The sound was unmistakable: sharp but majestic at the same time, and coming from a large tree at the edge of the lake I was fishing. Watching the bald eagle take flight, I marveled at its impressive size and reflected on the fact that it had become a common member of the local lake community. Bald eagles are lucky: they were once endangered, but with the help of wildlife and conservation biologists, they’ve come back to such an extent that we’re starting to take them for granted again . We can say that the eagles have had a very good Christmas lately, with lots of presents under the tree.
However, not all species are so lucky. Many are not as beautiful as eagles, and there can only be one national symbol. Others are not species of game or fish that humans enjoy hunting or catching. Some species are undervalued and ignored, yet many play important roles in our ecosystems, often helping charismatic and athletic species in one way or another. In the past, there haven’t been many conservation gifts for species like frogs, insects, plants, or even songbirds. Historically, we do not give gifts to species that are not endangered or have no economic value to us.
This is a huge problem, as more than a third of the country’s plants and animals are threatened with extinction, which has cascading effects on our ecosystems as well as outdoor recreation. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, but this legislation has always been reactive rather than proactive. In other words, the ESA is helping species that are already endangered, as it has done for bald eagles, American alligators and many other species, but doing nothing to prevent future species from becoming endangered. With your help, however, we can save these forgotten species, putting a big gift under the tree for wildlife this winter.
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) would provide nearly $1.4 billion a year to restore wildlife populations across the country. RAWA passed the House in June in a bipartisan vote and has numerous Democratic and Republican co-sponsors in the Senate. RAWA enjoys widespread support, in part because it attracts hunters and anglers, many of whom understand that all plants and animals are important for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Additionally, wildlife recreation is a $140 billion industry, creating a strong economic incentive to pass the legislation. It is also less expensive to help animal and plant species before they become endangered, rather than after, which ultimately could save taxpayers money.
RAWA helps solve two problems. Most wildlife conservation happens at the state level, but there is less money for these efforts than before. About 80% of state-run conservation funding comes from hunting and fishing license sales, in addition to federal taxes on sales of firearms, ammunition, and fishing tackle. So much of conservation in the United States has for far too long rested almost entirely on the backs of hunters and anglers. Backpackers, campers, and birdwatchers don’t have to buy permits or pay additional taxes on their gear. Hunters and anglers do it, and all that money goes to conservation. However, the number of hunters and anglers has unfortunately declined over time, and with this decline, these essential financial resources have also diminished. As these resources have dwindled, state agencies have had to scale back conservation programs.
RAWA would help solve this problem and help states fully fund their conservation efforts. RAWA shifts some of the financial burden of conservation from hunters and anglers to all US citizens, which makes sense given that we all benefit from a healthy environment.
Second, much of the money states use for conservation goes to species that people enjoy hunting and fishing, such as deer, ducks, turkeys, bass, and trout. When budget cuts occur, it is the non-game species programs that are hardest hit. This means that countless other species must fend for themselves, many of which are threatened with extinction. RAWA would also contribute to this, focusing funds on the most endangered species in each state, and which the states themselves have identified in their wildlife action plans.
What can you do to help wrap up this gift for wildlife? Write, call or email your senators and tell them to go RAWA as soon as possible. The House has already put the bill in the box, all the Senate has to do is finish packing it, and then the President can sign the gift tag. With bipartisan support, we can give wildlife a gift that will keep on giving and ensure that all species have gifts under their trees this Christmas.
