The politics of endangered species protection: why you are so important!

Laws protecting endangered species are seldom fully implemented and enforced. Agencies charged with protecting species are poorly funded and understaffed. While mitigation lands are being preserved, no overall plan exists that sets goals and monitors progress in the face of habitat loss. There is presently no plan for actions to ensure the recovery of Swainson's Hawks. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) has not done a cumulative impact analysis of currently approved and anticipated development on survival and recovery of the Swainson's Hawk in the Sacramento and Central Valley. CDFG is under continual pressure from developers to issue permits to destroy nest trees, and prime foraging habitat. See CDFG web site on the Swainson's Hawk as a threatened species; it does not include preservation and mitigation guidelines. You can also read the CDFG 2000 Report on Endangered and Threatened Birds., The section on the Swainson's Hawk begins on page four. The species is considered "declining" by CDFG. You can write about your concern for Swainson's Hawk to the Director of CDFG, Bob Hight, at rhight@dfg.ca.gov or Director Robert Hight, California Fish and Game, 1416 9th Street, Sacramento, Ca 95814

Developers buy farmlands which are habitat for endangered species and spend millions of dollars to lobby government officials to permit conversion of that habitat to suburban uses. CDFG says that "Compatible agriculture is essential to the maintenance of current populations of the Swainson's Hawk population." However, other than mitigating for development, no strategy has emerged at the state level to maintain agriculture and enhance compatibility with Swainson's Hawk.

Concerned people need to speak for the endangered species. Too often the only voices heard are those of the developer interests.

Your help is needed to educate and inform policymakers, such as local and state elected officials about the importance of preserving threatened species in our environment. Contact us to help with our education program

Contact us to offer your support and ideas.

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