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| Mission
Statement
The Endangered Species Problem
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The world is losing endangered species at an ever
increasing rate. Over the past two decades, public and governmental awareness
of this plight has increased. Even so, with but a few notable exceptions,
efforts to protect and restore many plant and animal species near extinction
have been piecemeal or have not been undertaken at all.
Much effort has focused on identifying endangered species and placing them
on official lists, offering highly varying or negligible protection. In
a few cases, recovery plans have been prepared, often without either the
necessary mandates or funding for implementation. Only in a few instances
have programs been undertaken to effect a full, successful recovery of
a species resulting in security for its future and appropriate removal
from endangered species lists.
While public support for saving endangered species is well established,
there is growing concern that few species ever make it off endangered lists.
Efforts must now be directed towards proactive programs that address and
solve specific endangered species problems. The public and government leaders
want results. Results must be shown if public support is to be maintained,
especially in light of often intense lobbying by opposing special interest
groups.
The Endangered Species Recovery Council was founded on this basis - to
produce results. It is not a lobbying group, nor is it interested in involvement
in many high profile controversial or politicized issues involving endangered
species. We believe that very often, the political controversy itself precludes
the likelihood of substantial success. The first question we ask when considering
a specific problem is whether or not results can be achieved. The high
profile and controversial species aside, we believe there are many other
solvable endangered species problems throughout the world.
To save endangered species, efforts must be directed towards repairing
and caring for their habitats and the ecosystems that support those habitats.
However, simply setting aside land as preserves is often not enough. With
critically endangered species, dramatic intervention and intelligent, vigorous
management of both habitats and the species themselves is frequently required
to prevent extinction. We believe that for the foreseeable future, much
of the focus will remain on the endangered species themselves, for their
intrinsic value and as bio-indicators of the well-being of their habitats
and ecosystems.
Solving endangered species problems is becoming increasingly complex, requiring
expertise in a variety of different scientific fields. In many cases, existing
endangered species recovery teams either lack access to experts in some
critical areas of knowledge, or are pulled together in a haphazard manner.
Conflict sometimes arises within recovery teams because of personal biases
or professional agendas of the team members. Such conflict most often results
in paralysis and delays. On the other hand, a cohesive team can often resolve
issues quickly and proceed with action and efficiency.
The ESRC was founded in this spirit of cooperation, providing a diverse yet cohesive team of recognized experts, integrating state-of-the-art techniques as necessary to achieve positive results. |
"Nature consists of so many species, connected to each other in such complex ways, that it's virtually impossible to foresee where the ripple effects from the extinction of any particular species may lead."
Jared Diamond, The Third Chimpanzee
© 2000 Endangered Species Recovery Council. All rights reserved.
