Lobbying for Wildlife
Yesterday, I met with our representatives to lobby for wildlife with Defenders of Wildlife. In the past, I have traveled to D.C. to meet with both Tester and Daines in person. This year of course, we met virtually. I did miss the excitement of gathering in D.C. and all the energy that surrounds lobby day, yet I was grateful for the opportunity to organize my thoughts, catch up on the issues and voice my concern for animals. I’m always encouraged by this process. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the problems we face, yet there is always something we can do. Defenders of Wildlife and their fantastic team have lifted the veil for me and shown me just how compelling our voices can be. It’s easy to forget that our elected officials work for us. I was reminded by one of Tester’s staff that they really do read every letter they receive, and anytime an issue is up for a vote, they rely on the voices and support from their constituents. There are so many micro and macro decisions that are happening daily in politics, and it can seem daunting to keep up with it all. However, there are so many amazing organizations that keep diligent track of what’s being decided. Many non-profits invite interested members to lobby. Below is a summary of what I addressed with both senators. Feel free to use this as a sample letter to write to your representatives. We had some very specific asks regarding the Endangered Species Act including; increase funding for the ESA in the fiscal year 21, oppose the inclusion of the anti-ESA sage-grouse rider in the fiscal year 21 appropriations bill, and to support the PAW and FIN Conservation Act (S.2491) — legislation to rescind the Trump administration’s rollbacks to the ESA. While these asks might not be specifically on target for your representatives, it’s still important to stress how vital the ESA is and, in general, to advocate for more funding and to vote against any attacks to weaken the law.
Dear Senator,
I appreciate you taking the time to meet with us during this uncertain time, I know it’s a trying time for many, and I’m sure you are juggling a lot right now! And while wildlife issues might seem like the least of our worries, I think it’s important to address the connections between biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and our vulnerability to this virus. Scientists have been warning us for years that when we invade wild landscapes and disrupt ecosystems, this creates opportunities for zoonotic viruses to spillover into humans. Disrupted ecosystems tend to lose their biggest predators first, and what they leave behind are smaller animals that can reproduce in large numbers, which creates a host of issues, one of them being their ability to carry and transmit disease. The more diverse the ecosystem, the more able it is to regulate disease without it ever reaching humans. So, the health of our wildlife and habitat is directly linked to our health. I’ve always held a strong affinity for predators because of the role they play in maintaining a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem. We are lucky enough to live in one of the few remaining places with keystone predators like wolves and grizzly bears. The presence of these animals contributes so much to the beauty and health of our land. This makes me proud to call Montana home and it’s the first thing I tell people when asked about where I live. It’s also something I don’t take for granted, with how much their habitat has shrunk and all the seemingly insurmountable challenges -- both environmental and political -- they face, it’s not a given that they will continue to live and thrive here. Climate change, the 6th mass extinction, and now this virus are not isolated events. It’s all connected to how we interact with nature.
Now, more than ever, we must make sure we fully fund the Endangered Species Act — our last resort law that stands between species extinction and recovery. The recent attacks to the ESA in the interest of short term profits are irresponsible. If we don’t address these issues, both animals and humans will continue to suffer the consequences.
Being a mother, I often feel the weight of the times we’re living in, with 1 million species at risk of extinction, the pressures of climate change, and now a pandemic it’s heartbreaking to think about what our children will inherit. My hope lies in my daughter’s connection to wildlife and the land, as well as the laws we have in place to protect them.
Sincerely,
Mariah Palmer
If you are interested in reading more about the links between habitat and biodiversity loss and Covid19, I found the following articles very helpful;
Shaking the Viral Tree with David Quammen
Want to Stop the Next Pandemic? Start Protecting Wildlife
'Tip of the iceberg': is our destruction of nature responsible for Covid-19?