A safe future for wildlife benefits all Oregonians: Guest opinion

By Don Moore

Oregon is a wildlife wonderland. The misty spout of a gray whale, a summer evening flutter of bats and the squeak of a pika in the Columbia Gorge are priceless.

All of these animals need our help. But for most of Oregon's wildlife -- nearly 90 percent of all species living here -- there is no dedicated stream of conservation support. Funding comes largely from license fees used to manage species that are hunted or fished.

Conservation organizations like the Oregon Zoo help make up for the lack of state resources by working to restore imperiled species such as the western pond turtle and the Oregon silverspot butterfly. Metro, the regional government that manages the zoo, has also preserved and restored thousands of acres of wildlife habitat through its voter-supported natural area programs.

But these efforts are still not enough. Too often, conservation action comes only after a species is listed under the Endangered Species Act. By that time, recovery is more challenging and costly, with greater human impacts.

Thankfully, a panel of leaders representing outdoorspeople, energy industries and conservation organizations has advanced a pragmatic and logical solution to help protect species. And, even better, it can be done without raising taxes.

The bipartisan Recovering America's Wildlife Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Rep. Kurt Schrader, would provide critically needed funding for wildlife conservation by reallocating $1.3 billion in existing federal revenues from fees generated through the use of non-renewable natural resources. Funds would be distributed to all states, largely to support underfunded conservation programs.

Many species that the Oregon Zoo works to protect, including the mighty California condor, would greatly benefit from increased state conservation funding. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act is a potential game-changer for Oregon's people and wildlife.

As a scientist, angler and wildlife advocate, I support a permanent source of federal funding to protect species in the greatest need of conservation action. The Oregon Zoo is asking our Congressional delegation to support this legislation, and I encourage all Oregonians to do the same.

Please take a moment to send a friendly email to Oregon lawmakers, expressing your support for this effort to protect wildlife.

-- Don Moore, Ph.D., is director of the Oregon Zoo and senior science advisor at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. More information is available at OurNatureUSA.org.