- Federal wildlife officials have listed the dune sidekick as an endangered species due to threats from energy development.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the lizard is “threatened throughout its range” and “functionally extinct” in 47% of its range.
- The decision ends a 20-year legal battle between the U.S. government, conservationists, and the oil and gas industry.
Federal wildlife officials on Friday listed the rare lizard that lives in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas as an endangered species, threatening the species’ survival in one of the world’s most lucrative oil and gas reserves. The threats cited include future energy development, sand mining, and climate change.
“The dune sagebrush lizard has been determined to be endangered throughout its range,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement. They concluded that the lizard is now “functionally extinct” in 47% of its range.
Biologists say much of the 2.5-inch-long, spiny, light brown lizard’s remaining habitat has been fragmented, making it unable to find mates other than those already living nearby. .
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“Even without further expansion of the oil and gas industry and sand mining, the existing footprint of these operations will continue to negatively impact dune sagebrush lizards into the future,” the agency said. This was stated in the final decision published in the journal. register.
This May 1, 2015 photo shows a sand dunes sagebrush lizard in New Mexico. Federal wildlife officials have listed the rare lizard as an endangered species, saying future energy development, sand mining and climate change are the biggest threats to its survival in one of the world’s most lucrative oil and gas reserves. He said there is. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, via AP, File)
The decision ends two decades of legal and regulatory skirmishes between the U.S. government, conservationists, and the oil and gas industry. Environmentalists welcomed the move, but industry leaders denounced it as a threat to future fossil fuel production.
The decision is a “lifeline to survival” for this unique species, whose “only drawback is that it is occupying the habitat that the fossil fuel industry wanted out of.” said Brian Bird, wildlife conservation group’s southwest director.
“For too long, the dune dragonfly lizard has languished in a Pandora’s box of political and administrative back and forth, even as its population is in a free fall toward extinction,” Bird said. said in a statement.
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The Permian Basin Petroleum Association and the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association said the decision goes against available science and undermines years of state-led conservation efforts covering hundreds of thousands of acres and millions of dollars in commitments in both states. He said he was being ignored and expressed his disappointment.
PBPA Chairman Ben Shepard and NMOGA President and CEO Missy Currier said in a joint statement that “listing of this species does not provide any additional benefit to the species or its habitat, but… “This could be harmful to people living and working in the area,” they said, adding their views. That is federal overreach that could harm communities.
Scientists say this lizard is found only in the Permian Basin, making it the second smallest range of any North American lizard. The reptile lives in sand dunes and shining oak forests, where it eats insects and spiders and burrows into the sand to protect itself from extreme temperatures.
Environmentalists first petitioned for protection for the species in 2002, and federal authorities recognized it in 2010. This sparked a backlash from some members of Congress and communities that rely on oil and gas development for jobs and tax revenue.
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In 2012, federal officials decided not to list the dune sagebrush lizard after several Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Obama administration officials requesting a delay in making a final decision.
Then-U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the decision was based on “the best available science” and because of voluntary conservation agreements in place in New Mexico and Texas.
The Fish and Wildlife Service said in Friday’s decision that such agreements “provide and continue to provide numerous conservation benefits” to the lizards, but added, “Based on the information considered in the assessment, “We conclude that the risk is low.” Despite these efforts, sagebrush lizards in the dunes remain abundant. ”
In particular, road networks continue to restrict movement and promote direct mortality of dune sidekick dragons from traffic, while industrial development “continues to impact surrounding habitat and weaken the structure of dune strata. “The report added. ”
