Re: Are we taking conservation too far?
I believe in conservaion and support numerous groups. I'm glad that this bird was discoverd again. It's good to know that it has some habitat left.
But I'm also a realist. You gotta analize the marginal costs and benifits for the situation. Lets take the spotted owl for starters. Logging company rolls in and foresters confirm that this area needs to be harvested or nature will do it for us. Benefits would be more wood for houseing, new growth for animals that have a firm footing in area. Well a group of concerned individuals discovers that it's the habitat for a Spotted Owl. The costs of harvesting the timber would be the further distruction of a species. But then again the species was already failing in competioin with the Great Horned Owl and other birds of prey. In my economic oppinion, Its worth it to get the timber. On my softer side I'd like to see the owl live and flourish. But then again, a Fire, or a windstorm will come along, and destroy the habitat. So basicaly harvesting the timber would have the same effect that mother nature would have on it. This Woodpecker I'm not shure of though. But I'm shure Habitat destruction is a reason to blame. But The Benefits to useing that marsh for development at the time must have seemed like the best option. Most likeley it was an already rare species that was failing due to competion with a stronger species.
I say leve the marsh untouched untill we have no option to develop it and use its resources. I'd love to see one but I probily never will. We should continue to protect it and if theres enough possibly try to relocate the bird. But that idea it sounds like is farfetched.