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In
addition, the proposed policy change would allow the FWS to issue
permits to trophy hunters who wish to gun down endangered species,
such as the Canadian wood bison, if the hunters claim that the animals
are from a "managed population" where conservation measures
are in place. The changes also would allow the import of endangered
animal parts, such as the skins of endangered crocodiles, under
similar claims.
Below
is a sample letter to send to the wildlife service in opposition
to the proposal:
To:
Chief, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Please do not gut the Endangered Species Act as is proposed in the
"Draft Policy for Enhancement-of-Survival Permits for Foreign
Species Listed Under the Endangered Species Act." Weakening
this law by fueling the international trade in endangered species
puts endangered animals in great peril and violates the intent of
the lawmakers who created this law.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has no jurisdiction to ensure that
the money used to purchase endangered species will be spent on conservation
efforts in foreign countries (the animals' native lands). In addition,
the wildlife service has failed to clearly define "conservation,"
and has previously demonstrated a very low standard for defining
"conservation" measures in the U.S.
The proposal provides absolutely no incentive for countries to protect
endangered animals when they can make money by selling them to U.S.
businesses.
The "Draft Policy" does not recognize that animals need
to be treated as individuals rather than "specimens."
This is especially important for social animals such as elephants
and primates, since removing them from the wild has a huge negative
impact on the remaining populations as well as the individual animals
themselves. Captivity is documented to be detrimental to the well-being
of elephants and other exotic animals.
If the wildlife service wants to provide incentives for other countries
to protect species and habitat; there are a host of alternative
methods. For example, FWS can lobby to tighten up protections under
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna), enhance international enforcement tools,
and expand grants for habitat protection.
This
proposed policy change would have tremendous impacts on the environment
and conservation of species; therefore, under the National Environmental
Policy Act, a full Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared
before this "policy" is enacted.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your address
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