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mexican-spotted-owl
In theory, decisions about flora and fauna habitat are purely scientific. In practice, they're political. And that, in a nutshell, is the reality of the Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973 as part of a historic wave of legislation that both protects America's environmental heritage and provides a framework for settling conflicts.
Some say it does too little; others, that it intrudes too much. The arguments go 'round and 'round, and underscore a fundamental truth: In the Anthropocene Era, people decide nature's fate.
Above:
Mexican Spotted Owl
The Mexican spotted owl is less iconic than its northern counterpart, which two decades ago touched off a bitter conservation battle over the Pacific Northwest's old-growth forests. But even as it's flown under the radar, the Mexican spotted owl's fate may prove crucial to the future of wildlife in the United States. The owl is at the center of Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association v. Salazar, one of two endangered-species cases now under possible consideration by the Supreme Court. If the court chooses to hear the linked cases, its decision may guide how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — the federal agency tasked with carrying out the Endangered Species Act — evaluates economic impacts when designating crucial habitat for rare animals. Photo: National Park ServiceSee Also:
