Dear Mr. Ashe,
I'm a resident of Los Angeles, CA, but I'm writing to you as someone who has relatives and friends all across the United States--all of whom support threatened species status for the American Wolverine. We do not believe that the economic considerations of the immediate future should trump creating long term plans to ensure the survival of the American Wolverine and their habitat.
We've read the reports from the scientists who recommended threatened species status, and we've read the arguments against their recommendations, and we don't find the arguments against them compelling. Of course there may always be a small degree of uncertainty with predicting climate change, but we have enough certainty and the risks are great enough that we must act proactively and we must take the right precautions before it is too late.
To support giving the wolverines threatened species status, I sent out a petition that has been signed by over 700 people from the United States and around the world. The petition included links to the scientific data and the political arguments surrounding this issue so that they could make an educated choice to sign. Please do not dismiss the international signatures. Not only does this support for an American species show that the international community takes a strong interest in America's heritage, it also underscores the importance of protecting species and habitat as a draw for tourism--and many communities near wilderness areas rely on toursim dollars.
I urge you to trust your scientists and do what is right. I understand that the pressure from the states who fear restrictions on economic development is heavy, but there are other ways for them to be economically successful--they must take protection of wolverines as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Please decide in favor of threatened species status for the American Wolverine on August 4.
Thank you,
Rosalind Helfand
rozhelfand@gmail.com
310-869-5749
