21 Comments

It's fascinating to note the contrasts here. A huge majority of Americans support properly funding the ESA...

and yet it's not adequately funded,..

and it's only acting on the downstream effects, not the causes.

All of this makes me think: in their hearts, people know what the right thing to do is: properly protect biodiversity. I'd go further and say that in their hearts (perhaps without realizing it) they know the proper role humans should play as part of nature - regenerating not extracting.

Which all points to where the real work is to be done: changing the culture. We've got to go deep - to the causes, which are historical, spiritual, psychological - otherwise we're just using band-aids or, worse, distracting ourselves from the serious, difficult work to be done.

Expand full comment

Really well said, Simon. Thank you. I'd add another element to the to-do list: the political. I'll be writing about that next week. I think it's worth suggesting that politics - as shaped by industry with vested interests - have long ago put its thumb on the scale of our cultural discussion about our relationship with nature. Assuming that poll is correct on our attitudes toward the ESA and biodiversity in general, then it's a good indicator of how torqued the politics of conservation have become. We know the right thing to do, more or less, but are told by industry not to believe what we know.

Expand full comment

Absolutely. I wonder if culture shapes politics or politics shapes culture? Or both? What if our culture came to see that it was as unacceptable to accept money from fossil fuel companies which sentence future generators to death as it is.. well... to sentence future generations to death?! What if we all "got" that and marched on Washington, London, Ottawa etc (peacefully)? What if those of us who've had a glimpse of a better life (filled with biodiversity with humans in sync with the world) rose up?

Or does it need someone brave in politics to change the culture, to change the conversation. Can that happen or is the road too steep because of vested interests? Maybe we need a combination of the child who called out the emperor's new clothes, and a MLK, and a Greta Thunberg who somehow manages to get elected through the power of their message.

I feel naive writing this. It seems like a Catch-22. But we need hope.

Looking forward to next week's article.

Expand full comment

Your question was well timed with McKibben's story of the MP, Simon. I doubt the streets will fill in the wake of the MP's decision, but it's good stuff nonetheless.

I'd say that politics is a subset of culture, and that they certainly shape each other. There are structural things at work, certainly, like the checks and balances of democracy (and the degradation thereof...). As I've written in various contexts, we need policies that set guardrails on industrial and corporate behavior. Make better rules, you make a better culture. But those rules should come from the better angels of our nature rather than seem like top-down patronizing, etc. Complicated stuff to sell to the public, certainly. But it sounds like a big push on biodiversity would sell well. One of the big solutions I'll write about next week is RAWA, a major permanent annual funding bill for biodiversity work for the states and tribes.

Expand full comment

... just saw Bill McKibben wrote about a British MP who resigned from his caucus because he was opposed to government plans to drill. So there are some...

Expand full comment

Query to the interested:

Jason notes the (disturbingly large) number of species that have been delisted from ESA consideration and concern simply because they became extinct; it seems likely to me that many more species have suffered this fate than have been delisted because of successful implementation of the ESA. Anyone have the data? Is this perhaps true?

Expand full comment

Perry, thanks for this excellent question. I'll include this link in next week's writing; it's to the full list of delisted species: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/species-delisted

I had to scan it manually to get totals, but it shows 126 total delisted species, 32 for extinction and 73 for recovery. (The others are delisted either because new info was found about the population(s), or because the plant or animal no longer met the definition of a species.) The list does not show species upgraded from Endangered to Threatened (or vice versa), and of course it doesn't show species that went extinct waiting to be listed.

Does that answer your question?

Expand full comment

It certainly does. And in a positive direction; apparently I misread/misunderstood a bit, and perhaps “misremembered”, too. Anyway, not quite as depressing as I’d thought. But we still have work to do! And thanks for the link; very helpful.

Expand full comment

Scottish Highlands has some of the most unpolluted watercourses in the UK but even here freshwater mussels are under threat. Interesting observation in your earlier articles about dams, we have a lot of hydro schemes here. There is local action happening though, checkout this substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/highlifehighlandranger/p/mussels-and-fish-unlikely-allies?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=yalpe

Expand full comment

Thanks for this, E-wok. The article does a great job of explaining the benefits of, and threats to, freshwater mussels. I have to admit I hadn't thought about mussels in Scottish waters before. I'm glad to know that folks are out there trying to get ahead of the threats to these communities by planting shade trees along the banks. And yes, dams are terrible for mussels that need the consistent natural flow of cooler water. Interesting to think about the relationship between beavers, which used to shape nearly all of this continent by slowing down and storing up water, and the abundant mussels that need moving water. I'll have to look into that, but I suppose it comes down to different habitats, with the mussels in waterways too large for beavers to dam. Are you seeing much interest in restoring beavers in the Highlands?

