Canada and Montana Agree to Protect Glacier National Park

Last week, the government of British Columbia, the governor of Montana, and the state's senators signaled an intention to work together to protect the Flathead River Basin, an ecologically valuable area bordering Glacier National Park in the southeastern portion of B.C.  The agreement is a huge step toward ensuring protection and connectivity across that region's border with Canada.  The Flathead Valley extends into Montana and is often considered the missing piece of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

For years, mining interests have been pushing for access to resources in the North Fork Flathead drainage.  Last Tuesday, however, B.C.'s government passed legislation that bans the mining plans on the Canadian Flathead.  On Thursday, Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Jon Tester (D-MT) followed suit by announcing their intention to introduce similar legislation that would protect the U.S. portion of the Flathead.

 

Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park.  Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
 

This is truly bi-national cooperation to protect an iconic ecosystem that needs all the help it can get adapting to a warming world.  The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park was the first park of its kind and this agreement follows in that same spirit.  The challenges of climate change will not stop at borders and this will act as a model for countries cooperating to achieve the same goal.

Sierra Club Files Lawsuit to Protect Florida Panther Habitat

Yesterday the Sierra Club, along with a coalition of environmental groups, filed a suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for its failure to designate 1.3 million acres as critical habitat for the Florida panther.  The panther, which once freely roamed much of the Southeast, is now estimated to number a mere 100 individuals confined to increasingly fragmented habitat in southern Florida.  The very limited habitat remaining is also under threat from climate change and rising sea levels.  Despite being listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1967, there has never been any critical habitat designated.  Twice now, environmental groups have petitioned the FWS to designate such habitat and twice those petitions have been rejected.

 

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The most recent petition took place last year and included the Sierra Club, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Center for Biological Diversity, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and the Council for Civic Associations.  The petition was rejected last week, signaling a refusal on the part of the FWS to listen to sound science and take all the measures mandated by the Endangered Species Act in regards to the panther.  The habitat is already under threat from climate change and now large-scale developments are being planned that will go forward if the panther is not given all the protections it deserves.

You can read our coalition's press release here.

Florida Citizens Rally Against Offshore Oil Drilling

Last Saturday, more than 10,000 people from across Florida gathered at more than 83 beaches to protest offshore drilling.  These rousing events drew impressive turnout, despite chilly weather and rain, and were part of a state-wide effort called Hands Across the Sand.  That effort was organized to protest attempts by Big Oil to drill in state waters (a mere 3-10 miles from the coast).  The events could not have come at a more critical time, however, as Florida's waters are threatened both from federal and state efforts.  It was inspirational to see people from all walks of life and political affiliations, citizens, and businesses stand together to protect their livelihoods and their economy.  A few alligators, dolphins, and mermaids even showed up at several events!

The Sierra Club's Florida Chapter played an integral role in many of the events.  Below are several photos that came out of the day. 

 

 

 

 
Congressman C.W. Bill Young (R-10th/FL)

Obama's Proposed Budget Shows a Strong Commitment to Public Lands

On February 1st, the administration announced its proposed budget for FY 2011.  The budget requested $12.2 billion for the Department of the Interior to effectively manage our public lands.  Of this sum, hundreds of millions are dedicated to programs that the Sierra Club has been strongly and persistently advocating.

• $171.3 million would be dedicated to Interior's Climate Change Adaptation program, an integrated strategy for managing to make our habitats more resilient to climate change.
• $106.2 million increase for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to begin Secretary Salazar's bold new vision to protect Treasured Landscapes.  Total funding for the LWCF for both the U.S. Forest Service and Interior is $619.2 million, on track for the full funding of $900 million by 2014.
• $71.4 million for key restoration projects also under the Treasured Landscapes umbrella: Chesapeake Bay, California's Bay Delta, the Gulf Coast, the Everglades, and the Klamath River Basin.

• $73 million in investments in responsible renewable energy development, a $14.2 million increase from last year.

 
Photo courtesy of the National Landscape Conservation System

The Sierra Club applauds this budget.  Not only does it demonstrate the administration's clear commitment to passing comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, it also recognizes the necessity of helping our lands and wildlife adapt to warming temperatures.

You can read the DOI's press release here and the Sierra Club's here.