A POLITICAL, moral and biological debate
has been raging in the US about
the fate of the endangered flower-loving fly found in the dunes of Delhi
sands in Colton, California. Saving the
fly would effectively mean halting
progress, loss of money and jobs. The
fast shrinking habitat of the fly is slated
to become an industrial enterprise and
is already surrounded by a cement
quarry, a petroleum tank farm and a
sewage plant.
Pro-development groups in Congress have been lobbying hard to get
the Endangered Species Act diluted.
But conservationists like Michael Bean,
head of the wildlife programme for
the Environmental Defense Fund in
Washington, feel that "those who want
to weaken the act have long looked for
a situation to pit a species with little
popular appeal against some worthy
project".
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.