LETTERS: KEEPING THE PROTECTION

To the editor:

The Society for Conservation Biology is an interntaional organization of professionals involved in teaching and practicing natural resource mangement. Included in its membership are hundreds of American scientists and resource managers. At its annual conference this summer in Fort Collins, Colo., the membership approved a resolution urging strong support for, retention and reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act.

Researchers and professionals trained in natural resource management know how important to our life support ecosystems is the bio-diveristy with which we humans share the planet, both from ecological and economic points of view. It is not surprising, therefore, to find such a strong commitment on their part to caution, conservatism and maintenance of this biodiversity. Informed involvement in natural-resource management demands conscious advocacy for the protection of biodiversity, of endangered species and their habitats throughout the planet.

Recognizing that "the global rate of species extinctions has increased dramatically over the last four centuries and contiinues to escalate," "that losses of species are irreversible," and that "habitat protection is the key to species conservation," the society's membership specifically opposed "any efforts to impose moratoriums, rescissions, or other methods to weaken the act and consequently weaken America's efforts to protect biological resources."Writing in support of the society's position, SCB President Dennis Murphy in the society's August newsletter stated, "Protection of economic and private property interests are not, as the Gorton (Senate rescission) bill suggests, incompatible. Murphy was referring to the California Natural Community Conservation Program endorsed by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, which is serving to protect California coastal sage scrub habitat as part of a real estate development project, and thus save from extinction the California gnatcatcher.

Those who argue against the need to protect endangered species from extinction are out of step with resource management professionals, with most Americans who, surveys show, are environmentalists and seek to protect their endangered species, and with true conservatives who seek to protect America's valuable natural resources.

ALAN R.P. JOURNET, Professor of BiologySoutheast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau