I’d like to respond to a sentence from your editorial of August 17, “Another assault on endangered species,” which focused on an Interior Department proposal to revise regulations involving the Endangered Species Act. The New Mexican said that during an upcoming comment period, big industry will argue in favor of the BLM and other agencies ‘ignoring’ the Fish and Wildlife Service in enforcing the Act.
While I have no idea what industry will say during the comment period, I’d like to say what the BLM has been doing in terms of working with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to implement the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in New Mexico. I also want to stress our continuing commitment to restore habitat and otherwise help listed species throughout the state.
The BLM has worked closely with FWS on a variety of efforts since the ESA was passed in 1973. Over one third of our wildlife budget has gone to management of threatened and endangered species over the last 10 years, including efforts to restore habitat for species before they are listed as endangered. Included in these efforts are a series of consultations with the FWS to establish or improve conservation efforts for listed species on public lands.
Here are some examples of the BLM working with FWS in New Mexico:
• Peregrine falcon recovery - BLM funded surveys and monitoring efforts throughout the State. The species was recovered and removed from the Endangered Species List in 1999.
• Jaguar - BLM helped found a working group to study and monitor the jaguar. Other partners include Federal and State agencies, landowners and conservation groups.
• Southwestern willow flycatcher - BLM has managed riparian areas on public land to improve habitat on the Gila River and areas near Farmington. One of the largest flycatcher populations in the southwest U.S. is on the Gila River managed by the BLM. These actions also benefit listed fish species like the spike dace and loach minnow.
• Lesser Prairie Chicken and sand dune lizard – these species are candidates for listing under the ESA. BLM is working closely with FWS, ranchers, the energy industry and other agencies to develop measures to protect and recover the species. We’re making great progress in these cooperative efforts. The BLM has spent over a half million dollars in wildlife funding for this effort over the past 6 years.
• Aplomado falcon – this species disappeared from New Mexico by the 1950s. The BLM is working with FWS, The Peregrine Fund and others to fund reintroductions and monitoring of this majestic species to our state.
Linda Rundell
New Mexico State Director
Bureau of Land Management
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