北落磯山灰狼遭除名 環保團體提訴訟 | 環境資訊中心
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北落磯山灰狼遭除名 環保團體提訴訟

2008年02月25日
摘譯自2008年2月21日ENS美國華府報導;楊佳珊編譯;蔡麗伶審校

北落磯山灰狼。圖片來源:USFWS美國聯邦政府21日決議將北落磯山灰狼從瀕危物種名單中移除,此舉讓全美各地的環保團體計畫採取法律行動,希望聯邦政府能撤回此項裁決。

內政部副部長史卡雷特(Lynn Scarlett)21日表示,「北落磯山灰狼的復育計畫非常成功,因此無須再對其實施保護機制。灰狼數量已大幅超越原訂的復育目標,且其數量與範圍仍在持續擴增中。其中,目前就有超過1500隻和至少100對灰狼居住 於蒙大拿、愛德華及懷俄明州。」

3月27日,聯邦政府將把灰狼的管理權移交給蒙大拿、愛德華及懷俄明州三州。北落磯山灰狼主要分布於蒙大拿、愛德華、懷俄明州,華盛頓與奧勒岡州東部約三分之一區域,及猶他州中北部部分區域也有狼群駐留。

自然資源保護委員會(NRDC)的威考克斯(Wilcox)說,由於灰狼復育計畫尚未成熟,故讓其脫離濱危物種名單的保護,自然生存的時機未到。因此,NRDC將立即向聯邦政府表示有意提出訴訟,挑戰政府將灰狼除名的決策。

過去幾年來,蒙大拿、愛德華及懷俄明州三州一直積極敦促政府將灰狼從濱危物種名單除名,讓他們有權能獵殺灰狼,還有進行捕捉灰狼並以毒藥等其他方式殺害的行為。

聯邦野生物管理局官員表示,過去訂定的最低復育目標是,灰狼數量至少連續三年維持在30對及300隻的數量。而此目標在2002年時達成,且接下來每年灰狼的規模與數量都持續擴張。

威考克斯說,「300隻的數量是無法讓灰狼永續生存的。在思考灰狼得以完全復育前,有必要先大幅提升灰狼數量。」

獨立科學家則認為,蒙大拿、愛德華及懷俄明州三州的灰狼復育目標至少要連續三年都在2,500到5,000隻內,且表示科羅納多、猶他及華盛頓州也應遵照此數據。

本週稍早,NRDC及「野生物保衛者」組織(Defenders of Wildlife)向漁業暨野生動物局(Fish and Wildlife Service)請願,欲其制定全美48州復育灰狼的合理目標,採取全國性及地區性復育計畫並進的方式,使北部、東北部及西南部落磯山灰狼數量達到永續生存的數額。

Federal Delisting of Northern Rockies Wolves Headed for Court
WASHINGTON, DC, February 21, 2008 (ENS)

Environmental groups from across the United States are planning legal action in an attempt to reverse today's decision by the federal government to remove gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains from the Endangered Species List.

"The gray wolf population in the Northern Rocky Mountains is thriving and no longer requires the protection of the Endangered Species Act," Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett said today.

The wolf population in the Northern Rockies has far exceeded its recovery goal and continues to expand its size and range." said Scarlett. She said that there are currently more than 1,500 wolves and at least 100 breeding pairs in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

The federal government will hand wolf management duties over to the three states on March 27. The northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment of the gray wolf includes all of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, as well as the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, and a small part of north-central Utah.

Louisa Willcox, the Natural Resources Defense Council Montana office, said the NRDC will immediately notify the federal government of its intent to file a lawsuit challenging the delisting decision on the grounds that it is premature to revoke endangered species protections because the wolves have not fully recovered.

For years, all three states have been urging the federal government to take the wolves off the Endangered Species List and have all stated their intention to allow hunting, trapping and killing of wolves by other means such as poison.

The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years. This goal was achieved in 2002, and the wolf population has expanded in size and range every year since, federal wildlife officials say.

Three hundred animals is not enough for the wolves to survive in the long run," said Willcox. Far more wolves are needed before the species can be considered truly recovered.

For the Northern Rockies, independent scientists say the recovery goal should be at least 2,500 to 5,000 wolves in at least three interconnected populations in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. They say that viable populations should also be established in Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Washington.

Earlier this week, and Defenders of Wildlife filed a petition requesting that the Fish and Wildlife Service establish legitimate targets for recovery of wolves throughout the lower 48 states. The groups want a national recovery plan with regional recovery goals aimed at supporting sustainable populations of wolves in the northern Rockies, the northeast and the southwest.

全文及圖片詳見:ENS

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.