Expand full comment

Yes, beaver restoration is happening up here, Cairngorms area saw beavers released back into the wild in 2023.

Expand full comment

I'm finally reading Eager by Ben Goldfarb, and it's really, really good. I did a whole 3-part series on beavers, but I'm learning so much on every page. It's a great book and well worth anyone's time if they're interested in why it's vital to put beavers back into the landscape en masse.

Expand full comment

This is such a thorough and readable overview of my favorite law. :) I came of age after the enviro wave of the 70s when all these laws were passed -- my entire career as an environmentalist has been in opposition to political priorities, those of both parties. It's hard to even imagine practicing environmental law in those first heady years when attorneys and the public must have imagined that the bevy of new laws would solve our major problems. What the energy must have been like! By contrast, everything is such a long slog these days, always fighting headwinds.

I like the idea that most Americans are actually in support of environmental protections, that it's corporate priorities for their captured politicians and agencies that are directing some of our destructive actions. At least maybe it doesn't all (or mostly) reflect the public's will.

Looking forward to reading part 2.

Expand full comment

I'm guessing those heady days met the headwinds pretty quickly. Certainly when Reagan came in, anyway. And my comments on the popularity of the ESA and its protections might rely too much on that one poll I mentioned. I should probably look for other polling. And much relies on how the questions are asked: Do you like protecting wildlife? Sure. Do you like government regulations on land use? Maybe not... Thanks, Rebecca.

Expand full comment

Thanks as ever for your writings. Never make a resolution to stop writing. You are one of Substack's finest. You're twenty years ahead of me in your maturity. Not until my seventies did I reach the decision to stop making promises to myself I knew I would break. Yes, I remember your story about freshwater mussels- it was revelatory. I also remember Nixon well. But also the President he followed. It was the high tide of liberalism and we owe so much to their vision. No doubt Nixon, conservative in almost all ways, would be considered a RINO today, as would Reagan. Protecting habitats...yes! Let's rewild the planet 50% of it at least! Better yet reduce our own numbers by at least 50% Negative population growth. No doubt every species would be grateful.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Michael. I'm hoping to do this for the long term, or at least until we resolve most planetary issues... Or, as you say, we make a lot more species grateful for our efforts. Be well.

Expand full comment

A waiting list for extinction. A horrifying thought.

“We’ll see, but certainly snow and ice are increasingly good candidates for the endangered list.”

I live in Vermont. I do not like to think on it for too long, but global warming here in the Northeast is a fact. We are unable to turn our back and look away , the evidence surrounds us in every season .

You are correct snow is now considered at the very least here in Vermont, a special occasion. Ice, well I think the freeze and thaw cycles of mid winter are here to stay. As one who lives and breathes skiing in the backcountry for more years than I will mention, very sad indeed.

Thank you for leaving us with a poem by Robert Frost, my favorite poet.

The poem is one of my favorites. As you state, there are many interpretations. I have my own. Which isn’t even close to Mr. Frost’s interpretation. That’s quite ok with me.

After all, poetry is gifted by the poet to the reader. It is the reader that breathes in the words allowing themself to feel and imagine.

The song is quite lovely. After reading the disturbing reality of your post, the song was like a cleansing breathe .

I’m sure Robert Frost would have approved.

Thank you for sharing it all.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Lor, for the thoughtful response. It is hard to see winter losing the beauty of snow and ice, not least because of what it means for the plants and animals that have evolved with winter. How'd you like to be a white snowshoe hare in the woods right now? Here on the coast anyway, they don't hide easily. Some snow finally arriving this wknd, but close on its heels is the rain. Thanks again for chiming in. It's a good time of year to be reading Frost.

Expand full comment

A very thought provoking and haunting piece of writing. I also loved the musical setting of the poem, in fact I preferred it to just reading it.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Mary. Jud does such a good job with the music, doesn't he? The melody brings new life to the poem.

Expand full comment

Yes it’s such a beautiful and evocative setting of the words. Thank you for introducing me to Jud and his music as well.

Expand full comment