Save the spotted owl from greedy clearcutters and corrupt government agencies |
by Jan Lundberg | |
07 September 2008 | |
Culture Change Letter #199
You really can help save the spotted owl from greedy clearcutters and corrupt government agencies. Eco-activists are normally outnumbered and underfunded, but do win sometimes, if public opinion is mobilized.
![]() Clearcut redwoods ![]() Northern Spotted Owl, courtesy wildnorthwest.org 1. It is the state of California's legal obligation to protect wildlife. 2. The rule changes will not prevent "take" of NSOs as the law requires, but will allow the timber industry to kill owls by destroying their habitat. 3. The Department of Fish and Game is improperly delegating their responsibility to protect wildlife to the California Department of Forestry and Fire (CalFIRE), which lacks biological expertise. 4. CalFIRE, in turn, is also improperly delegating the state's authority to private industry.These rule changes are bad news for owl recovery. These changes will lead to increased loss of habitat at a time when the owls face rising threats to their survival from multiple sources. These changes are particularly inappropriate while the federal government is pulling the rug from under the species with a bogus recovery plan, cuts to critical habitat, and a proposal to allow the Forest Service to more easily log owl habitat. Please take a minute to review and edit the included sample letter and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by September 8. Sincerely, Kerul Dyer and EPIC staff Wildcalifornia.org courtesy EPIC Attn: Christopher Zimny Regulations Coordinator P.O. Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 Submitted via e-mail- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Return receipt requested RE: EVALUATION FOR "TAKE" AVOIDANCE OF NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL, 2008 Dear Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, I am writing to submit comments that strongly oppose the proposed rule changes concerning the "take" of the Northern Spotted Owl. As a public agency, the Department of Forestry and Fire is obligated to protect the public's interest. It is not in the public's interest to promote extinction. Because the Northern Spotted Owl faces threats to its survival from multiple sources, it is important that protections be strengthened, not weakened, to support their recovery. I am concerned that if these rules are changed as proposed, rare habitat available in California will be logged and the owls will suffer. The Department of Fish and Game is improperly delegating their responsibility to wildlife by handing over their consultation function to the California Department of Forestry and Fire (CalFIRE). Under the proposed rules, CalFIRE would further delegate the state's authority to private industry itself. The newly defined Qualified Spotted Owl Consultants would allow private foresters to do the job of trained biologists. These changes create a dangerous vulnerability where the state has a responsibility to protect both wildlife and scientific integrity. I understand that this is happening at a time when the federal government is dramatically reducing effective protections for NSO across their range, including their California habitat. Sincerely... Get the above letter in PDF to sign and fax: wildcalifornia.org * * * * * Get alerts from EPIC, Environmental Protection Information Center: wildcalifornia.org Your tax dollars at work (oy yoy yoy): bof.fire.ca.gov
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