Solutions September-October 2004
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Solutions Vol. 35, No. 4 September-October 2004 Preserving the web of life Court urges SHELTERING AMERICA’S TINIEST TURTLE WILL PROTECT snowmobile AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM cleanup 3 he tiny, elusive bog turtle spends which we all depend for evolution. Tmost of its life half-buried in the “Every species has the potential to teach muck, far from sight. What impact us something new,” adds Male. could its survival possibly have on the Since most endangered species China’s grand scheme of things? inhabit private lands, Environmental green Plenty, says our wildlife scientist Defense partners with landowners to experiment 4 Dr. Tim Male. Besides occupying an restore habitat. “To make a difference, important niche in mid-Atlantic wet- we have to enlist the support of regular lands, the turtle may provide insight into people who share their land with these how to restore and maintain vanishing animals and plants,” explains Male. An alliance ecosystems. More than 11,000 animal to replenish and plant species are now threatened AN UNLIKELY MASCOT the seas 7 with extinction. Not since an asteroid hit The bog turtle’s habitat—wet meadows Earth 65 million years ago have so many and other shallow, sunny wetlands—is species been at risk. fast disappearing as farm pastures are Biodiversity loss, says renowned swallowed up by development and non- Reclaiming biologist Edward O. Wilson, is the one native vegetation. America’s smallest tur- a fabled thing for which our descendants are least tle is also threatened by the high price it likely to forgive us. Unless we change brings through the illegal pet trade—up valley 8 our ways, he warns, half of all species to $2,500 in Tokyo pet shops. Bog turtles could vanish by the end of this century. in the Northeast have declined by 50% The damage is more than aesthetic. over the past two decades. Remodeling Many threatened species are critical to Because bog turtles and livestock your home, preserve the pool of genetic variations on Please see Cover Story, p. 2 naturally 10 Russia holds key to Kyoto 12 Where we stand 2 Mailbag 3 Regional update 6 News briefs 9 Richard Olsenius/Getty Richard Pictures Action center 11 Former dairy farms that are now overgrown, like this one in the Northeast, can welcome rare wildlife with the help of livestock. Cows and sheep fill an ecological niche left vacant when yesterday’s grazers—bison, elk and mastodon—vanished. WHERE WE STAND By Fred Krupp, President This election, let’s put the environment above politics As president, As voters, it is our responsibility to midst of the energy crisis. So did the Theodore Roose- demand environmental commitments elder George Bush when he champi- velt did not just from the candidates—and to hold those oned the 1990 Clean Air Act amend- talk about conser- elected accountable, not just at the ments, driving down power plant vation; he threw federal level but at the state and local emissions and reducing acid rain. the full weight of levels as well. Important initiatives, Fortunately, there are ways to his office behind like California’s landmark law to limit help the environment that also help it. At a time of global warming pollution from vehi- the economy, such as using market intense industrial ‒‒‒‒‒ incentives to achieve the greatest pol- expansion, he quadrupled the lution reductions at least cost. By national forests and preserved 18 We must demand commit- building an environmental majority areas as national monuments, ments from candidates. and appealing to the best in our polit- including the Grand Canyon. ical leaders, we can protect America’s As the election nears, it seems ––––– natural heritage far into the future. fitting to call upon the candidates to cles, often pass by slim margins. The The election offers a special exercise the political courage of people we choose to represent us do opportunity to restore the environ- Roosevelt. If we are to tackle the big make a difference. ment to its rightful place as a top environmental challenges of our The environment should not be a priority. I urge you to make your time—global warming and oceans partisan issue; we all share the same voice heard. protection—we need to elect lead- planet. Jimmy Carter understood this ers willing to put the environment when he expanded protection for the above politics. