[BCNnet] FW: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - No Protection for Aliens, Declares U.S. Government

Fri, 10 Dec 2004 20:45:22 -0600

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BCN friends:

Press release on the new law on alien species.

Donnie  

Donald R. Dann

Highland Park/Lake County  

No Protection for Aliens, Declares U.S. Government

Not the human kind, nor the kind from distant galaxies, but the winged kind
- birds from other countries around the globe, that have been introduced to
the U.S. both intentionally and accidentally, and that can subsequently
wreak havoc on the environment. In 2001, following a surprising judicial
interpretation of America's oldest surviving wildlife statute, introduced
bird species could be afforded federal protection under the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, and so efforts by state or federal wildlife agencies to control
them could be thwarted. Not any more, thanks to the Migratory Bird Treat
Reform Act of 2004, which was attached to the massive 2005 Omnibus Spending
Bill approved by Congress. Bird conservation groups, such as American Bird
Conservancy, are applauding the new legislation, and have praised Congress
for its actions.

The Reform Act now clearly distinguishes between the native species that the
original Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was implemented to protect, and
introduced species such as the Rock Pigeon and European Starling. The law
also redresses the imbalance created by the 2001 court decision regarding
the alien Mute Swan. In a bizarre reversal of logic, it became illegal to
shoot a Mute Swan, while permits were readily available in many states to
hunt native Tundra Swans, despite their decline in some places where
introduced Mutes are present. The bill now awaits President Bush's
signature.

Invasive species are regarded as one of the biggest conservation threats in
America today, with such issues as northern snakehead, west Nile virus, and
feral domestic cats regularly making headlines around the nation. Introduced
European Starlings have been blamed for declines in Eastern Bluebird and
Red-headed Woodpecker populations, and avian malaria (carried there by birds
introduced from elsewhere) has contributed to the decline and extinction of
several bird species in Hawaii. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (D-Maryland) led the
charge for the Reform Act, which has received overwhelming support from
dozens of national conservation, ornithological, and wildlife management
organizations. 

"The inclusion of the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act in the omnibus bill
redresses the balance that was upset by the 2001 court ruling," said David
Fischer, Director of Government Relations for American Bird Conservancy,
which has helped lead the fight for the new legislation. "The Migratory Bird
Treaty Act was created to protect our native migratory bird species from
over-hunting and was never intended to apply to introduced species. Mr.
Gilchrest and other members of Congress are to be commended for their
efforts in getting this legislation passed." 

"The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is one of the first and most
important federal conservation statutes. It has prevented unregulated
removal of native birds from wild populations throughout its history," said
Rep. Gilchrest today. "The biodiversity of our nation's ecosystems is worth
preserving in as pristine a state as possible, and statutory clarification
of the Act's purpose - to protect native birds - helps protect this nation's
natural wild bird heritage."

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 not-for-profit
organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats
throughout the Americas. ABC is headquartered in Virginia, with offices in
ten states and the District of Columbia. ABC has more than 300 partner
organizations throughout the Americas, primarily through its leadership
roles in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Partners in
Flight, the Bird Conservation Alliance, the National Pesticide Reform
Coalition, and the Alliance for Zero Extinction. ABC was recently rated one
of the best-managed small charities in the U.S. by the independent group
"Charity Navigator," and given their highest rating for fiscal management.
For more information, see: www.abcbirds.org.

- END -

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D4 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
 style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'>BCN</span></font></st1:PersonName><font =
size=3D4><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'> friends:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'>Press release on the new law on alien =
species.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'>Donnie&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'>Donald R. =
Dann<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'>Highland =
Park/Lake County
&nbsp;</span></font></span><font size=3D4><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><b><u><font size=3D2
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>No
Protection for Aliens, Declares <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
Government<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Not the human kind, nor the kind from distant =
galaxies, but
the winged kind - birds from other countries around the globe, that have =
been
introduced to the U.S. both intentionally and accidentally, and that can
subsequently wreak havoc on the environment. In 2001, following a =
surprising
judicial interpretation of <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>&#8217;s
oldest surviving wildlife statute, introduced bird species could be =
afforded
federal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and so efforts =
by state
or federal wildlife agencies to control them could be thwarted. Not any =
more,
thanks to the Migratory Bird Treat Reform Act of 2004, which was =
attached to
the massive 2005 Omnibus Spending Bill approved by Congress. Bird =
conservation groups,
such as American Bird Conservancy, are applauding the new legislation, =
and have
praised Congress for its actions.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

The Reform Act now clearly distinguishes between the =
native
species that the original Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was =
implemented to
protect, and introduced species such as the Rock Pigeon and European =
Starling.
The law also redresses the imbalance created by the 2001 court decision
regarding the alien Mute Swan. In a bizarre reversal of logic, it became
illegal to shoot a Mute Swan, while permits were readily available in =
many
states to hunt native Tundra Swans, despite their decline in some places =
where
introduced Mutes are present. The bill now awaits President Bush&#8217;s
signature.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Invasive species are regarded as one of the biggest
conservation threats in <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">America</st1:country-region>
today, with such issues as northern snakehead, west <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Nile</st1:place>
virus, and feral domestic cats regularly making headlines around the =
nation.
Introduced European Starlings have been blamed for declines in Eastern =
Bluebird
and Red-headed Woodpecker populations, and avian malaria (carried there =
by
birds introduced from elsewhere) has contributed to the decline and =
extinction
of several bird species in <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Hawaii</st1:place></st1:State>.
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (D-Maryland) led the charge for the Reform Act, =
which has
received overwhelming support from dozens of national conservation,
ornithological, and wildlife management organizations. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&#8220;The inclusion of the Migratory Bird Treaty =
Reform Act
in the omnibus bill redresses the balance that was upset by the 2001 =
court
ruling,&#8221; said David Fischer, Director of Government Relations for
American Bird Conservancy, which has helped lead the fight for the new
legislation. &#8220;The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was created to protect =
our
native migratory bird species from over-hunting and was never intended =
to apply
to introduced species. Mr. Gilchrest and other members of Congress are =
to be
commended for their efforts in getting this legislation passed.&#8221; =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&#8220;The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is one =
of the
first and most important federal conservation statutes. It has prevented
unregulated removal of native birds from wild populations throughout its
history,&quot; said Rep. Gilchrest today.&nbsp;&quot;The biodiversity of =
our
nation's ecosystems is worth preserving in as pristine a state as =
possible, and
statutory clarification of the Act's purpose - to protect native birds - =
helps
protect this nation's natural wild bird =
heritage.&quot;<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

American Bird =
Conservancy =
(ABC) is a
U.S.-based 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to conserving =
wild birds
and their habitats throughout the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
 w:st=3D"on">Americas</st1:place></st1:country-region>. ABC is =
headquartered in <st1:State
w:st=3D"on">Virginia</st1:State>, with offices in&nbsp;ten&nbsp;states =
and the <st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">District of =
Columbia</st1:place></st1:State>.
ABC has&nbsp;more than 300 partner organizations throughout the =
<st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Americas</st1:country-region>, primarily through its =
leadership roles
in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Partners in Flight, =
the
Bird Conservation Alliance, the National Pesticide Reform Coalition, and =
the <st1:City
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Alliance</st1:place></st1:City> for =
Zero
Extinction. ABC was recently rated one of the best-managed small =
charities in
the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
by the independent group &#8220;Charity Navigator,&#8221; and given =
their
highest rating for fiscal management. For more information, see: <a
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org">www.abcbirds.org</a>.<o:p></o:p><=
/font>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-align:center'><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>&#8211; END
&#8211;</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

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