The Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) held an event in July 23, titled Saving America's Biodiversity and the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, and included several non-governmental organizations (NGO) and congressmen. Honorary hosts included Sen. Tom Udall, Rep. Don Beyer, and Rep. Vern Buchanan. If there was ever any proof needed to substantiate our government is in the pocket of environmentalists, this is it. A briefing and panel discussion was held first, followed by a "conservation" with the Honorary hosts, which was filmed and made available on Facebook at this link.
The conversation was about the introduction of the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act. Interestingly, Rep. Buchanan, a co-sponsor of the bill, was introduced as being "...one of Congress's strongest champions for animals both in the US and overseas". Should an elected official represent animals, constituents, or other countries? Rep. Udall mentioned that because of Tribes, organizations, and the United Nations (UN) we know we are in a crisis, with the UN saying we are about to lose one millions species, needing more corridors, and because of humans spreading around, need to protect half the earth. As a "collaborative, science based approach", this bill completely leaves out the law and jurisdictional authority. The proper explanation of the bill was given, it gives the federal government authority to designate corridors on "federal land", federal land only. But the eventual goal will be encroachment upon state and private lands, through "aggressive" pursuits by "organizations", meaning NGOs. Working at a regional level, this bill would also create a "connectivity data base" used to make "wildlife connectivity decisions". Nothing like mowing over jurisdictions and property rights. Rep. Beyer addressed how Tribal, state, and private land owners can benefit from the bill, and claimed it wasn't about regulations or unfunded mandates, but rather creating "pools of money at the federal level that state and local governments...who understand where their corridors are at...with...local non-profits to put things where they should be". He also believes we have a "responsibility" to give habitat back to animals. Rep. Buchanan spoke to the efficiency of Congress and getting things done. So bipartisanship exists for animal issues but not other more critical issues such as the national debt, budget, immigration, and take over of the health care industry? He stated his focus is "getting a lot of things done for animals". The moderator referred to E.O. Wilson, who stated the bill provides "...the most important step in...enlarging the nations protected areas...'. Rep. Beyer gave a plug to Wilson's book, Half Earth. This is what this bill is really about, expanding protected, non-use land over half of the earth. He also bragged about starting an "International Conservation Caucus" years ago. Should he be paying more attention to his responsibilities to the United States instead of being "engaged with the world, not just the United States" on conservation? Mr. Beyer also applauded the restoration of Grizzlies and that one can tell if an area is "really wild" quoting Ed Abbey that "It's not wilderness unless there are animals out there that can kill you or eat you". What a horrifically insensitive statement, especially to those who have been maimed or killed by wildlife. Rep. Buchanan at least recognized the danger by citing injuries and deaths from animals but inappropriately attributed it to lack of corridors. Does he not realize that wildlife already have their own paths they follow, their own natural corridors they follow, that are not man made? His claim of an $8 billion dollar loss without corridors sounds pretty exaggerated. Sen. Udall opened pandora's box when he started discussing the need for states to become involved in this supposedly federal only bill, as corridors cross jurisdictional boundaries, and then moved to the "most local level of government". This isn't a federal issue, it is an issue of justifying the taking of land across jurisdictional boundaries for the sake of creating corridors, which already exist. Wildlife doesn't know it crosses boundaries, leave it alone, don't make it a man made corridor, and let state and local jurisdictions manage their land where wildlife cross. He openly admits this bill "empowers" the federal government to "work with all the other actors". Mr. Udall, elected representatives are not actors. Rep. Beyer then expounded upon the beauty of the wolf and needing corridors to increase their numbers. Sen. Udall also admitted that this is nothing more than an effort to "make corridors". All three are die hard climate change believers, and they are going to partly fix it with corridors. Oddly, Sen. Udall sees animals as part of our community and should be treated as such. No Mr. Udall, animals are wild, not humans. There was also a brief discussion about how border structures interfere with wildlife movement between countries. This is the mindset of elected officials, working with other countries, ignoring constituents, and devising ways to take land from states and property owners. If this bill passes, which it most likely won't in spite of their confidence it will, it will be advancing the agenda of NGOs and government.
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