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the COVER STORY: Landowners bring species back from the brink Continued from page 1 can live side-by-side in wet pastures, considering reintroducing cows or goats such species as the San Joaquin kit fox, we’re teaming up with farmers like 83- to keep the land open for the benefit of nene goose and golden-cheeked warbler. year-old Isaac McGhee in northern the turtle and other rare wetland species “This is about more than individ- Maryland. Recently retired, McGhee like the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, ual species,” says Male. “It’s about still leases his crop fields to other farm- sedge wren and lady slipper orchid. restoring ecosystems that are integral to ers, but his dairy herd is long gone. McGhee is one of dozens of land- America’s natural heritage.” Today, the pastures are overgrown with owners we’re working with in Maryland, For more information on helping endan- invasive red maple and thistle. New York and Pennsylvania to save the gered species, visit www.backfromthe- “Back when I was grazing cows, the bog turtle. The project, part of our Back brink.org. land was open,” he recalls. “You could see from the Brink campaign, serves as a a rabbit run across it. You couldn’t see an model for restoring ecosystems nation- elephant run across it now.” wide. The landowners’ efforts are funded Solutions Work has already begun to cut back in part by conservation monies we helped Editor: Peter Klebnikov the invasive plants, and McGhee is now secure in the Farm Bill. “Some rare Environmental Defense, 257 Park Avenue species thrive if we simply set land South, New York, NY 10010. Main number 212- 505-2100. aside,” says Male, “but many, like the Membership questions: Call 800-684-3322 or bog turtle, require active management.” email [email protected] Mailbag: Mail to address above, call 800-242- TEN YEARS OF SAFE HARBOR 3251 or email [email protected] This year marks the 10th anniversary of ©2004 Environmental Defense. Published our Safe Harbor program, which encour- bimonthly at New York, NY. ASSN 0163-2566 ages landowners to restore habitat volun- New York • Washington • Oakland tarily with the promise of no new restric- Boulder • Raleigh • Austin • Boston Project office: Los Angeles tions on their property after endangered Brian Zarate species arrive. More than two million Online at www.environmentaldefense.org The future of the bog turtle is in our hands. acres have been enrolled, helping protect 2 Environmental Defense Solutions Member 25 Main Street Anytown, NY 11199 Environmental Defense 257 Park Ave. South New York, NY 10003 MAILBAG Washington watch Editor: Court victory on EPA faces pressure I would like to thank you for publish- ing “Toxic trail leads to your door” snowmobile to strengthen (May-June Solutions). I was appalled pollution mercury standards by the array of chemicals in our everyday products. I immediately With Congress and the courts dead- Despite a nationwide outcry over checked the labels on the products locked over whether snowmobiles weak mercury standards, EPA has yet that I use. I am working with my belong in national parks, Environ- to agree to analyze stronger measures. parents to find alternatives to the mental Defense won a victory to clean EPA’s proposal, announced last products we use with chemicals that up these dirty machines nationwide. December, would delay significant were mentioned in the article. A single snowmobile can pollute cuts in mercury from power plants Gabrielle Miller as much as 100 cars, but affordable until 2018, even though the technol- Midland, MI technologies can cut pollution 90%. ogy exists to cut the toxic pollutant When EPA issued snowmobile stan- by 90% years earlier. The proposal dards requiring only 70% of machines provoked a record half a million to cut pollution by 2012, we filed suit. comments from the public—includ- In June, the federal appeals court in ing tens of thousands through our D.C. agreed that EPA had no good action alerts. reason for exempting so many snow- The agency in 2001 convened an mobiles from clean air standards. advisory group, including our air pol- The ruling requires EPA to lution expert Michael Shore, that rec- reconsider its standards and justify the ommended strict regulations. But last loophole, something we think it will year, EPA abruptly disbanded the What you don’t know about your be hard pressed to do. panel and developed its weak proposal household cleaning products can “EPA’s snowmobile loophole behind closed doors. hurt you. makes no sense,” says our attorney We’re pressing the agency to go Janea Scott. “It’s the agency’s legal back to the drawing board. “EPA Editor: responsibility to require that all snow- can’t justify ignoring the science, I’m encouraged by your “Where We mobiles meet basic clean air stan- ignoring the experts and ignoring Stand” article (July-Aug. Solutions). dards.” We’re pressing EPA to set the unprecedented public demand Environmental Defense seems to be standards that protect Americans’ for stronger mercury standards,” says successfully pursuing a nonpartisan approach. I’m a conservative Re- health and the environment. Shore. publican and support environmental issues. I don’t mind your disagree- ing with the current administration (I disagree with them on a number of environmental issues), but the way you do it appears to be aimed at getting the best solution politi- cally possible.