We’re running out of time to pass the Restoring America’s Wildlife Act
The United States faces an ongoing biodiversity crisis, exacerbated by climate change and habitat destruction.There are 23 species of native flora and fauna in the United States declared extinct last year; Hundreds of other species are endangered. The grim picture extends beyond the most endangered species: Since 1970, global wildlife populations have declined by an average of more than 60 percent.
Through the Restoring America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), Congress has the opportunity to pass the largest expansion of wildlife conservation funding in a generation. The bill has been approved by the House of Representatives. If the Senate doesn’t pass it now, the House of Representatives will need to pass it again next year — which, thanks to the Nov. 8 election, could include a Republican majority that’s less inclined to support protection jobs. So, this is a critical moment to gain support to pass this landmark wildlife protection bill before time runs out in this legislative session.
54 species only It is not surprising that it has been recovered from the endangered species list during the history of its existence.Existing U.S. protection legislation will be less than half estimated $2.3 billion This is required to restore more than 1,600 species listed in the Endangered Species Act each year.
Restoring the American Wildlife Act would help address the funding gap.quote a Recent statements from the Biden administration, The bill would “provide billions of dollars in supplemental funding for state and territory fish and wildlife managers specifically to protect fish and wildlife species. This would help avoid the need to list species and restore what is currently listed as a Threatened or endangered species.”
The main bottleneck to wildlife population recovery is the lack of sustained funding, which RAWA addresses. If it passes the Senate during this session of Congress, the 2023 conservation budget would add an additional $850 million—nearly triple the current discretionary conservation budget. $300 million in the past year.By 2026, this number will reach $1.3 billion. This funding will be a new pillar of American wildlife conservation and enable states and tribes to more fully address biodiversity issues. In addition, much-needed funding will be allocated to clear the Endangered Species Act backlog, as well as grants to support innovative conservation efforts.
Biodiversity loss is both a human problem and an animal kingdom problem. The loudest voices in animal protection are often those closest to wildlife. However, tribes, fishermen, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts are not the only ones affected by the biodiversity crisis. Thriving ecosystems provide services vital to our well-being and health. Although they may not seem obvious to us, healthy ecosystems provide resources for agriculture and the economy; they regulate climate, water and disease, and provide irreplaceable cultural value.When biodiversity thrives, ecosystem services also become richer.
Plains bison has been successfully recovered through longstanding state and federal wildlife conservation programs. photo: Judson Spicer/USFWS
Funding for animal protection has been very successful in the past. For example, through nearly a century of habitat protection and captive breeding, plains bison has recovered from near extinction.Today, as many as 20,000 Plains bison roam the wild and support other species of plants and animals through their vast lands Contribute to the larger ecosystem.
The example of the plains bison shows that long-term funding commitments are an important part of successful conservation efforts. The Restoring America’s Wildlife Act is designed to provide ongoing funding for state agencies to plan and invest in general conservation programs or long-term conservation of species before they become endangered. study Early intervention has been shown to be more cost-effective than restoring critically endangered species whose numbers have been allowed to continue declining. In the absence of consistent funding, conservation managers are forced to make difficult decisions, ignoring the species they could otherwise help.
While the Restoring America’s Wildlife Act passed the House of Representatives this session with bipartisan support, it garnered fewer votes than expected from Republicans, with many opposing it citing spending concerns. Restoring America’s Wildlife Act is unlikely to be seen as a priority in a future Republican-controlled Congress. Issues such as the war in Ukraine or a potential recession could crowd out re-passing of the bill, even under a Democratic spokesman. The Senate cannot simply sit on this bill with confidence that it will return to it next year.
While few senators have spoken out against RAWA, ballooning federal spending and high inflation may not help the bill’s prospects. But even in an environment of tighter finances, wildlife conservation should not be ignored.On the one hand, the cost of the program is $6.8 trillion This is what the US spends in 2021. What’s more, the cost of biodiversity loss is enormous, and every year of inaction adds to the cost of restoring America’s wildlife. one dollar Spending today on conservation could mean many dollars Save ten years.
The cost of protecting black-footed ferret kits in the wild is $5,000 per kit. But when exterminated, captive breeding can cost as much as $40,000 per set. photo: Ryan Hagerty/USFWS
Opportunities to transform America’s conservation efforts don’t come every day. If we pass up this opportunity to advocate for the Restoring America’s Wildlife Act, we may not have another chance for a long time. Without a steady stream of conservation funding, we face a future with far less biodiversity.
Congress must seize this opportunity to protect America’s wildlife. When you vote on November 8 this year, vote for the candidate who supports Restoring America’s Wildlife Act and call your senators to encourage them to pass this important bill. What we do now will set the tone for wildlife conservation for the rest of the century. We would be foolish not to take this opportunity.
The author is a graduate student at Columbia University Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policyand is currently working on restoring simulations of the implementation of the U.S. Wildlife Act.
