** FWS study confirms weakening penalties will likely harm bird populations
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Photo: @USFWSBirds ([link removed])
The Trump administration is moving forward with a proposal to ease penalties for killing birds even as their own scientists affirm this will negatively impact bird species ([link removed]) .
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released analysis ([link removed]) last Friday showing that lowering the legal risk and financial penalties for the oil and gas and construction industries for unintentionally killing birds will not incentivize best practices and will further increase bird mortality rates. However, the agency also cited the "Miracle on the Hudson" ([link removed]) in which U.S. Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River when the plane lost power after flying into a flock of Canada geese as justification for rolling back migratory bird protections.
The deregulatory proposal from the Trump administration and the Fish and Wildlife Service study arrives at a time when additional analyses have shown that bird populations are rapidly declining. Researchers estimate ([link removed]) that over 3 billion birds have been lost since 1970 due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
** The Trump administration's week of environmental rollbacks
------------------------------------------------------------
President Trump traveled to Maine last Friday to remove protections for a marine national monument to cap off a particularly destructive week of anti-environment actions ([link removed]) , including approving weaker air quality standards for offshore drilling, lowering penalties for killing migratory birds, and shooting another hole in the National Environmental Policy Act, to name just a few. Read the latest blog ([link removed]) from the Center for Western Priorities to learn more about each action.
Quick hits
** Visitation to Colorado's state parks skyrocketed as national parks closed due to coronavirus concerns
------------------------------------------------------------
Denver Post ([link removed])
** Lawmakers push for bold conservation vision to protect 30% of America by 2030
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Introducing a non-native beetle species to combat invasive tamarisk seemed like a good idea—until it wasn't
------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Interior Department adds to destructive legacy under President Trump with a week of anti-environment actions
------------------------------------------------------------
Westwise ([link removed])
** BLM to hold in-person public meetings in New Mexico despite coronavirus concerns
------------------------------------------------------------
Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])
** Forecast for the four corners region stokes fears of wildfire, drought & heatwaves on top of coronavirus
------------------------------------------------------------
Inside Climate News ([link removed])
** Study confirms lowering penalties will likely harm bird populations
------------------------------------------------------------
The Hill ([link removed])
** Opinion: Why environmentalists should also be anti-racist
------------------------------------------------------------
Vogue ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Intersectional environmentalism is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality."
—Leah Thomas, Vogue ([link removed])
Picture this
** @ ([link removed]) Interior ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
June is #GreatOutdoorsMonth ([link removed]) and we're grateful public lands and waters continue to bring so much to our lives. Beautiful sky @JoshuaTreeNPS ([link removed])
#California ([link removed])
============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2020 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
