Today's Oregonian reports that the Bush administration is moving to de-list the Marbled Murrelet in California, Oregon and Washington. The administration has once again decided to ignore the overwhelming evidence that the species is in a free-fall decline due almost exclusively to habitat loss from clear-cut logging of old-growth forests.
Their rationale? There's not been a significant enough decline in Canada and Alaska, yet.
This is perfectly consistent with previous Bush administration policies. Ignore the evidence that runs contrary to policy. Manufacture evidence that supports policy.
And as far as endangered species are concerned, the only species worth listing are the ones that are too far gone to save. That way a clear case can be made for why the endangered species act is a failure and should be abandoned.
Posted by mbalame at October 26, 2005 4:04 PM