En respuesta a una petición de la asociación nacional de los tramperos, El Departamento de Caza y Pesca de los ESTADOS UNIDOS han publicado una propuesta para excluir al bobcat mejicano (Lynx rufus escuinapae), una subespecie incluída en el Acta de Especies Amenazadas (ESA). El Bobcat es la especie lo más cazada en cepos y que genera más negocio. En el 2002, se exportaron unos 30.000 especímenes, sobre todo las pieles.
El comercio internacional en bobcats se regula bajo convención sobre comercio internacional de especies amenazadas de fauna salvaje y flora (CITES) ,donde la especie (Lynx rufus) se enumera en el apéndice II.
Sin embargo, las pieles del bobcat mexicano no se pueden importar actualmente a los ESTADOS UNIDOS porque el estatus en la ESA como especie amenazada se lo impide (es ilegal negociar con especies en peligro o amenazadas). Escriba por favor al servicio para solicitar que el bobcat mexicano se siga manteniendo como especie amenazada y exprese su rechazo a que sean excluídas las subespecies. Dígale al Servicio que usted no está de acuerdo en sus argumentos técnicos según los cuales, las subespeciesno son taxonómicamente válidas o que no constituye "un segmento distinto de población" como requiere la ESA. También dígale que no deberían considerar excluir al bobcat mexicano cuando no se conocen los datos de su población, su hábitat ha sufrido una fuerte transformación y degradación y que se desconocen los efectos en las subespecies. Además, no existe ningún programa de gestión que asegure la sostenibilidad.
Escriba a: Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203; fax (703) 358-2276; email scientificauthority@fws.gov
Comment deadline: Wednesday, August 17, 2005. Enviar comentarios (no la carta modelo) a: Andrea Cimino acimino@hsus.org | Para los que no hablan inglés: Nuria Querol n.querol@altarriba.org
Carta modelo (para organizaciones, sustituir el "I" por el nombre de la organización):
Dear Sir/Madam
I have just learned about the response from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to a petition from the National Trappers Association, that has resulted in the publication of a rule to delist the Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae), a subspecies that is currently listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). I do not agree with their technical arguments that the subspecies is not taxonomically valid or that it does not constitute a ‘distinct population segment’ as required by the ESA; In addition, you should not consider delisting the Mexican bobcat when no population estimates are available, their habitat has suffered a high rate of transformation and degradation and the effect of this on the subspecies is unknown, and take and trade is allowed even though there is no management program in place to ensure take is sustainable.
Yours sincerely,
(Nombre, País)
INFORMACIÓN COMPLETA EN INGLÉS*****************
ACTION ALERT, SHORT VERSION:
OPPOSE DE-LISTING OF MEXICAN BOBCAT UNDER THE ESA
In response to a petition from the National Trappers Association, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a proposed rule to delist the Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae), a subspecies that is currently listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Bobcats are the most heavily trapped and traded species of cat. Over 30,000 specimens, mostly skins, were exported in 2002. International trade in bobcats is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) where the species (Lynx rufus) is listed on Appendix II. However, Mexican bobcat skins cannot currently be imported to the U.S. because ESA Endangered status protects the subspecies from U.S. markets (it is illegal to trade in Endangered species).
Please write to the Service to support the continued listing of the Mexican bobcat as Endangered and to oppose their proposal to delist the subspecies. Tell the Service that you do not agree with their technical arguments that the subspecies is not taxonomically valid or that it does not constitute a ‘distinct population segment’ as required by the ESA. Also tell them that they should not consider delisting the Mexican bobcat when no population estimates are available, their habitat has suffered a high rate of transformation and degradation and the effect of this on the subspecies is unknown, and take and trade is allowed even though there is no management program in place to ensure take is sustainable.
Write to: Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203; fax (703) 358-2276; email scientificauthority@fws.gov
Comment deadline: Wednesday, August 17, 2005
*************
ACTION ALERT, LONG VERSION:
OPPOSE DE-LISTING OF MEXICAN BOBCAT UNDER THE ESA
In response to a petition from the National Trappers Association, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a proposed rule to delist the Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae), a subspecies that is currently listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (see Federal Register, Volume 70 (96):28895-28900) (see < http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/05-10002.pdf >). Comments are due on August 17th, 2005.
Bobcats are the most heavily trapped and traded species of cat. Over 30,000 specimens, mostly skins, were exported in 2002, mostly from the U.S. and Canada. International trade in bobcats is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) where the species (Lynx rufus) is listed on Appendix II.
The proposed rule represents the latest effort by the Service to de-regulate international trade in bobcats. In 1992, the U.S. successfully lobbied CITES to transfer the Mexican bobcat from CITES Appendix I (which does not allow international commercial trade) to Appendix II, thus opening international trade in the subspecies. However, Mexican bobcat skins cannot currently enter the U.S. because ESA Endangered status protects the subspecies from U.S. markets (it is illegal to trade in Endangered species).
At the last CITES meeting in 2004 the U.S. proposed to delist bobcats (Lynx rufus) from the CITES Appendices. However, the U.S. withdrew this proposal in response to concerns raised by Mexico about the lack of information on bobcat populations in Mexico.
The ESA defines ‘species’ as “any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species.” The Service uses three arguments in support of the delisting: the subspecies is not taxonomically valid, is not a ‘distinct population segment’, and does not meet the criteria for listing under the ESA.
Points to make in your letter:
· Support the continued listing of the Mexican bobcat as an Endangered species under the ESA. Oppose the Service’s proposal to delist the species under the ESA.
· Taxonomists consider the subspecies to be valid. No evidence is presented in the proposed rule or the petition that taxonomists question the validity of the subspecies; documents cited in the proposed rule support the taxonomic validity of the subspecies.
· The Mexican bobcat constitutes a ‘distinct population segment’ because it has distinctive traits (including cranial measurements and fur color); it is the only subspecies that occurs solely in Mexico; it occupies the most southerly part of the distribution of the species and is the only subspecies to occur below 23oN latitude; and because of its unique distribution, loss of this subspecies would significantly affect the distribution of the species.
· The proposed rule provides no scientifically-based evidence that the Mexican bobcat does not meet the criteria for listing as Endangered under the ESA. The Service quotes unnamed ‘experts’ and Mexican government officials who have reportedly stated that the Mexican bobcat is abundant and widespread. However, the Mexican government convinced the U.S. to withdraw its 2004 CITES proposal to delist the bobcat because it was concerned about the lack of information on bobcat populations in Mexico. In fact, the proposed rule states that “no population estimates are available” for the subspecies. The IUCN Cat Specialist Group states that regarding Lynx rufus, “there is little information from the south of its range in Mexico” and that “the dry scrub and oak and pine forest habitats used by bobcats in Mexico have suffered the highest rates of transformation and degradation relative to other habitat types.” In addition to lack of information on the status of the wild populations of Mexican bobcat, or its habitat, there is no information on the impact of trapping, hunting and trade on the subspecies. Although the Mexican government regulates take, and exports skins, they do not have a management program in place to ensure that take is sustainable.
Write to: Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203; fax (703) 358-2276; email scientificauthority@fws.gov
Comment deadline: Wednesday, August 17, 2005
We need your support
AnimaNaturalis exists because billions of animals suffer at human hands. Because they animals need solutions. Because they deserve someone to speak up for them. Because animals need change. Because at AnimaNaturalis we want to build a fairer world for everyone.
The donations of our supporters are the main source of our funds.
