WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins today applauded the individuals and groups who are working to protect America’s endangered species. Senator Collins recently cosponsored legislation, passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, declaring May 11 as “Endangered Species Day.”
“Today, on May 11, we celebrate Endangered Species Day to encourage greater awareness about the threats to endangered species and to promote species conservation worldwide,” said Senator Collins. “It is also an appropriate time to reiterate my concern with the Administration’s 2007 budget which proposes to cut funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species program by approximately 10 percent and call for an increase in this funding.”
Last month, Senator Collins joined several Senate colleagues who sent a letter to Senators Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, urging them to support a $20 million increase for the federal endangered species program.
Following is the full text of the letter:
April 11, 2006
Dear Chairman Bums and Ranking Member Dorgan:
As members who share your commitment to the conservation of our nation's wildlife, fish, plants and their habitats, we are writing to urge needed increases for the US Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) endangered species program.
When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, it recognized that America has an obligation to protect its most vulnerable species of wildlife, fish and plants and to ensure a rich conservation legacy for our children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, we are falling short of that commitment. There are many issues that Congress can address to improve our efforts such as increasing the roles of states in conservation work, putting a greater emphasis on recovery and providing incentives for private landowners. While Congress tries to find consensus on how to strengthen the Act, we can address one issue by providing needed funding to protect and adequately recover endangered and threatened plants and animals. The Administration's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget includes a $7.7 million or 10.4 percent cut to the recovery budget, further exacerbating the existing shortfall.
Failure to provide adequate levels of funding for endangered species operations will only ensure that species slide closer to extinction, decreasing chances for recovery while increasing the costs for both the government and private stakeholders. More than 280 species continue to languish on the candidate list, awaiting protection under the Act. Many have been candidates for years. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists have previously estimated that more than 200 already-listed species are on the verge of extinction primarily because too little attention and funding is available for recovery activities. In addition, the number of projects reviewed under the Consultation program has increased from 40,000 in 1999 to approximately 77,000 in 2005 and further increases are expected. Finally, the development and implementation of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP5), which allow activities to proceed while still protecting species, continues to grow, with funding critically needed to help ensure timely and effective development and monitoring of 500 existing and nearly 300 new HCPs that together will cover about 72 million acres when complete.
In addition, it is critical to provide adequate funding for the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund and two USFWS incentive programs - the Private Stewardship Grant Program and the Landowner Incentive Program - that provide resources to states and private landowners to conserve endangered plants and animals on non-federal lands. Demand for these programs far exceeds current funding. For example, although the Private Stewardship Program is funded at only $7 million, the current demand is $31 million.
While we understand the existing budget constraints placed on the Subcommittee, we urge you make every effort to provide a total increase of at least $20 million over the FY2006 level for USFWS endangered species operating accounts: $4 million for Listing, $7 million for Recovery, $7 million for Consultation, and $2 million for Candidate Conservation. We further ask for increases of $5 million for the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, $7 million for the Landowner Incentive Program and $3 million for Private Stewardship Grants.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
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