Trump Government Forgoes Federal Restoration Plan for Grizzly Bears in North Cascades
The Trump administration has abruptly ended the public process for reintroducing grizzly bears into Washington state's North Cascades, effectively halting the effort. This decision, made without a formal announcement, has left the project in limbo despite prior progress and significant public involvement.
Robb Krehbiel, former Northwest Representative for Defenders of Wildlife, expressed his disappointment with the move, stating that the administration has broken its promise to reintroduce North Cascades grizzly bears. Krehbiel emphasized that the data is clear: these bears belong in the North Cascades Ecosystem.
The North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone, anchored by North Cascades National Park, was designated by federal scientists in 1997. Biologists estimate that there are fewer than 10 grizzly bears remaining in the North Cascades today, making it the most at-risk bear population in North America. Successful restoration of North Cascades grizzly bears would be a historic victory, indicating restoration of all wildlife populations that were present in the region prior to the turn of the 19th century.
The main threat to grizzly bears in this recovery zone is a small population size and isolation from other grizzly populations. More than 80% of Washington voters support bringing grizzlies back to the North Cascades, according to a 2016 poll. Over 133,000 comments in support of grizzly reintroduction were generated during the extended comment period.
Initially, there was some support within the administration for the project. Former Interior Secretary Zinke, one of President Trump's appointees, had committed to return grizzlies to the North Cascades. However, his successor at the Interior Department discontinued support and stopped the process during its public engagement phase.
This action fits into a broader pattern in the Trump administration of undermining endangered species protections and conservation efforts. The administration often prioritizes economic or corporate interests above environmental conservation, as seen in other cases where ESA protections were rolled back or not defended in court.
The North Cascades is the only grizzly bear recovery area on the West Coast of the contiguous United States. Defenders of Wildlife, a leading advocate for wildlife protection, continues to fight for the restoration of the North Cascades landscape and for grizzly bears to return to their historic range. The decision denies grizzlies access to their historic range in the North Cascades Ecosystem.
This decision was announced by U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt without further explanation or public transparency. The public comment period for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was reopened in June 2019, extending the deadline until October 2019. However, the administration has now terminated the process, leaving the future of grizzly bears in the North Cascades uncertain.
[1] Source: National Geographic, "Trump Administration Quietly Kills Grizzly Bear Reintroduction Plan," 18 October 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2019/10/trump-administration-quietly-kills-grizzly-bear-reintroduction-plan/
[3] Source: Defenders of Wildlife, "Trump Administration Quietly Ends Grizzly Bear Reintroduction Process in North Cascades," 18 October 2019, https://defenders.org/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-quietly-ends-grizzly-bear-reintroduction-process-north
- The decision to halt the grizzly bear reintroduction process in Washington state's North Cascades, made by the Trump administration, is a significant setback for environmental science and climate change policy, as the restoration of North Cascades grizzly bears would contribute to biodiversity and ecological balance.
- The controversial move by the Trump administration to discontinue the grizzly bear reintroduction project in the North Cascades is not only in conflict with the general news of 80% of Washington voters supporting the project but also goes against the Trump administration's earlier promises, as evidenced by the commitment from former Interior Secretary Zinke.
- As the administration has terminated the process for grizzly bear reintroduction in the North Cascades Ecosystem, it is imperative for policy-and-legislation and politics to address this issue, considering the historical significance of the effort and the potential impact on wildlife populations, as well as public opinion and environmental science.
