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| Support scientific integrity and protect the Florida Panther |
| End Date: |
2/15/2005 |
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The last remaining mountain lions of the east live in a pocket of southern Florida and are known as the Florida panther. These mountain lions have been on the federal Endangered Species Act list for more than 30 years. Although their numbers have increased in recent years, fewer than 100 lions remain. The primary threat to the survival of this population is habitat loss and fragmentation. Their survival depends on agencies using the best available science in their decision making process and on supporters enforcing this ideal.
As reported in the Summer 2004 MLF Review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is ignoring the discovery that much of the science it relies upon for Florida Panther habitat has been discredited. The bad science was exposed in 2003 by an Independent Scientific Review Team consisting of Paul Beier, Northern Arizona University; Michael R. Vaughan, USGS; Michael J. Conroy, USGS; and Howard Quigley, Wildlife Conservation Society.
The USFWS Vero Beach, Florida, office is relying on this discredited science in their decision-making process for Florida Panther management and as criteria for issuing development permits. They need to know that people know this and want them to use good science.
What's at stake:
The agency refuses to correct the science until 2006 – despite the report mentioned above, a federal Data Quality Act Challenge filed by an 18-year veteran biologist and PEER, and a recent Court ruling to revoke a 5,000+ acre development permit issued based on a "no-jeopardy" opinion reached by the USFWS. The endangered Florida panther cannot wait any longer.
Urge the USFWS to withdraw the affected documents from use and immediately correct them before any further dissemination or use in decision-making, as per the Data Quality Act of 2000. |
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| Links: |
 Tell me more
Sign the online petition |
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| Take Action! |
Sign the online petition (link above) and send a letter to Jay Slack, address and sample letter below. |
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| Contact: |
Jay Slack, Field Supervisor
South Florida Ecological Services Office
US Fish and Wildlife Service
1339 20 th St.
Vero Beach, FL 32960 |
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| Sample: |
Subject: Support scientific integrity and protect the endangered Florida Panther
Dear Mr. Slack:
As you know, the Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals in North America and has languished on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list for more than 30 years. The primary threat to its survival and recovery has been and continues to be habitat degradation and fragmentation at the hands of developers.
When Congress passed the ESA more than thirty years ago, it recognized the importance of using sound science to guide decisions concerning imperiled species and their habitats. The Act requires the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to use "best available science" when determining whether a proposed project may adversely affect a listed species or habitat essential to its recovery. Furthermore, under the Data Quality Act, the FWS is required to derive its information from "reliable methods and data sources" to ensure the quality, objectivity, and integrity of information it disseminates or uses as the basis of agency decisions.
In its July response to the PEER/Eller Data Quality Act challenge, the FWS admitted that some of the information upon which it has relied does have "limitations" as identified by the Scientific Review Team. However, rather than taking immediate action to correct the science, the agency intends to wait until 2006, pending the latest revision of the Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida, before addressing these limitations.
This course of action is unacceptable and shows bad faith on the part of the FWS. The Florida panther cannot wait two more years for the FWS to decide whether it will use sound science to ensure the panther's survival and recovery. Your immediate action is requested.
Sincerely, |
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