About 30% of the 200 listed endangered animal and 300 plant species listed endangered in the United States can be found in the Midwest. Local endangered species like the Indiana Bat and the Fanshell Mussel are imperiled by anthropogenic (human) effects such as pesticide use, habitat destruction, and agricultural/land and energy development. Environmental factors can also play a role; in the case of the Indiana Bat the rise of white nose syndrome, a fatal fungal disease, has been responsible for the deaths of over 5 million bats since its appearance in 2007. Our work aims to minimize damage to endangered species and ecosystems.
Legal background: The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is the most comprehensive effort to date by the federal government to protect endangered species from the consequences of human and economic growth. The US Supreme Court states that its aim is to “halt and reverse the trend towards species extinction, whatever the cost.” From 1976-2012, 28 species have been delisted (meaning they are no longer classified as “endangered”), and 25 others have had their status improved from “endangered” to merely “threatened.” The legal protections afforded by the ESA have allowed us to advocate on behalf of numerous endangered species, including the Indiana Bat, several migratory birds, and the Whooping Crane. Two related pieces of legislation — the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act — have also been helpful in this regard.
wildlife updates
uestion: I know you have a background in land protection. Could you please share your insights on how the preservation of land, habitat, and species intersect?
Freitag: I’m a systems guy. The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone, as they say. You care about critters? Then save the places they need to live and eat and mate. You worry about how the critters will adapt to climate change? Connect the protected landscapes so they can move. And for heaven’s sake, take care of the water. Every life depends on it. But most importantly, understand that human beings are not separate from nature but instead a participant. As Jane Goodall says, you cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you, so decide what kind of impact that will be. What will your grandchildren say about your impact?
Macaw Recovery Network announces its first land purchase toward the restoration of habitat for the critically endangered Great Green Macaw. Its purchase of La Peninsula in northern Costa Rica will help save not only this magnificent bird but all forest wildlife that share its habitat.
Along with colleagues from Syracuse University and INCAE, Costa Rica’s main business school, CLC Executive Director Christian Freitag recently co-authored an article concerning Nosara, Costa Rica, one of only five “blue zones” in the world.
We are proud of the progress that has been made in our landscape this past year and the bright future ahead. None of this could be possible without the hard work and time commitment from all of you, including both landowners dedicated to conservation and partnering organizations and agencies.
The Conservation Law Center is proud to announce the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has continued their support of CLC’s Clean Water Indiana Program with a grant of $180,000. This grant represents a longstanding partnership between the Pulliam Trust and CLC, with a shared goal of improving water quality in the state of Indiana.
The Conservation Law Center is excited to announce the creation of a new position - the Constance and Terry Marbach Conservation Attorney. Indiana University Maurer School of Law Class of 2021 Alum Kacey Cook has accepted this inaugural position.
Conservation Law Center is pleased to announce that Rob McCrea has been hired as the Landscape Conservation Attorney.
Conservation Law Center is making that investment each day by working to protect and improve the health, diversity, beauty and resilience of the planet and defend our shared natural heritage in Indiana and beyond.
The designation of more than 3.5 million acres in southern Indiana as a Sentinel Landscape will protect critical habitats and species, conserve natural resources, strengthen military readiness, and help the state prepare for environmental change. Southern Indiana is one of 3 new additions to the federal program, bringing the total to 10 nationwide.
Bats are often still seen as pests or disease spreaders but they actually play important roles in pollination and pest control. Here in Indiana they are especially helpful with pest control as bats can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes an hour. That not only protests us from these pests, but also helps farmers protect their crops.