Bugs as the next set of roadblocks? EarthRights International says the quiet part out loud. Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management calls for cooperation between sportsmen and Ag. I agree.
Bugs as the next set of roadblocks?
The Sun article below details a couple important things to take note of due to their potential future effects.
The first is a recent finding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that classifies the Silverspot Butterfly from SW Colorado as "threatened" which, while it isn't the same level of protection as calling it "endangered" will alter some rules in the area where this butterfly lives.
The second is a bill (linked below the Sun article) which will create a study, quoting, "...granting Colorado Parks and Wildlife the authority to study and conserve rare plants and invertebrates. Colorado is one of only a handful of states that do not define plants or invertebrates as wildlife to be monitored, managed and protected."
Note: it is important to note here that this bill does not confer on Colorado Parks and Wildlife the ability to set rules like a Federal change in status does. If you've read this page long enough you'll note that what I frequently say about studies in year 1 vs. bills in year 2 means I highly suspect that I should have added that it "does not confer on CPW the ability YET..."
I'm a fan of bugs and pollinators. I go to great lengths to plant things that encourage and support them, along with practices that encourage a wide variety of bugs in my gardens and food beds (or that don't sterilize my whole yard).
Frankly, I want the help bugs offer! While I can, and sometimes do, hand pollinate, I want the bugs around doing most of the work. I also want a variety of bugs around: I want predators keeping pests in check, I want food for birds, and I've always thought it wise that if you don't know what all the pieces do in a system, it's wise to keep them around.
So understand what I say next in this context. I am concerned that, whether this is the intent of any of the policies mentioned above or not, the end result will be that environmentalists will use these bugs as yet another roadblock to things they don't like.
They will delay, stymie, and attempt to block any number of things using the new concern over bugs/plants as a pretext.
Just like it would be unwise to blindly charge ahead and put economic and other human concerns at the top of the list with nothing beneath below, it is just as thoughtless and shortsighted to put human concerns well below those of a bug.
It is reasonable to seek a balance between human needs and the environment, but as you may have noticed in the post prior to this one, that is not what many rabid environmentalists push for.
Long way 'round to say that what I am afraid we're seeing here is the very beginnings of yet more roadblocks, only this time with bugs.
https://coloradosun.com/2024/02/20/colorado-insects-pollinators-threatened-species/
Related:
In the post above I wrote about a bill that allows the CPW to start looking at and studying conservation for bugs and plants (something they previously were not authorized to do).
One thing that stood out here was Rep Soper's support. I am somewhat agnostic on this particular bill, but his presence here, his presence on the bill that greatly limits CORA requests make me question his judgement.
The point I want to make here is to call this to your attention. If you live in his district, do not assume that because he's Republican that he's got straight down the line conservative values.
Go to his legislator page, give it a look. Think over what kind of bills he's running and, if you have concerns, contact him and relate them.
https://leg.colorado.gov/legislators/matt-soper
EarthRights International says the quiet part out loud.
Marco Simons, General Council at EarthRights International:
“Whether that’s cutting back on the harmful activities, and/or to raise the price of the products that are causing those harmful effects so that if they are continuing to sell fossil fuels, that the cost of the harms of those fossil fuels would ultimately get priced into them.”
This quote comes from the first link below, talking about how San Miguel County is joining Boulder (both city and county)in a state-level lawsuit against oil companies over climate change. EarthRights International is kindly helping in his effort.
One consistent theme you've seen on this page is how radical environmentalists see only their environmental goals and brook no other arguments, no other constraints, no other considerations.
The quote above is a prime example. It is all the more concerning over the fact that these suits are taking place here in Colorado with our, I won't put any varnish on it, liberal Democrat judiciary.
Unable to find success entirely with the political process (or perhaps as an adjunct to same), these extremists are moving to the courts just as their forebears did with other crusades.
And, unfortunately, my guess is that they will stay at this til they find success. They're already doing this in other blue states (CA, I'm looking at you--see the second link below). The fact that this effort is focusing on areas where there are liberal courts ought to tell you all you need.
Success for them will not be success for us all, however. Just the cost of lawsuits themselves will add to already high prices for everyone.** Perhaps this is not a concern in the relatively wealthy areas of Boulder and Telluride, but I'll be damned if I have spare money hanging around I'm glad to part with in the name of feeling good about myself.
If you know someone who lives in or around San Miguel County and is opposed to efforts such as these, please pass this along and tell them to speak up. Alert them to what their tax dollars are being used for and urge them to tell their county commissioners they don't agree.
As for the rest of us, continue speaking up. Continue sharing information on things like these.
The best antidote to efforts like these is to share with other centrist and reasonable Coloradans the occasions when the mask slips a little and the radicals reveal what their true aims are.
**See the third link below for an op ed that inspired this post and more details on the "lawsuit' burden we all face.
https://www.ksut.org/news/2020-12-18/telluride-joins-lawsuit-seeking-to-force-energy-companies-to-offset-climate-change#stream/0
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-lawsuit-against-oil-and-gas-companies
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/colorado-courts-not-the-place-to-set-climate-energy-policy-opinion/article_6b12ecf0-cf7b-11ee-ba04-636036d3197e.html
Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management calls for cooperation between sportsmen and Ag. I agree.
Sportsmen and Ag, should "...enthusiastically cooperate against threats that oppose interests important to both groups has arrived."
Hear hear.
The quote above is from the article linked below. It's from a statement by Dan Gates, executive director of Coloradoans for Responsible Wildlife Management.
I heartily agree. Not only do their interests increasingly overlap (given the animal rights' and environmentalists' push to remake this state in their own image), but the sheer demographics of the situation indicate that people that oppose the extremist policy from the Front Range (policy they can impose on the rest of the state which they won't suffer any burden from) need to band together; the more centrist and reasonable approach to things needs as many voices as possible.
If you're in agreement, you might be wondering what to do. I personally have a couple suggestions and would leave the comments open for more if you have ideas.
1. Speak up. This is particularly the case if you know people/have friends in the Front Range. People that have little to no idea of how wildlife is managed in this state and/or little idea of how their choices effect people in Ag need to hear from people.
Speaking up might mean talking to friends and asking them to talk to friends. Maybe it looks like a letter to the editor in a paper that is in or close to a big city.
2. Drop by the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management's page (see the second link below) and look up how to get involved and/or give. See the attached screenshot.
I took a quick tour myself and they have information on coming ballot measures, ways to advocate against them, talking points, etc.
As I said above, if you have other ideas, please add to the comments. Speak up and align your efforts with those of others to amplify what you alone can do.
Not getting in on this issue greatly increases the chances that intiiatives like the one banning mountain lion hunting will pass. That means more mountain lions and an emboldened "rewilding" movement in this state.
https://www.thefencepost.com/news/gates-ag-and-sportsmen-work-against-the-same-threats/
https://savethehuntcolorado.com/#