[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Fw: [BIRDCHAT] EXECUTIVE ORDER ON MIGRATORY BIRDS
- To: "carolinabirds" <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
- Subject: Fw: [BIRDCHAT] EXECUTIVE ORDER ON MIGRATORY BIRDS
- From: "lee van malssen" <leescats@earthlink.net>
- Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 07:30:27 -0500
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
this was posted on birdchat. not strictly about the carolinas but important
stuff.
lee van malssen
chapel hill, nc
northern chatham cty
leescats@earthlink.net
>
> USFWS
> Office of Public Affairs
> 1849 C Street, NW
> Washington, DC 20240
> 202/208 5634 Fax: 202/219 2428
>
> January 11, 2001 Chris Tollefson
> 202-208-5634
>
> PRESIDENT CLINTON ISSUES
>
> President Clinton today issued a landmark Executive Order that requires
> Federal agencies to avoid or minimize the negative impact of their actions
> on migratory birds, and to take active steps to protect birds and their
> habitat.
>
> The Executive Order directs each Federal agency taking actions having or
> likely to have a negative impact on migratory bird populations to work
with
> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop an agreement to conserve
> those birds. The protocols developed by this consultation are intended to
> guide future agency regulatory actions and policy decisions; renewal of
> permits, contracts or other agreements; and the creation of or revisions
to
> land management plans. In addition to avoiding or minimizing impacts to
> migratory bird populations, agencies will be expected to take reasonable
> steps that include restoring and enhancing habitat, preventing or abating
> pollution affecting birds, and incorporating migratory bird conservation
> into agency planning processes whenever possible.
>
> Most bird species in the United States are protected by the Migratory Bird
> Treaty Act of 1918, the domestic law that implements the United States'
> commitment to four international conventions for the protection of shared
> migratory bird resources. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) protects
> species or families of birds that live, reproduce or migrate within or
> across international borders at some point during their annual life cycle.
> Federal courts have affirmed that Federal agencies are subject to the
> MBTA's prohibitions on "take" of migratory birds.
>
> The Executive Order is designed to assist Federal Agencies in their
efforts
> to comply with the MBTA, and does not constitute any legal authorization
to
> take migratory birds or otherwise supercede the MBTA's requirements. The
> MBTA requires Federal agencies to have regulatory authorization from the
> Service before taking migratory birds.
>
> The Executive Order will serve to enhance coordination and communication
> among Federal agencies and build upon the progress that has been made in
> recent years on conservation of migratory birds. For example, the
> Executive Order will aid in incorporating existing national planning
> efforts for bird conservation into agency programs, and provide the formal
> Presidential guidance necessary for agencies to integrate migratory bird
> conservation more fully into their activities.
>
> Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark hailed the President's order,
> calling it an important step for conservation. At a time when populations
> of many migratory bird species are in decline, the active participation of
> the Federal government can make a significant difference for their
> survival, she said.
>
> "This Executive Order is a clear statement of the Administration's
> commitment to migratory bird conservation, and a recognition that the
> Federal government must lead the way in incorporating wildlife
conservation
> into its actions whenever possible. By taking actions to protect migratory
> birds, Federal agencies can demonstrate to the nation that doing so is not
> only the right thing to do, but also something that, with modest effort,
> can improve the environment for both wildlife and people," Clark said.
>
> The Executive Order directs agencies to meet their obligations to conserve
> migratory birds within existing budget parameters, and does not alter any
> agency's overall mission or responsibilities. There are expected to be no
> significant impacts on state or local governments, private organizations
or
> individuals.
>
> During the past 30 years, about one-fifth of the bird species native to
the
> United States have declined at rates equal to or exceeding 2.5 percent per
> year. A trend of this magnitude represents a cumulative decline of more
> than 50 percent over a span of 30 years. Declines this large are
> considered to be biologically meaningful, even for species that are widely
> distributed and relatively abundant. These losses are not restricted to
> just one or two groups of birds; birds of grassland, wetland, scrubland,
> and woodland habitats have all been affected. Non-migratory permanent
> residents have been affected, as have long-distance neotropical migrants.
>
> "Birds are important, not only as a measure of the overall health of our
> environment, but also to our quality of life and our economy. Protecting
> them just makes sense," said Clark.
>
> As directed by the Executive Order, within 2 years each Federal agency
> taking actions that are having, or likely to have, a measurable negative
> impact on migratory bird populations must develop and implement a
> Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Service for the conservation of
> migratory bird populations. The Service, in cooperation with these
> agencies, will develop a schedule for completion of these MOUs within 60
> days that gives priority to agencies having the greatest impacts on
> migratory birds.
>
> In addition to requiring consultation with the Service and consideration
of
> migratory bird conservation for agency actions, the Executive Order also:
>
> - Establishes a Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds to assist
> agencies in implementing the order. Composed of administrators from the
> Departments of the Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation,
Defense
> and the Environmental Protection Agency, the council will also serve as a
> clearinghouse to share the latest migratory bird information
> with Federal agencies.
>
> - Directs agencies to ensure that environmental analyses of proposed
> Federal actions required by the National Environmental Policy Act
evaluate
> the effects of those actions on migratory birds.
>
> - Requires agencies, within the scope of their regular activities, to
> control the spread and establishment in the wild of exotic animals and
> plants that may harm migratory birds and their habitat.
>
> - Requires agencies to provide advance notice of any action that may
> result in the take of migratory birds, or to report annually to the
Service
> on the numbers of each species taken during the conduct of any agency
> action. Agencies are directed to avoid the take of any species identified
> by the Service as being of particular concern, and to consult with the
> Service to set out guidelines for any actions resulting in take.
>
> Aside from their environmental importance, bird-related activities are
also
> some of America's most popular pastimes. In fact, bird watching outpaces
> golf and rivals gardening in terms of the number of participants. In
1996,
> more than 63 million people went bird watching, fed birds, or went on
trips
> to watch birds and other wildlife. They directly spent an estimated $29
> billion on these activities, generating almost $85 billion in related
> economic activity, creating more than one million jobs and producing $5.2
> billion in federal and state tax revenues.
>
> The National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, which ended January
5,
> is a prominent example of both the popularity of bird watching and the
> important role citizens play in migratory bird conservation. Begun in 1900
> by a small group of birding enthusiasts, the count is now in its 101st
> year. This year, more than 55,000 volunteers from all 50 states, every
> Canadian province, parts of Central and South America, Bermuda, the West
> Indies, and Pacific islands counted and recorded every individual bird and
> bird species seen during a select 24-hour calendar day. The results of the
> Christmas Bird Count constitute the world's longest-running ornithological
> database, and continue to grow in importance as a monitor of the status of
> resident and migratory birds across the western hemisphere.
>
> -----------
>
> The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
> responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
> plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
> people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
> System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges,
thousands
> of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66
> national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological
> services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws,
> administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird
populations,
> restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife
> habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their
> conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that
> distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and
> hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
>