United Alert: Letter to the Governors For Your Signature
On December 23, 2003, 21 environmental groups filed a petition to
list the Greater Sage Grouse as a threatened or endangered species.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to issue a ruling within
the coming weeks on the petition that could start the process to list
the sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Leaders in outdoor recreation are working with many other sectors to
ensure that the Greater Sage Grouse is not stuffed into the
regulatory straightjacket of the ESA. Instead, we are fighting to
defend the right of state and local leaders to devise and implement
their own conservation programs, which are far more effective at
preserving and enhancing species and their habitat.
A potential ESA listing for this species is due at the end of this
year. Such a listing would be disastrous both for the bird and for
the economy of the West. That is why we have organized a joint
letter to Governors across the West encouraging them to aggressively
work against an ESA listing.
The sage grouse habitat is spread over 110 millions acres in 11
western states and, if listed as a threatened or endangered species,
could affect millions of dollars of development plans, from ranching
and farming to housing, mining and oil and gas production in addition
to recreation access to millions of acres of public lands.
Please review this letter and consider joining United Four Wheel
Drive Associations and others as a signatory by going here:
http://www.partnershipforthewest.org/grouse_letter.asp
More information about the Partnership for the West can be viewed at:
http://www.partnershipforthewest.org
--
John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations, http://www.ufwda.org
Natural Resource Consultant
California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, http://www.ca4wdc.com
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor, http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network
On December 23, 2003, 21 environmental groups filed a petition to
list the Greater Sage Grouse as a threatened or endangered species.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to issue a ruling within
the coming weeks on the petition that could start the process to list
the sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Leaders in outdoor recreation are working with many other sectors to
ensure that the Greater Sage Grouse is not stuffed into the
regulatory straightjacket of the ESA. Instead, we are fighting to
defend the right of state and local leaders to devise and implement
their own conservation programs, which are far more effective at
preserving and enhancing species and their habitat.
A potential ESA listing for this species is due at the end of this
year. Such a listing would be disastrous both for the bird and for
the economy of the West. That is why we have organized a joint
letter to Governors across the West encouraging them to aggressively
work against an ESA listing.
The sage grouse habitat is spread over 110 millions acres in 11
western states and, if listed as a threatened or endangered species,
could affect millions of dollars of development plans, from ranching
and farming to housing, mining and oil and gas production in addition
to recreation access to millions of acres of public lands.
Please review this letter and consider joining United Four Wheel
Drive Associations and others as a signatory by going here:
http://www.partnershipforthewest.org/grouse_letter.asp
More information about the Partnership for the West can be viewed at:
http://www.partnershipforthewest.org
--
John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations, http://www.ufwda.org
Natural Resource Consultant
California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, http://www.ca4wdc.com
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor, http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network
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