This is a knee-jerk reaction caused by ignorance of the issue and the implications of CBD's ridiculous proposal. I took a look at the website of this Tucson-based group, which claims to have a staff of 56, including a whole passel of lawyers. Not one staff bio mentioned anything about bats, caves, or speleology. I think this issue looked like something sweet they could fundraise around, and they jumped in with both feet.
Do any of these people even belong to BCI or the NSS? I want to hear what Jim Kennedy has to say about all this. The NSS and BCI and every caver around needs to inundate this group with emails pointing out exactly how stupid this proposal is (close Carlsbad Caverns? Are they kidding? Where does it stop...Close the attics of all buildings housing bat colonies? Close the city of Austin? ). This is the tip of a bad iceberg...they've set a precedent for every conservation group around to put forth their own misguided attempt to "save the bats." I think it speaks volumes that this group apparently did not try to partner with or ask the advice of any organization that has a clue about bats or caves...unless they did contact the NSS or BCI and acted against their recommendations! There needs to be a high-profile response from both BCI and the NSS to this "proposal" that might dampen the enthusiasm of other groups to join in the feeding frenzy. I'm all for saving bats and conservation, but there's a smart way and a stupid way to go about it. This is definitely the latter. Lois Manno ----- Original Message ----- From: "jen ." <[email protected]> To: "nmcaver" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 12:24:21 PM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain Subject: Re: [NMCAVER] CBD Emergency Petitions Filed to Close Caves and Save Bats From Extinction As written, they are proposing that private caves and of course federal caves such as Carlsbad Caverns be closed. The NSS WNS Liaison has written the group a letter and is also contacting federal agencies who would receive the letter. Here is some followup on CaveChat, http://forums.caves.org//viewtopic.php?f=58&t=9623 I'll be writing a letter to the CBD as well, this does not help WNS research. Jen. > Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:44:35 -0700 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > CC: [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected] > Subject: Re: [NMCAVER] CBC Emergency Petitions Filed to Close Caves and Save > Bats From Extinction > > As not all caves are bat habitat, including those that have been dug > into and secured with gates, I am not sure that such extreme measures > are warranted or enforceable. As I understand it, it would not apply to > privately owned caves, and therefore would not block the geographic > advance of the catastrophe. But more money for research needs to be > allocated as soon as possible. > > Lee Skinner > > ------------------------------------- original message > ----------------------------------------- > From Scott House on the MoCaves List: > The Center for Biological Diversity (not a government agency!) has > petitioned the federal government to close all caves under its > jurisdiction. > Do not misinterpret this for a proposed action by the federal government. > > Petitions Filed to Close Caves: > http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/bats-01-21-2010.html > > > > ... asks federal agencies to close all caves under their jurisdiction... > ... close all bat-inhabited caves and mines on federal lands throughout > the continental United States... > ...and for the eastern small-footed bat and the northern long-eared > bat... to be protected as endangered species ... > > "All Caves" is a lot more caves than the affected caves in the 9 states > mentioned... > > > _______________________________________________ > NMCAVER mailing list > [email protected] > http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/nmcaver_caver.net _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ NMCAVER mailing list [email protected] http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/nmcaver_caver.net _______________________________________________ NMCAVER mailing list [email protected] http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/nmcaver_caver.net
