Please do not eliminate the…

Please do not eliminate the Endangered Species Act. The emphasis for economic growth should not come at the cost of losing vital habitat for wildlife, especially endangered species.

Ontario is a beautiful province filled with amazing wildlife and birds - almost 300 species of birds breed here. That will only continue to happen if their habitat is protected. Protecting only a "dwelling place" means birds will not return to their breeding grounds because there won't be any breeding grounds.

Birds already face so many challenges caused by humans (cities filled with glass windows that they crash into, bright city lights that disorient birds during migration, off-leash dogs running through the already limited habitat available in big cities - the list goes on). We should be doing everything we can to protect species at risk, including developing recovery plans.

Without intending to, I have become a birder - it's part of my identity now. I value nature and wildlife and I know there are many others who feel the same way. It's upsetting to hear older birders talk about how things used to be - in their lifetime they have already seen a noticeable decline in species they used to see all the time. Eliminating the Endangered Species Act will only accelerate the loss of birds.

When I think about the future of our planet I feel sad and hopeless. Look around! We are already dealing with so many issues due to climate change, and seeing habitat for birds and other wildlife disappearing before our eyes makes me wonder how many species will be lost, and how humans will even thrive in the future. It's probably pointless to even leave these comments here - will it really make a difference? Will someone read this and reconsider eliminating these protections? It feels very short-sighted to prioritize economic growth and development over protections. What will economic growth matter when there isn't a healthy planet to live on?