Latest news with #PaulSouza
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposal to Keep Grizzlies on the Endangered Species List Is ‘Ludicrous,' Say Western Lawmakers
Nearly a dozen Western lawmakers sent a scathing letter Tuesday to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's acting director Paul Souza, urging the agency to revisit the agency's January decision to keep grizzly bears on the Endangered Species list, and accusing the USFWS of 'changing the playbook' guiding the species' recovery. This change lies at the heart of their concerns, as the federal agency proposed in January to establish a single recovery zone for grizzlies (what it calls a 'distinct population segment') and do away with the six distinct recovery zones that have guided grizzly bear management for decades. Led by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), the group of 11 Congressmen and -women who sent the letter represent Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the three states outside Alaska that hold sustainable populations of grizzly bears. (There is also a small population of grizzlies in northeastern Washington State, and more bears could be introduced into the North Cascades in the coming years.) 'We should be celebrating the recovery grizzly bears have made through the dedication and sacrifice of the people who must live with these bears in their backyards,' the letter reads. 'We strongly oppose the proposed [4(d) rule] and urge you to review the population data to acknowledge the recovery of grizzlies.' Read Next: Researchers Just Said California Could Support Up to 1,700 Grizzly Bears The lawmakers say this 'flawed' decision, which came during the final weeks of the Biden administration, is yet another example of the process being driven by politics instead of science. They contend that by moving back the goal posts for recovery, the agency is undermining the whole purpose of the Endangered Species Act and disregarding the achievements that have already been made in the Lower 48. 'This decision punishes Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho's successful grizzly bear recovery efforts,' the lawmakers write in the May 13 letter. 'As members who represent these states, we believe this flawed decision will severely damage trust in ESA listing decisions and undermine future recovery efforts.' Several of those lawmakers have long pushed for the Feds to delist grizzlies, citing the federal agency's own metrics for recovery that have clearly been met — in some cases, multiple times over. They point to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which now holds more than 1,000 bears, or more than double the goal of 500 bears that the USFWS had previously established. This should be viewed as a huge success story, according to agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks that have been working toward grizzly recovery at the state level. 'The recovery of that population is one of the greatest large carnivore success stories in North American history,' a former MFWP Director wrote in 2016. 'When the grizzly bear was put under federal protection in 1975, the GYE population was just 150 bears. The federal recovery goal then was 400 bears, later increased to 500 bears to make sure the population would be healthy and viable before delisting. The population reached that goal in 2002.' Read Next: Montana's New Grizzly Bear Plan Says It's Ready to Take Back Management from the Feds Other metrics help paint a fuller picture of how grizzlies are doing in the Northern Rockies. In 2024, grizzly bears set a new record in Wyoming for cattle depredations, while the Wyoming Game and Fish Department saw a near-record number of grizzlies killed by humans, according to reporting by WyoFile. But even with the loss of those 60-plus bears, Cowboy State managers said the grizzly population there is still growing. Already this year Montana has recorded at least two conflicts between grizzlies and humans, including a shed hunter who shot and killed a charging sow in self defense. Federal wildlife managers have also seen grizzly bears expanding and dispersing into the different recovery zones, including the first documented instance (since the bears were listed) of a male grizzly leaving one zone and breeding successfully in another. The USFWS called this a 'milestone' in a recent explainer article, which noted the 'remarkable success' of grizzly reintroduction — thanks in large part to the commitments from state and tribal agencies over the last 40 years. The USFWS, however, has used the same milestone to argue that managers should encourage this movement between recovery zones and continue to list the bears as threatened, with all the federal protections this entails under the Endangered Species Act, until they are all part of one big, interconnected population. Daines and other lawmakers say this is totally unrealistic and unachievable because the four-state region is no longer connected by viable grizzly habitat. And with more human development taking place in the West every year, the islands of habitat that can support grizzlies will only get farther apart. 'For FWS to take this remarkable recovery data and say that recovery is too effective to warrant delisting is ludicrous,' the letter reads. 'It is time to celebrate the recovery of grizzly bears by delisting them and returning management to the states where it belongs.' The timing of the letter is significant because the USFWS is still accepting public comment on its proposed grizzly bear rule until Friday. The original 60-day comment period was set to expire in March, but after canceling a series of in-person public hearings on the rule change in January, the agency decided to extend the public comment period until May 16.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Federal court rules against attempt to withhold Endangered Species Act protections from Joshua tree
