Judge Blocks LA Development That would Have Threatened Wildlife

​worldanimalnews.com/breaking-wan-talks-to-conservation-nonprofit-after-judge-blocks-los-angeles-development-that-would-have-threatened-local-mountain-lions/

An LA Judge denied a proposed 1, 300 acre Northlake development, stating that there weren't less environmentally harmful proposals considered through reviews. The development would have seen 3.5 miles of Grasshopper Creek levelled, a pristine stream that flows into California's last free-flowing river. The proposal would have put local wildlife like Western Spadefoot Toads and Mountain Lions in further danger of extinction, among other perils contributed by this development. 

The original proposal was drafted in 1992 and according to Dan Silver, Executive Director of the Endangered Habitats League, was poorly planned at the time. Against today's environmental concerns and the fact that we are in the throws of an extinction crisis, the proposal was especially negligent to the perils of wildlife in California. 

“When a water system is removed, it pulls the plug on the whole ecosystem,” 

Dan Silver, Executive Director of the Endangered Habitats League

Much like the proposed arctic oil drilling project that was denied, these organizations rarely investigate properly the environmental impact of their said developments, overlooking the inevitable damage and irreparable impacts of these developments on local wildlife. In this case, the development would have demolished a creek in a fire-prone area as well as block off a wildlife crossing heavily used by mountain lions. These crossings are designed to keep wildlife safe from traffic collisions and blocking it off would undoubtedly lead to further mountain lions being involved in collisions.

These proposed developments cater to humans and our salacious need to continue to grow in search of resources. This continued desire to expand is what is contributing to the habitat loss of some of our planet's most beloved species. In fact, habitat loss is one of the leading contributing factors in almost every case of animal endangerment. It's impossible to overlook the impact our development in these untouched lands would have on wildlife, unless of course you're the one trying to build these projects.

Every single species is crucial to another species' survival in an ecosystem. Every animal, plant, and insect, contributes to the healthy balance of an ecosystem. When we start manipulating these ecosystems through development, we set in motion a downward spiral of events that lead to perils for local wildlife. Without mountain lions, prey animals become abundant which leads to excessive plant and fauna consumption, disrupting the natural balance. An ecosystem is designed to cater to all species and when that balance is disrupted, the inevitable outcome is that species suffer to the point of extinction.

I'm grateful that this proposal was denied. I'm grateful that the judge was able to recognize the serious environmental impacts of this development. Sadly, this is not always the case. We must continue to speak out against developments that put our planet's species at risk of extinction. We must call out the greed of these organizations who would destroy a habitat for human gain. We are in the midst of an extinction crisis and all roads lead back to us. Every decision we make regarding this planet is contributing to the decline of our planet's health. We need everyone on board with the importance of conservation and protecting lands where endangered animals are trying to survive. 

HAPPY VEG