Quote:
|
Originally Posted by cj2112
Nobody has answered my question, so I'll ask it again....why do we NEED to protect this bird when it has survived (while supposedly being extinct) without our protection for the 40 years before the refuge was created? Keep in mind, that we don't know for sure that this refuge is it's only habitat....we were wrong when we declared it extinct, we were wrong when we said those who had sighted this bird mistaked for a pileated woodpecker, now we're assuming that this bird is in danger of becoming extinct and assuming that in only lives in this one little tiny refuge? I don't buy it. I do agree that we should at least attempt to get an idea of how many of these birds exist. However i don't think that we need to tie up peoples private forests, prevent them from cutting trees on their own land, or otherwise prevent them from developing land they own.
|
Until this news release, there were no confirmed reports of sightings of this bird for sixty years. Considering that, what methods would you propose to take a reliable census of the Ivory-Billed population? The sixty year absence of sightings has left you unconvinced. What difference would it make to you how many birds exist?
I posted documentation that the "wait and see" approach you advocate is already the recently implemented policy of the Dept. of the Interior. People with a similar philosophy to yours are in power. Species rarely, if ever, are added to the endangered list now, and pre-existing protections for those on the list are being rolled back with enthusiasm, not to worry.............