Violation! U.S. Congress Calls for $ 300 Million Increased Funding for Endangered Species Conservation Starting in 2022

More than 170 groups have called on the U.S. Congress to significantly increase US Fisheries and Wildlife Service budget for the protection of endangered species from $ 291.7-592.1 million. This means an increase of about $ 300 million from last year’s budget.

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, hundreds of endangered species receive less than $ 1,000 a year to restore them. Many species do not receive funding from the agency at all.

“We won’t be able to start fighting the global extinction crisis, let alone reverse it, if our country’s strictest environmental law works on a tight budget,” says Stephanie Kuroz, senior policy officer at Center for Biological Diversity, said in statement.

Like yesterday letter notes that in order to catch up and sustain the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing the threat of climate change to biodiversity, the Service needs a budget of $ 592.1 million, distributed across five programs starting from the fiscal year 2022 year. Critical move includes ensuring that each species listed receives a minimum USD 50,000 a year for recovery.

“The science is clear: species are disappearing faster than ever before in human history,” said Dr. Jacob Malcolm, director of the Center for Conservation Innovation. Wildlife defenders. “Science is also showing what works for species conservation: funding. We urge Congress to fully fund Endangered Species Act so the most vulnerable species have a chance to survive and recover. “

Scientists have sounded the alarm that, unless urgent action is taken, one million species of animals and plants could be threatened with extinction in the coming decades due to habitat loss, climate change, wildlife exploitation, pollution and other human activities.

Today’s letter joined by groups including Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Sierra Club, notes that “The Endangered Species Act is one of the best tools we have to stop the current wildlife extinction crisis.”

For over 45 years, despite chronic and severe funding shortages, the Endangered Species Act has successfully protected and worked to restore many of the most vulnerable species in the United States.