Thought tweetsters might be interested in this concept of the ESA.
Apologies to those who already got this post. --Anna Coles, Seattle, WA
acoles at u.washington.edu
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: wafcdc at igc.apc.org (Western Ancient Forest Campaign)
To: mlist.wafcdc at conf.igc.apc.org (Recipients of conference)
Subject: Endangered Natural Heritage Act - Support Needed
Date: Wed, 01 May


TO: All forest activists
From: Jim Jontz
April 29, 1996

The Endangered Natural Heritage Act, ENHA

For the protection of forest and aquatic ecosystems and the wildlife
that depends on them, it is time to strengthen the Endangered
Species Act.

Over this past year, we have fought off a number of efforts to
weaken the ESA, Meanwhile, evidence continues to mount that the
major problems with the ESA are not that it "doesn't consider
economics" or "isn't flexible enough," as the Wise Users and
industry claim. Rather, it is that the Act should be strengthened to
bring about more timely listings, more effective recovery, and better
funding and enforcement.

The reports of the National Academy of Science and Ecological
Society of America last year both say the act is scientifically sound
but should be strengthened.

I represent WAFC on the steering committee for the Endangered
Species Coalition and urged the Coalition last December to begin
drafting a new, improved ESA that would move the debate in the
Congress forward by addressing the real problems facing protection
of endangered species.

I am pleased to report that the concepts of such a bill, the
Endangered Natural Heritage Act, have been finalized and about
half of the drafting has been done.

ENHA was written through a collaborative process involving several
of the attorneys who litigate with the ESA, grassroots activists such
as Brian Vincent with the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance and David
Carle with RESTORE: the North Woods, and some national groups
including SCLDF and Defenders of Wildlife.

It is not intended as an ESA "wish list" but rather a set of solid,
progressive amendments to the law addressing the most serious
weaknesses of the current statute.

It is not clear that ENHA will be introduced in this Congress as a
bill per se, but that will likely depend on the level of support we
can develop. I personally think we should file the bill, when ready,
and use it as an educational and organizing tool on the ESA issue.

Regardless, ENHA can be extremely valuable in advancing some
important ideas and shifting the debate on ESA the right direction.
Almost 100 groups have endorsed ENHA so far, and your
endorsement would help to move this proposal forward. I believe it
will significantly promote the cause of forest ecosystem conservation
to have a positive ESA proposal like ENHA on the table.

Attached are some materials which explain the substance of the bill.
Please contact us with questions. Call or email your endorsement
of ENHA to WAFC at (202)789-2844 ext. 291 or
WAFCDC at igc.apc.org. Thanks.


Endangered Natural Heritage Act
Statement of Support

The undersigned organizations support the concepts set forth in the
Endangered Natural Heritage Act (ENHA) and urge others concerned
about wildlife, species diversity, and our own future to support ENHA as
well.

It is only through the protection of all wildlife that we will conserve a
world for our children and grandchildren with the spiritual, medicinal,
agricultural, and economic benefits that plants and animals offer.
Moreover, we have a moral responsibility not to drive other species to
extinction. Yet we are rapidly proceeding in a manner that will deny the
rich world of abundant, varied species to future generations.

Hundreds of species are in trouble in this country and thousands
worldwide. Expert scientists estimate that approximately 100 species are
being driven to extinction every day, largely as a result of habitat
destruction. This is a rate of extinction unprecedented since the end of the
age of dinosaurs. When the world has experienced extinction rates like this
in the past, it has taken over a million years for it to regain its previous
level of species diversity.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) can work to prevent the extinction of
species. Without the ESA the bald eagle, timber wolf, peregrine falcon,
and humpback whale might have disappeared. Yet today the ESA is
threatened by a well-organized attack that seeks to undermine the integrity
of this cornerstone environmental law.

Rather than weaken protection for fragile plants and animals, Congress
should strengthen the ESA, so species do not slip through loopholes and
cracks in the current Act.

A broad coalition of ESA experts, concerned with protecting our
environment and natural heritage for future generations, is developing
legislation to stop more effectively the loss of species. This legislation, the
draft Endangered Natural Heritage Act, contains important concepts to
close ESA loopholes, ensure the recovery of listed species, prevent the
need to list species in the future, and encourage conservation by private
property owners through tax incentives.

The Endangered Natural Heritage Act (ENHA) would reaffirm and
strengthen this nation's commitment to wildlife and to protect our
children's future. We urge Congress to include ENHA's principles in any
ESA reauthorization.

Signed:

Western Ancient Forest Campaign
Grassroots Environmental Effectiveness Network
Mt. Graham Coalition
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
Defenders of Wildlife
Sierra Club
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Western North Carolina Alliance
Wild Hope
Soda Mountain Wilderness Council