Humanity has wiped out 60%…

Humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970 worldwide, some of which have certainly been destroyed here. Each species that is significantly reduced in number or made extinct by human actions has a direct impact on the environment within which they have lived. The primary cause of wildlife decline in Ontario, Canada and globally is habitat loss and degradation - a direct result of "economic development" activities that have resulted in hunting to near extinction (particularly of predators who are necessary for a thriving ecosystem), habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, climate change, and pollution of the earth, air and water our wildlife needs to survive (and of course, so do we!). Scientists generally agree that the most important factors that will help to stop the decline in population of our wildlife (nearly half of all species are in decline at this time) is to stop habitat loss, strengthen environmental regulations, and do whatever is necessary to stop the human impacts on climate change.

Based on this science, I believe that any adjustments to the Endangered Species Act should be with these necessary actions in mind. We must stop the mentality of "current economic good" being more important than either the short or long term health of our province's wildlife and the ecosystem that we all depend on for our survival. What economic benefit "now" is worth the tradeoff of destroying our province and our planet in the long-term? Strengthen the Act. Make it harder for industry to destroy the environment for the sake of corporate greed. Begin to shift our province's policies towards working with the environment rather than trying to overpower it.