapso para que la ciudadanía exprese su opinión se extendió hasta mediados de octubre.
Las personas que quieran opinar sobre los cambios propuestos, pueden hacerlo en www. nrdcactionfund.org.
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Conservation groups say the Hawaiian Islands are on the leading edge of the fight to preserve endangered birds, since climate change and habitat loss are making it difficult for many indigenous species to survive.
A coalition of conservation organizations will hold the annual Manu o Ku Festival this weekend to celebrate the islands' myriad species.
John Kantor, a wildlife biologist with the National Wildlife Federation, said the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act has helped preserve many exotic Hawaiian species.
"The federal Endangered Species Act, and the funds that are raised for migratory birds under the various programs there, are funding the frontline researchers and conservationists and folks that are trying to solve this multitude of issues that threaten Hawaii's birds," he explained.
The festival, sponsored by the Conservation Council for Hawaii and the National Wildlife Federation, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Coronation Pavilion of the Iolani Palace in Honolulu.
Kanter said the Migratory Bird Treaty was created in 1918 and updated in 1936. In conjunction with Canada, Mexico and other nations, it limits the taking of certain species for commercial products or as game. He cited the wood duck as one example, which is now plentiful but was almost wiped out a century ago.
"That species was almost extinct," he said, "and it is a hunted species - but there's strict regulations that are developed between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states every year, based on the number of birds, that then are applied to the following season."
This year's festival celebrates the manu o ku, or white fairy tern, as an ambassador for other native Hawaiian species. Organizers have said conservation groups, educators and others are invited to share games and activities for people of all ages in learning about the manu o ku.
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An environmental group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Arkansas mudalia snail under the Endangered Species Act.
In Arkansas and Missouri, including along the North Fork River, mudalia are critically endangered freshwater snails.
Trisha Sharma, legal fellow at the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasized the need to save the snail from vanishing entirely. She said freshwater mollusks are the most endangered group of animals in North America, and snails are the most endangered mollusks.
"We've already lost more than 70 species of freshwater snails," Sharma pointed out. "The Endangered Species Act has a very high success rate. So if we can get it listed and protected under the ESA, it's highly likely that the species will survive and be able to continue playing its important role in the ecosystems where it's found."
Sharma noted areas where the Arkansas mudalia can be found have decreased by 90% and the main threat to the species is habitat degradation, primarily from dam construction and operation along the rivers.
Sharma emphasized mudalia is also threatened by habitat loss from grazing, logging and mining. She added climate change is also expected to threaten the species.
"Part of what can make a species more resilient to climate impacts is its ability to disperse as its habitat becomes unsuitable, and to essentially relocate to areas where it can survive," Sharma explained. "But snails have a pretty narrow set of habitat requirements and very limited dispersal capabilities."
Sharma said freshwater snails play a crucial role in managing nutrients by consuming detritus and plant matter, preventing their decay and subsequent disruption of water quality, and snails are vital for food webs, converting unusable food sources into usable ones for birds and turtles.
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Today is Earth Day, and one initiative in southern Arizona is helping build public gardens providing beneficial habitat for pollinators, from Monarch butterflies to bees and bats.
Emily Bishton, founder and coordinator of the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project, said the human population depends on these animals and insects, as many of our foods and plant-based products require pollination. But human activity and climate change have put pollinators in jeopardy and Bishton wants to increase awareness of how crucial they are.
"The best chance you have for attracting and nurturing pollinators is with the species that they've co-evolved with," Bishton explained. "They will instinctively know that is food for them, or a place they can lay their eggs. They also are more likely to be able to put up with the way our climate is now and the way it is changing."
Bishton pointed out one focus of the project is to get Arizonans to plant more native species like milkweed, which is especially critical for Monarch butterflies. She would also like people to reconsider the use of pesticides since they do kill pests but also other beneficial insects. She suggested contacting a local county extension service or master-gardener program for alternative methods.
Madian Romero, technical assistant supervisor for the Caviglia-Arivaca Library, has been responsible for getting teenagers in the area to participate in the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project. They not only help build garden spaces around town but grow their knowledge behind the importance of pollinators, as well as community building.
"The teens, they've come up with ideas on how to fundraise for the projects," Romero emphasized. "Each business that agrees to have a garden, it can be free."
Romero added the project has also been a character-building exercise for the young people of Arivaca, and hopes it is an experience they will cherish.
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