Endangering Species Again

-- a conversation with Stuart Pimm

(Stuart Pimm)
"The Endangered Species Act has been spectacularly successful"

(Ann Kellan)
Gray whales almost disappeared in the mid-1900's -- today are regular visitors along the California coast. Their resurgence is largely due to the Endangered Species Act.

(Stuart Pimm)
"It's an endangered species that's generated a whole whaling industry. Both coasts have extensive whale watching activities, because the Endangered Species Act has been successful. The other example is our national bird, the Bald Eagle."

(Ann Kellan)
It too is making a come-back also due in large part to the Endangered Species Act. But now researchers like Stuart Pimm, a Professor of Conservation Ecology at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, say Congress is considering new measures that would weaken the Act's protection of the habitats endangered species depend on for their survival.

(Stuart Pimm)
"You can't take away the place a species lives and expect that species to survive."

(Ann Kellan)
Sponsors of the new bill say the proposed legislation enhances landowners' rights and ability to better manage their properties. Critics say certain animals are bound to become extinct if their habitats are destroyed.

(Stuart Pimm)
"You can't have a Spotted Owl if you chop down all the old growth forests."

(Ann Kellan)
The Spotted Owl thrives in old growth forests in the west. As these forests with 100 year old trees are chopped down the owls have no where to live and consequently their numbers are shrinking. This habitat destruction threatens other species as well.

(Stuart Pimm)
"Protecting the forests is also essential for the survival of nearly 300 other species that are found only in those forests. "

(Ann Kellan)
To learn more about what environmental experts from both sides of the issue are thinking and to find out more about Stuart Pimm's latest research, put Earth File dot ORG in your web browser. I'm Ann Kellan and that's another one for the Earthfile.

return to radio spots >