8127 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

'-'_! . .. , FEDERAL Vln~ OF "REALISTIC" ENDM~GERED SPECIES ADilI In STRATI ON Aim r/tAflAGE:.IENT Keith M. Schreiner Associate Director-- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service There are those \.:no would define "realistic" as a word that means lido it my way," and "practical" as meaning lithe art of ignoring the facts.1I I will try to avoid these interpretations in the discussion that follows. If we assume that realistic and practical mean "facing the facts," then facing the facts of managing endangered and threatened species at the Federal level means: 1. Recognizing just how many species there are in the plant and animal kingdo~s of the world and then understanding just how big the job is. 2. Recognizing that some species are in deep trouble and need help more than other species and, therefore, priorities must be set both for list- ing and for taking recovery actions. 3. Recognizing that manpO\':er and dollar resources are limited and that they must be utilized to do the most possible good for those species that will benefit ~ost from the effort. 4. Recognizing that endangered species is an emotion laden subject ~!;th high public visibil:'ty, and that for every major action taken, there will be strong reactions both positive and negative. 5. Recognizing thct Congress was vigorous and almost unanimous in passing a strong endangered species law, but they show streng signs of apprehen- sion now during its implementation. You are, of course, aware of the confrontations over the past year on certain Federai development projects. 6. Recognizing that the Federal Government does not have all ~f the brains, nor brawn that is needed to do the job, and that there is a wealth of expertise and people-power in the State and private sectors if it can be joined into a unified work force with co~rr.an goals and Objectives. 7. Recognizing that so~e species will be lost and that there is little or nothing that can be done about it considering the present state or our knowledge and our finite resources. Given all the money and manpower we could use, we would still net be able to save some. 8. Recognizing that OUt- job is to r.iaintain iTlGXir:lum species diversity ...,nile perQitting opti~u~ development of the world's resaurces essential to the highest quality of iife that can be sustained perpetuity. 1977, Proc. .~nu. Conf. West. Assoc. Game & Fish Carom. 57: 291-297.