The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is designed to protect wildlife but it appears that there are provisions undermining the Endangered Species Act when it comes to the protection of vulnerable birds like the greater sage-grouse and lesser prairie chicken. You can read more on this issue and its effects on wildlife at https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3074
As is stated in the article mentioned, “Anti-wildlife interests are using our National Defense bill to pass provisions that would dismantle protections for imperiled wildlife, despite the fact that these measures have nothing to do with national defense.” The concern is that if anti-wildlife provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act are passed, it would “block ESA protections for the sage-grouse and lesser prairie chicken and would strip existing protections from the endangered American burying beetle.”
In order to provide vulnerable birds of nature the protection they need and deserve under the ESA, we need to ask the Senate and members of Congress to oppose any debilitating provisions that do not belong in the NDAA. The effort in this petition is to urge them to oppose any riders in the 2017 NDAA that would strip away these protections from endangered, vulnerable birds. You can help in protecting these and all endangered birds by signing and sharing this petition, adding your own thoughts and comments.
