Protecting Endangered Species, Property Rights

Also in this section:

State Information on Endangered Species

Organizations Supporting ESRA

Letters of Support for ESA Improvement

Protecting our nation's most vulnerable wildlife demands cooperation on every level – state, local and federal. Current strategies to recover endangered species have proven ineffective in producing the best outcome for species or people. I will continue to advocate cooperative solutions that will save threatened wildlife while recognizing private property rights.

Over three decades ago, Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to enforce greater protections for endangered species. While good-intentioned, the ESA has not proven successful in its practical application. It has pitted people against wildlife, and much of its regulations end up entrenched in the court system, leaving conservation efforts severely hampered and many species in a perilous state.

I support rewarding landowners for their conservation work, rather than enforcing greater government regulations and burdens. Over eighty percent of endangered species reside on private property. It only makes sense to give the landowners (who shoulder much of the responsibility for species management) the tools they need to best pursue species recovery.

In the 110th Congress, I, along with Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, introduced the Endangered Species Recovery Act (S. 700) to provide financial and procedural benefits to private property owners for conservation efforts. The widely supported legislation uses a tried and true principle that works – monetary incentives to produce tangible results. By providing tax breaks, this bill encourages landowners to get involved in the important effort to recover endangered species for future generations. This legislation was included in the Habitat and Land Conservation Act, which was passed by the Senate Finance Committee on September 21, 2007; this clears the bill for action by the full Senate.

Already, hundreds of diverse groups and key leaders in the U.S. Senate have joined together in support of the ESRA. This bipartisan group has joined with a shared goal – to protect endangered species for years to come. We have the responsibility and privilege to be good stewards of our environment and natural resources. It is essential that we continue to work on every level to bring back threatened wildlife so that our children and our children’s children will be able to enjoy the precious resources that we see today.

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Threatened and Endangered Species by State:
(Information current as of May 2006)

Use this map to view the lists of threatened and endangered species by state.

News Articles

1-30 of 66  1  2  3 Next Date Title 05/08/08  CRAPO HAILS INCLUSION OF ESA INCENTIVES IN FARM BILL 12/11/07  CRAPO URGES TIMELY PASSAGE OF SENATE FARM BILL 07/18/07  SUCCESS FOR MORE THAN JUST A FEW 03/22/07  DELEGATION NOTES FINAL GRIZZLY DELISTING DECISION 03/15/07  BIPARTISAN BUDGET LANGUAGE INSERTED TO PROTECT BPA CUSTOMERS FROM RATE HIKE 02/27/07  FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE ON LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES 01/29/07  CRAPO: WOLF DECISION SHOWS IDAHO SUCCESS 12/06/06  Crapo sponsors legislation to recover endangered species on private lands 09/28/06  Federal Judge Threatens Idaho's Water 09/14/06  Crapo Notes Support For Collaboration, Owyhee Initiative 09/11/06  GAO Report Shows ESA Reforms Needed 08/07/06  Crapo Chairs Farm Bill Hearing in Moscow, Reviews Fires, Elk Collaborative, Water Issues 04/05/06  Crapo Expects Agreement On Kempthorne For Interior Secretary 02/28/06  Idaho Legislature Supports Crapo ESA Bill 02/22/06  Crapo Tells Legislative Collaborative Environmental Efforts Are Working 02/21/06  Crapo Appreciates Initial Keystone Recommendations on ESA 02/17/06  Crapo To Address Idaho House, Senate 01/18/06  IMPROVING THE ESA FOR SPECIES AND PEOPLE 01/11/06  Ground Squirrel Efforts Demonstrate Recovery Partnerships 01/06/06  Ground Squirrel Recovery Efforts Bring Spirit of Idaho Awards 12/21/05  MOVING SPECIES RECOVERY FORWARD 12/15/05  Crapo, Lincoln Introduce Collaborative ESA Bill 12/07/05  GOOD NEWS IN THE NUMBERS 11/15/05  Crapo: Grizzly Action Sets Stage For ESA Improvement Legislation 10/19/05  SUCCESS FOR SPECIES AND PEOPLE 10/06/05  Crapo Speaks On ESA Reform 09/30/05  House ESA Passage Should Add To Senate Debate 08/31/05  Crapo: White House Conference Will Help ESA Legislation 08/30/05  Crapo: Past Success With Wildlife Key to ESA 08/29/05  CRAPO TO ADDRESS WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE  1  2  3 Next