At Last, Some Good News - conservation in northern and southern California - Brief Article

Ecologist, The, June, 2001

Some US wildlife, at least, is getting more protection

A federal judge approved a legal settlement on 20 March between the Center for Biological Diversity, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the Sierra Club, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which will Institute sweeping biodiversity reforms within the Important California Desert Conservation Area.

Amongst other measures, the settlement requires BLM to close over 4,500 miles of roads and prohibit new mining projects on critical Desert tortoise habitat, close a sand and gravel mine threatening the arroyo southwestern toad and prohibit ORVs on over 550,000 acres of sensitive habitat areas. This follows a suit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity to protect 24 endangered species including the Desert tortoise, Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Arroyo toad and Desert pupfish.

As the result of another lawsuit, the Center has also achieved the withdrawal of a permit granted to the Blue Rock Country Club, a 614-home, 18-hole golf course, luxury complex in the Bay Area following critical habitat being designated for the California red-legged frog and the Alameda whipsnake. It's the first time a previously-approved development in the Bay Area has been stopped to protect a critical habitat. Some good news, at least, for American wildlife despite the reign of Bush and Norton. See www.biological diversity.org for more details.