A federal court in California sided with environmentalists, striking down a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) attempt to withhold protections for the Joshua tree under the Endangered Species Act. The Central District of California ruled on Monday that the FWS decision to not provide ESA protections for the Joshua tree is unlawful and sidesteps climate science. MORE: Extra moisture on West Coast allowing climate-sensitive Joshua trees to recover: Experts Known for its twisted stalks and unusual outline, the Joshua tree is native to the arid southwestern U.S. and thrives in harsh desert environments. In 2015, WildEarth Guardians, an environmental nonprofit group, petitioned the FWS to list Joshua trees as a threatened species, but a second 2023 species status assessment by the FWS found that neither Joshua tree species -- Yucca brevifolia and Yucca jaegeriana -- requires protections. The FWS said it looked at threats from wildfire, invasive grasses, climate change and habitat loss and fragmentation. It found that none of the threats rose to the level to meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges, according to the assessment. "Through our scientific assessment, the Service determined that Joshua trees will remain an iconic presence on the landscape into the future. Although the two species do not need the protections of the Endangered Species Act, the Service cares deeply about Joshua trees and their roles in the desert environment," said Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director Paul Souza in a statement in 2023. "We are coordinating closely with partners to ensure the long-term conservation of these species, including the National Park Service and other Federal agencies, and the State of California, which is also considering measures for the protection of Joshua trees." However, multiple studies have shown that shifts in climate in the Mojave Desert is a major contributor to weather events that threaten Joshua trees, including wildfires. "The agency's decision, for a second time, reflected a massive disconnect from what the best available science shows -- that climate change and wildfire will prevent Joshua trees from successfully recruiting new generations over the coming years,' Jennifer Schwartz, managing attorney for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement sent to ABC News. MORE: Human skeletal remains found just off trail in Joshua Tree National Park After the FWS analysis was released, WildEarth Guardians sued the FWS "for its failure to follow federal law" in denying protections for the Joshua tree. The Central District of California ruled in favor of the environmental nonprofit's claims, writing in the decision "that the Service has not provided a rational explanation as to why climate change alone does not threaten the species to become threatened or endangered." "The Service provides no explanation as to why it did not use current trends and standards regarding greenhouse gas emissions as a basis for its decision, when this data currently is available," the decision states. The court also noted that when assessing the "foreseeable future" of the Joshua tree, the FWS only looked to the middle of the 21st century, while the end of the 21st century is the commonly used timeline for most scientific assessments. "It is essential that the Service considers climate change's effect on habitat suitability in relation to young Joshua trees, and not just the persistence of stronger, adult Joshua trees," the order states. MORE: This is how climate change may alter 10 of the world's natural wonders The federal court has instructed the FWS to reconsider whether the Joshua tree should receive ESA protections with more scientific analysis. The ruling "serves as yet another reminder that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must completely grapple with the ongoing and incoming threats from human-created climate change," Casey Bage, legal fellow for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement sent to ABC News. Bage noted that the science "is clear" in this case. "We must face these facts head-on in order to protect Joshua trees -- and other species -- to give them the fighting chance that they deserve," Bage said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Federal court rules against attempt to withhold Endangered Species Act protections from Joshua tree originally appeared on
14-05-2025
- General
Federal court rules against attempt to withhold Endangered Species Act protections from Joshua tree
A federal court in California sided with environmentalists, striking down a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) attempt to withhold protections for the Joshua tree under the Endangered Species Act. The Central District of California ruled on Monday that the FWS decision to not provide ESA protections for the Joshua tree is unlawful and sidesteps climate science. Known for its twisted stalks and unusual outline, the Joshua tree is native to the arid southwestern U.S. and thrives in harsh desert environments. In 2015, WildEarth Guardians, an environmental nonprofit group, petitioned the FWS to list Joshua trees as a threatened species, but a second 2023 species status assessment by the FWS found that neither Joshua tree species -- Yucca brevifolia and Yucca jaegeriana -- requires protections. The FWS said it looked at threats from wildfire, invasive grasses, climate change and habitat loss and fragmentation. It found that none of the threats rose to the level to meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges, according to the assessment. "Through our scientific assessment, the Service determined that Joshua trees will remain an iconic presence on the landscape into the future. Although the two species do not need the protections of the Endangered Species Act, the Service cares deeply about Joshua trees and their roles in the desert environment," said Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director Paul Souza in a statement in 2023. "We are coordinating closely with partners to ensure the long-term conservation of these species, including the National Park Service and other Federal agencies, and the State of California, which is also considering measures for the protection of Joshua trees." However, multiple studies have shown that shifts in climate in the Mojave Desert is a major contributor to weather events that threaten Joshua trees, including wildfires. "The agency's decision, for a second time, reflected a massive disconnect from what the best available science shows -- that climate change and wildfire will prevent Joshua trees from successfully recruiting new generations over the coming years,' Jennifer Schwartz, managing attorney for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement sent to ABC News. After the FWS analysis was released, WildEarth Guardians sued the FWS"for its failure to follow federal law" in denying protections for the Joshua tree. The Central District of California ruled in favor of the environmental nonprofit's claims, writing in the decision "that the Service has not provided a rational explanation as to why climate change alone does not threaten the species to become threatened or endangered." "The Service provides no explanation as to why it did not use current trends and standards regarding greenhouse gas emissions as a basis for its decision, when this data currently is available," the decision states. The court also noted that when assessing the "foreseeable future" of the Joshua tree, the FWS only looked to the middle of the 21st century, while the end of the 21st century is the commonly used timeline for most scientific assessments. "It is essential that the Service considers climate change's effect on habitat suitability in relation to young Joshua trees, and not just the persistence of stronger, adult Joshua trees," the order states. The federal court has instructed the FWS to reconsider whether the Joshua tree should receive ESA protections with more scientific analysis. The ruling "serves as yet another reminder that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must completely grapple with the ongoing and incoming threats from human-created climate change," Casey Bage, legal fellow for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement sent to ABC News. Bage noted that the science "is clear" in this case. "We must face these facts head-on in order to protect Joshua trees -- and other species -- to give them the fighting chance that they deserve," Bage said.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
U.S. Announces Major Plan for 42 New Hunting Opportunities Nationwide
The United States Department of the Interior announced 42 "new proposed hunting opportunities across more than 87,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System." The news was announced via a May 2, 2025, press release. "This proposal would more than triple the number of opportunities and quintuple the number of stations opened or expanded compared to the previous administration, underscoring a strong national commitment to outdoor recreation and conservation," the press release says. 'Expanding recreational access to our public lands isn't just about tradition—it's about supporting rural economies and the American families who depend on them,' said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. 'By opening more areas to hunting and outdoor recreation, we're helping drive tourism, create jobs, and generate revenue for local communities, all while promoting responsible stewardship of our natural resources," he added. The Service "is proposing to open or expand opportunities for hunting and sport fishing at 16 National Wildlife Refuge System stations and one National Fish Hatchery System station," the release notes. These stations "are located in Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas and Washington," the release says. "The Service is committed to ensuring that all hunting and fishing opportunities align with state fish and wildlife regulations. We continue to work closely with our state partners to maintain consistency in areas such as the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle, and we will incorporate these considerations into future updates," it adds. 'Hunting and fishing are traditional recreational activities deeply rooted in America's heritage. National wildlife refuges, national fish hatcheries and other Service lands offer hunting and fishing access that helps boost local economies and gives Americans an opportunity to unplug,' said Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Paul Souza in the release. 'We are pleased to expand access and offer new opportunities that are compatible with our conservation mission and are committed to responsibly managing these areas for the benefit of future generations.' The National Wildlife Refuge System "is an unparalleled network of 573 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts," the release said.
