Ocean Sentry
Barack Obama restored protections for endangered species today in a roll-back of one of the most contentious last-minute rule changes of the George Bush era. “For more than three decades, the Endangered Species Act has successfully protected our nation”s most threatened wildlife, and we should be looking for ways to improve it – not weaken it,” Obama said today.
The rule change, which was made final in mid-December last year, left it up to government agencies to decide on their own whether new dams, logging or mining operations posed a threat to endangered species or their habitat.
The rule also said that a project’s impact on climate change should no longer be a factor when taking into account its impact on wildlife.
The Bush-era changes amounted to rolling back the clock on 35 years of protocol.
“Throughout our history, there’s been a tension between those who’ve sought to conserve our natural resources for the benefit of future generations, and those who have sought to profit from these resources,” he said. “This is a false choice. With smart, sustainable policies, we can grow our economy today and preserve the environment.”
It was welcomed by environmentalists, and criticised by businesss groups who said the protections were an obstacle to road-building and other projects that could help get the economy moving again.
Some business groups said they were exploring the option of legal action against the Obama memo.
Obama has said repeatedly that he will let science drive his administration’s policies on the environment.
The White House has also stopped a move that would have opened up land in natural parks – including Arches National Park in Utah – to oil and gas drilling.
(From guardian.co.uk, by Suzanne Goldenberg)
