CONTACT:    

Tanya Augustson, (202) 347-0228, taugustson@beef.org

Karen Batra, (202) 347-0228, kbatra@beef.org

Ranchers Praise House Resources Committee Action on ESA Reform
Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Moves to House Floor

Washington, D.C. (September 23, 2005) – Producer-members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) applaud passage of legislation yesterday that could improve the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), while easing burdens on landowners. 

House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) secured committee passage of H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA), sending the bill to the House floor next week.

“Ranchers are heartened that so many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle want to address the concerns landowners have with the ESA,” says Jim McAdams, a Texas rancher and NCBA president.  “Furthermore, as the original stewards of the land, ranchers want to see wildlife and the environment protected. This bill will help make the ESA more effective.”

Of particular interest to ranchers is a provision providing compensation for losses incurred as a result of wolf attacks on livestock.  The measure brought forth by Reps. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), has yet to be funded, but NCBA says the inclusion of the program shows Congress’s awareness of livestock producers’ needs.

“As ranchers, we’re animal lovers, and we want to see wildlife protected.  But we want to see our herds protected too,” says McAdams. “The hard truth is that animals feed on one another for survival, and ranchers deserve compensation if we are unable to protect our livestock from predators.”  The bill also contains important protections of private property rights. 

McAdams says improvement of the 32-year old ESA has been a top priority for ranchers for some time.  “As men and women who make our living on the land, we see firsthand the successes and failures of conservation and environmental protection programs,” says McAdams. “Fact is, we’ve seen far more success in actual species recovery with local, voluntary on-the-ground efforts as opposed to blanket federal restrictions.”

Pombo says Congress needs to modernize the ESA, originally enacted in 1973, and enhance its ability for real species recovery.  Pombo also points out that in addition to recovering less than 1 percent of the species listed, the ESA has created an adversarial relationship between government and landowners.

Some aspects of TESRA actually put more emphasis on recovery plans and provide incentives for landowners and other private parties to help with recovering species.  NCBA and PLC say these provisions reinforce the fact that we all have a role to play in truly effective species recovery.

###