July 2011 News Roundup

In this month's issue... ABC and its Supporters Help Secure Victory Against ESA Attack in the House of Representatives Bird Conservation Group Hails Iowa DNR Decision Prohibiting Use of Lead Shot for Dove Hunting Agency Scientists Overruled by Energy Industry Pressure, New Wind Guidelines a Step Backwards for Wildlife BLM Announces New Sage-Grouse Conservation Strategy-- Conservationists Urge Agency to Address Multiple Threats to the Species ABC and its Supporters Help Secure Victory Against ESA Attack in the House of Representatives Conservationists are celebrating an important victory in the House of Representatives. A rider to a major environmental spending bill that would have effectively gutted the Endangered Species Act by eliminating funding for new species listings and Critical Habitat designations was defeated after public outcry. ABC had mobilized its grass roots action force, resulting in thousands of messages to representatives to defeat the amendment. Read the full story here Bird Conservation Group Hails Iowa DNR Decision Prohibiting Use of Lead Shot for Dove Hunting American Bird Conservancy hailed this month's decision made by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to require the use of non-toxic ammunition for the first Mourning Dove hunting season in the state since 1918.  The hunting of doves in Iowa will require the same non-toxic ammunition as mandated for waterfowl hunting nationwide. Read the full story here Agency Scientists Overruled by Energy Industry Pressure, New Wind Guidelines a Step Backwards for Wildlife  American Bird Conservancy raised concerns this month about new draft Department of the Interior guidelines for wind development that appear to have been overly-influenced by energy industry lawyers and lobbyists. The new draft reverses Fish and Wildlife Services protection recommendations and adds unrealistic deadlines that would lead to “rubber-stamping” of wind projects. ABC expects millions of migratory birds to be harmed by poorly-planned wind energy. Read the full story here BLM Announces New Sage-Grouse Conservation Strategy -- Conservationists Urge Agency to Address Multiple Threats to the Species The Bureau of Land Management  has recognized that current management is failing to conserve Greater Sage-Grouse on public land, and announced this month that it will develop a new range-wide conservation strategy for the species. However, the agency has provided little detail on how the new plan will be developed and what management changes it may propose. Read the full story here Photos: Palila by Jack Jeffery; Mourning Dove by Gary Smyle; Whooping Crane, USFWS; Greater Sage Grouse by Alan Wilson

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