Please do not change the…

Please do not change the Endangered Species Act so that it is less effective than it is now at protecting endangered species. White the Act can be time-consuming to comply with at times it is the best chance we have of changing people's behaviour so that endangered species are protected.

Specifically, I would like to see:
1. Repeal the 2013 exemptions for the forestry, hydro, mining and commercial development industries. These well-funded interests would have no problem complying with reasonable protections and restrictions on damage to endangered species and their habitats.
2. Amend section 57(1)1 of the ESA so that any future exemptions cannot jeopardize the recovery of endangered and threatened species.
3. Maintain mandatory habitat protection for endangered and threatened species. Do not allow 'ministerial discretion' to politicize the process of listing species. We do not need more political decisions being made, they should be based on facts.
4. Maintain COSSARO’s current species listing process, “based on the best available scientific information, including information obtained from community knowledge and aboriginal traditional knowledge” (ESA, section 5 (3))
5. Require compensation that results in a direct overall benefit to affected species where harmful activities are permitted. Do not allow proponents of harmful activities to bypass protections by simply paying into a fund.
6. Where appropriate, use a similar mechanism as is being applied for Butternut to help the recovery of other endangered species. This mechanism allows proponents to work to restore the habitat of an endangered species and permits more creative methods to achieve this than a strict ban.