WASHINGTON (December 1, 2023) — The Biden Administration has delayed the discharge of a proposed rule that might strengthen the implementation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Nationwide Audubon Society expressed disappointment within the delay however seems to be ahead to working with the Biden Administration to maneuver the rule ahead as quickly as doable.
“Strengthening the implementation of the Migratory Chook Treaty Act would profit birds which can be going through growing local weather change impacts and habitat loss and supply certainty for companies that make use of commonsense measures to cut back avoidable hurt to birds,” stated Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer of the Nationwide Audubon Society. “We’re dissatisfied on this delay however stay undaunted in our resolve to work with the administration to advance a powerful rule that displays the wants of migratory chicken conservation at a time of declining populations and growing threats.”
The MBTA is America’s most necessary chicken conservation legislation. For many years, it has supplied crucial protections for birds, together with from industrial hazards like poisonous wastewater pits. These protections have been fairly carried out by Republican and Democratic administrations for many years. But in 2017, the Trump Administration illegally rolled again the MBTA’s protections by permitting unchecked chicken mortality from industrial hurt comparable to oil spills or poorly sited and designed infrastructure.
These foundational protections were restored by the Biden Administration, however persevering with avoidable chicken mortality, compounded by components like habitat loss, demonstrates the necessity to make clear and enhance the implementation of the MBTA. In accordance with the Advance Discover of Proposed Rulemaking, the MBTA’s longstanding protections from “incidental take”, comparable to avoidable industrial hazards, can be codified, and it could present regulatory certainty to business by permitting companies that use practices to assist keep away from, reduce, and compensate for hurt to birds to use for a allow beneath the MBTA.
“We’ve misplaced three billion birds since 1970, and local weather change threatens two-thirds of the continent’s chicken species. We’ve an crucial to construct out our clear power infrastructure to cut back planet-warming emissions to guard each communities and wildlife,” stated Johnson. “With a view to meet these objectives, we’d like up to date requirements that permit industries to maneuver nimbly sufficient to satisfy the second, whereas nonetheless constructing tasks responsibly. These proposed guidelines would offer wanted readability on affordable sector-wide requirements for business and could be a win-win for birds and companies. We stay up for working with the administration to complete the job on this necessary rulemaking effort and urge swift motion.”
About Audubon
The Nationwide Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation group that protects birds and the locations they want at this time and tomorrow. We work all through the Americas in direction of a future the place birds thrive as a result of Audubon is a strong, various, and ever-growing power for conservation. Audubon has greater than 700 workers working throughout the hemisphere and greater than 1.5 million energetic supporters. North America has misplaced three billion birds since 1970, and greater than 500 chicken species are liable to extinction throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning methods in regards to the well being of the environment, and so they inform us that birds – and our planet – are in disaster. Collectively as one Audubon, we’re working to change the course of local weather change and habitat loss, resulting in more healthy chicken populations and reversing present developments in biodiversity loss. We do that by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with native communities, influencing public and company coverage, and constructing neighborhood. Study extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Media Contact: Robyn Shepherd, robyn.shepherd@audubon.org
