Posted on 11/04/2005 2:28:00 PM PST by GreenFreeper
A century and a half ago, California's red-legged frog graced the menus of gourmet restaurants in San Francisco and helped launch a young American writer named Mark Twain, who immortalized the leaping Gold Rush wonder in his first published short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."
Humans have not repaid the favor since, gobbling up not just the long-legged amphibian but nearly all of its wetland habitat for crops and homes, threatening it with extinction.
On Thursday, as part of a continued, far-reaching rollback of protected landscapes for scores of imperiled species around the country, federal officials proposed cutting 82% of the celebrated frog's critical habitat.
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would eliminate federally protected critical habitat on 150 million acres of largely undeveloped public and private land. The Senate could act on the legislation by year's end.
But even without legislative action, the Bush administration is eliminating critical-habitat designations around the country. Administration officials say that habitat protections cost landowners billions and that voluntary plans work better for landowners and wildlife.
In numerous cases, Interior Secretary Gale Norton and her top deputies, citing their own cost estimates, have agreed with builders and property owners that the financial burden of habit protections outweighed any benefit to species.
The frog is a case in point, they said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a study that showed nearly $500 million in costs to homebuilders for protecting the frog's habitat.
But conservationists say voluntary plans are unproven and should be used to supplement government regulations, not replace them. And some economists and biologists say senior Interior Department officials are deliberately ignoring the economic, scientific and social benefits of preserving habitat.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Long but interesting article
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The Greenies are carrying the water for communism, and they must take the responsibility for much of the world remaining in third world status while this country begins to slide in that direction as well.
We have chicken. Who needs frog legs?
Frogs 18; People 1
The survival of the Arizona Hairy-chested Nutscratcher and the Arizona Double Breasted Pushover are numero uno on my list.
The enviros are terrified that they will lose some of their power to control other people.
Better yet, if there is a market for frogs then farm them. It can't take up that much space compared to other food sources.
Excellent idea. Since France is plagued with rioting that in part stems from Mooselim unemployment, let's create a new industry there. Frog frog farms.
The two greatest environmentalists of all time were Teddy Roosevelt and St. Francis of Assisi who just happen to be two of my greatest personal heroes. I think they'd agree with you wholeheartedly.
It is truly unfortunate that the Greenpeace, Kyoto, PeTA, ALF, ELF, et.al. types have destroyed any chance for environmental progress to exist. Because of them, there is such a stigma attached to anything involving the environment. Not only is firebombing hypocritical to your cause, it is a lousy tactic as it makes everyone who says that they 'care about the environment' look like a wacko and a socialist.
People are justified in their fears of these types, but it is not good for anyone to blow off environmental safeguards as 'extremist and wacko'. Often times there are correlating health factors involved, and family is a conservative value as well.
I tell them that all those extra animals humans have saved by interfering with nature are the real cause of global warming.
I do everything I can to save the environment and the resources in it too. Nonetheless I do not believe it is proper to forbid anyone to use their own property so that some sort of gigy whigit can have more habitat. When someone spends good money for property they should be able to use it.
Folks who drive or fly hundreds or thousands of miles to protest the drilling of oil really yank my chain. they would accomplish a lot more if they stayed home and saved the fuel they expend for nothing, it does not improve the world at all.
Certainly if you make sure that everything you do improves the ecosystem my hat is off to you. What kind of outdoor toys do you have?
"But conservationists say voluntary plans are unproven and should be used to supplement government regulations, not replace them."
This statement nicely sums up what these people are - fascists.
They believe government should control private property, which is the primary tenet of fascism. It's government controlling private property for the Marxist "common good." You may use your property provided that use carries out the goals and wishes of the state.
People in this country are too damn stupid to know the difference between a collectivist fascist state and a democratic republic with individual rights.
If one applied the strict environmentalist's logic to houseflies or mosquitoes as has been applied to amphibians there wouldn't be a square foot of buildable land in North America.
If Red-legged frogs are so important, then let's build a single sanctuary and throw in a truckload of Viagra.
I suppose somewhere there is a salivating nut-case serial rapist/murderer who wants looser streetwalking laws, too.
I agree with you, usually conservation and economics go hand in hand. Use less, make things more efficient, etc. I drive an SUV, but usually I walk everywhere. For the things I like to do, a compact would not suit me. I can't stand people who will give me grief for one. During the fall I drive about 80 miles a week to go hunting. Other seasons, far less than that.
Greenpeace etc. can go pound sand as far as I am concerned. Most outspoken 'environmentalists' tend to be the most hypocritical, and use their 'cause' to further a socialist agenda.
As far as outdoor activities, I try to do as much as possible. Skiing (alpine and tele) and sea kayaking are two of my big passions, but I don't get out as much as I like. I try to go backpacking when I get the chance. I started getting into mountaineering a little bit this year which is pretty fun as well. Really gotten into waterfowl and bird hunting these past couple years. I live in Edmonton AB right now for grad school, so $$ can be tight (thanks socialism). I can hunt just outside the city, and it is pretty good here. The mountains are a ways away, and gas is outrageous!!
I have one of my paddling pictures on my FR profile. It is from Horseshoe Rock in Lake Superior, on the Northern tip of the Keewenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan. (The Western side of L Superior) Beautiful country, incredible lake!! I did my undergrad at Michigan Tech. Great place to live. I really miss it there! I'll have to add some more pics to my profile soon. Do you play outside at all? FReep mail me if you want to swap pics and have 'gear chat'! Always good meeting the 'outdoorsy types'!!
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