Wildlife is dying and extinction looms if we don’t act now
The ivory-billed woodpecker was one of the most extraordinary birds to inhabit North America. This week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that this bird — known for its striking red crest and white beak and its unearthly call — is officially extinct.
First described by a naturalist in the 1730s, the ivory-billed woodpecker was North America’s largest woodpecker. Its plight over the past century spurred numerous attempts to find it in the southern lowland swamps and Caribbean. It was last documented in the United States in the 1940s and in Cuba in the late 1980s.
Unfortunately, the disappearance of the ivory-billed woodpecker and the 22 other species declared extinct this week are not unique.
A recent study in the journal Science determined there are nearly 3 billion fewer birds in North America than in 1970 — a decline of roughly 29%.
These numbers are staggering, and it’s easy to get disheartened at the tragic trajectory many species are on. But buried beneath newspaper headlines and executive summaries are examples of species defying decline — and a path forward if we’re serious about ensuring wildlife endure for future generations.
The same study that documented the sharp decline of birds overall also revealed the remarkable recovery of waterfowl, which increased by 56% over the past half-century. The reason? Duck hunters, conservationists, and state and federal wildlife agencies came together to save these species through proactive, collaborative and sustained investments. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has leveraged $4.7 billion dollars of investment to conserve nearly 30 million acres of wetlands and the Duck Stamp has generated another $1 billion for waterfowl habitat restoration and conservation.
Right now, more than 12,000 species in the United States have been identified as species of greatest conservation need, including nearly 1,600 species that are already listed under the Endangered Species Act. If we’re going to save these species, which support healthy ecosystems, clean drinking water, and vibrant landscapes, we need to apply the lessons of how dedicated funding and collaborative conservation are essential to help recover and restore all species.
Fortunately, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-mich.), Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-neb.), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO.) have introduced the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which would invest $1.4 billion annually to recover healthy wildlife populations through proactive, collaborative, on-theground conservation all across the country. This landmark bill has engendered the same level of bipartisanship of the historic Great American Outdoors Act. The House and Senate bills have attracted more than 140 cosponsors from across the country and ideological spectrum and the support of thousands of organizations. It is simply the most important wildlife legislation since Endangered Species Act passed half a century ago
The bill empowers states, territories, and Tribes to implement congressionally-mandated Wildlife Action Plans — and focuses on collaborative solutions that save species before they need emergency protections while also accelerating the recovery of threatened and endangered species. It’s a solution that matches the magnitude of the biodiversity crisis and without new taxes. The bill leverages undesignated environmental fines, fees, and penalties the federal government collects with matching contributions from conservation partners and states.
The challenges that pushed the ivory-billed woodpecker to extinction persist to this day: habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal poaching, and inadequate resources for wildlife managers. The list of challenges facing wildlife have grown in recent years, including climate change, invasive species, emerging diseases and a lack of resources for recovery efforts.
The most fitting memorial for the ivory-billed woodpecker and the 22 other species declared extinct this week would be our leaders taking action and making extinction the exception for the species we love by passing the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Inaction is the ally of extinction.
It’s time we act.
Collin O’mara is president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.