The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act.
The chicken’s habitat spans parts of five states, including Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council speaking out against the proposal. The groups say there has been a decades-long public-private conservation partnership and the move by FWS would disincentive future public-private conservation partnerships.
“After years of successful, voluntary conservation efforts and the development of meaningful partnerships, the ESA designation of the Lesser Prairie Chicken is severely disappointing,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and Public Lands Council Executive Director. “The scientific data supports our belief that voluntary conservation work – led by producers – is the most effective way to provide stability for the birds and their habitat. Ranchers have kept up their end of conservation agreements with the federal government and this designation tells those private landowners that their considerable private investment doesn’t count. This is a terrible message to send at the very moment when the administration is seeking to enlist our industry’s help with a broad slew of conservation goals that can only succeed with strong public-private partnerships.”
NCBA’s Public Lands Council says 95% of the lesser praise chicken’s habitat is privately owned, which the Council says makes collaborating with agricultural producers key in the recovery of the species.
FWS says it will consider public comments and scientific information before making a final determination.
NCBA says millions of acres of land have been enrolled in voluntary conservation measures across the lesser prairie chicken’s range, which is noted by FWS, and the ESA designation “signals a reversal from their prior support for these successful voluntary partnerships.”
