** Trump administration on spotted owls: no help in the face of extinction
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Northern spotted owl | Frank Lospalluto ([link removed])
The Trump administration is acknowledging that the northern spotted owl may soon go extinct and deserves additional federal protections. But administration officials say they won't move to further protect the owl ([link removed]) , citing a lack of resources, and will instead focus on protecting other "higher priority" species.
Spotted owl populations have plummeted ([link removed]) in the Pacific northwest, where 70 percent of the species' habitat has been lost due to logging and development. Now, climate change and severe wildfires are pushing the owl even closer to the brink of extinction. For decades, efforts to protect the owl have been met with strong opposition from logging interests, sparking sometimes intense controversy.
Instead of moving to further protect the spotted owl, as government scientists say is warranted, the Interior Department is currently trying to cut protections for more than 200,000 acres of the owl's critical habitat ([link removed]) —a proposal reached in a court settlement between the Trump administration and the timber industry.
Reducing protections for species in deference to logging, drilling, and mining companies could soon become more common, thanks to another Trump administration proposal. The Interior Department is preparing to finalize a rule to increase consideration of economic factors ([link removed]) when deciding which habitat to protect or not protect, essentially allowing the rationale for removing spotted owl habitat to be applied to all species going forward.
Quick hits
** Interior Department to auction drilling leases on 280,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat in Wyoming
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
** Oil companies ramp up drilling for carbon dioxide in New Mexico to aid production
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New Mexico Political Report ([link removed])
** Public lands antagonist Representative Bishop set to leave Congress after 18 years
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** BLM pulls the plug on Utah tar sands leases due to conflict of interest
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** Land owners spar over efforts to designate Wild and Scenic Rivers in New Mexico
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New Mexico Political Report ([link removed])
** Trump administration says spotted owls may go extinct, but won't act to increase protections
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | Willamette Week ([link removed])
** Exxon sets new emissions goals after criticism from investors
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Bloomberg ([link removed])
** Opinion: It's time to invest more in conserving public lands
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Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Since [Representative] Rob [Bishop] has been in Congress, production of oil, gas and coal are all down and the amount of land with protection is significantly up in Utah.”
—Scott Groene ([link removed]) , Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Executive Director
Picture this
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Photo by Bob Wick | Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])
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