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Defenders News Briefs Spring 2007
Defenders Sues to Protect Forests
Defenders filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service in January after it exempted federal forest managers from considering the impacts of their management plans on wildlife, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). "The Forest Service under the Bush administration has gone further than any other agency in history in attempting to circumvent NEPA by eliminating essential environmental reviews," says Mike Leahy, staff attorney for Defenders.
Panther Deaths Continue to Rise
It's not the kind of record conservationists want to have broken: More Florida panthers—11 in total—were killed by drivers in 2006 than in any other year. It's a heavy blow for an endangered species numbering fewer than 100 individuals. In such a fast-developing state, Defenders' Florida office is working to reduce the number of road kills by pushing for the creation of more wildlife crossings that will help the big cats get to the other side.
Europe Bans Wild Bird Imports
In a major step forward for bird conservation, the European Union decided unanimously in January to prohibit the import of wild birds after pressure from a coalition of groups that included Defenders. Although European officials' main concern was to stem the spread of avian influenza, the new restrictions mean that as many as four million birds a year, including rare species such as the African gray parrot and the scarlet macaw, will be spared from the international pet trade and will stay in the wild.
Vote Scheduled on Aerial Wolf-Shooting Ban
Alaska voters will have another opportunity to ban the public from participating in aerial wolf shooting. Nearly 57,000 Alaskans signed a petition last year to place the issue on the next state ballot. In February, the state lieutenant governor certified the ballot measure, which will be voted on in August 2008. Alaskans have twice before passed similar ballot measures, but both were overturned by the state legislature. Meanwhile, more than 600 wolves have been shot by aerial gunners in Alaska during the past four years, including at least 38 in the first two months of 2007.
