Do you feel that scientists should be cut out of the policy making process, particularly on environmental issues, when their research is proven and widely accepted and is being ignored and disputed?

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1-2 Page APA. Use these references along with resources from your own research to help answer the questions that follow.

Lamb, G. (2005, September 27). Science and politics: a dangerous mix. Christian Science Monitor, 97(213), 11-13. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from Academic Search Premier database.
Link to article
Pielke Jr., R. (2006, Spring2006). When Scientists Politicize Science. Regulation, 29(1), 28-34. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from Business Source Complete database.
Link to article

Questions

Do you feel that scientists should be cut out of the policy making process, particularly on environmental issues, when their research is proven and widely accepted and is being ignored and disputed? Politicians ultimately make the decisions, but shouldn’t the scientists have a voice?

Do you feel that lobbyists and special interest groups exert too great of an influence and act as an impediment to finding solutions to, and providing the funding for, research for the environmental problems we face?

Environmental Policies

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Environmental Policies
The National Park Service manages all the national parks in the U.S. The agency also is tasked with the management of the monument. According to the environmental policy, the main purpose of this body is to offer recreational activities for citizens and at the same time preserving the ecosystems (Dale, 2015). The BLM and the Forest Service, on the other hand, plays the role of extraction of resources like timbers. The U.S Forest service agency operates within the U.S Department of Agriculture administering the national grasslands and forests. The Bureau of Land Management operates under the United States Department of the Interior tasked with the distribution of public land. Unlike the forest service which has land all over the country, BLM land is only located in the western half of the country.
Wild Horse and Burro Act are one of the agencies formed under federal land management to preserve the native plants. The act formed in 1971 had direct effects on the Bureau of land management since it limited the techniques of BLM eliminating wild horses or rather animals that could sustain oneself on the BLM lands but instead require their protection (Loomis, 2002). Initially, the BLM was of the idea that those animals be killed, but it had to change their direction and adopted a Horse program. The program used a more humane approach and responded to the growing population of the non-native species and the adverse effects they had on the native plants as well as the wildlife populations on BLM lands. The sole function of this agency was to protect the endangered species and ensure their continuity. The endangered species Act’s roles revolve around conserving the threatened and endangered plants and the habitat they are found. The act has influenced the operations of the Wild Horse and Burro Act through funding it as well as foreseeing its operations so that it remains true to its mission of ensuring the continuation of the existence of species.

References
Dale, L. (2015). Environmental Policy (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Loomis, J. B. (2002). Integrated public lands management: principles and applications to national forests, parks, wildlife refuges, and BLM lands. Columbia University Press.
Schwartz, E. R. (1977). Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 as amended.

Two significant impacts of biodiversity

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Two significant impacts of biodiversity are extinction and resource extraction. Extinction has become a threat to biodiversity with the growth of the population. The textbook states, “population worth and expansion leads to an exploration of previously untouched ecosystems declining biodiversity.” (Dale, 2015, p. 9.2) An example of this growth can be reflected in the extinction of the coral reefs, as it stands “10% of the worlds coral reefs destroyed, and 30% are in danger.” (Dale, 2015, p. 9.2)With the rapid growth in population size, we have pushed Earth to the limit, and its reflected in the declining coral reef ecosystem. The second significant impact of biodiversity is resource extraction. Drilling for oil, mining for coal and logging have dramatically impacted the shape of the earth as well as the climate make-up. This resource extraction or, “poorly managed exploitation of natural resources” (Dale, 2015, p. 9.2) has been happening for years; it is only now that we are indeed starting to understand the long-term consequences to our actions. Logging and drilling for oil have a destabilizing effect on the ecosystem making it less capable of absorbing waste and carbon.

The threat of extinction and resource extraction can be mitigated with help from local state and government officials. Some state and local officials have set up “departments are dedicated to the manage education, outreach, hunting, and fishing programs.” (Dale, 2015)  Because hunting is prevalent, cities are using the money from hunting permits and licenses to sustain the big fish and game populations. This management between local and state governments ensures the population of animals stay at a constant level and are not endangered or becoming endangered but do not become overpopulated which causes its own set of ecosystem concerns.

References

Dale, L. (2015). Environmental Policies (second ed.). Bridgepoint Education LLC,.

How does illegal immigration both hurt and help state economies?

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This week’s environmental controversy focuses on the question: should Immigration into the US be reduced? Review the background information. Then, using the References along with resources from your own research, write a 1-2 page response to the questions that follow. Remember to cite your sources using proper APA format.

Background Information

Legal and illegal immigration into the United States is discussed in your textbook. Advocates of liberal immigration argue that both legal and illegal immigrants are needed to perform difficult and low paying jobs that most citizens won’t take. Advocates also sympathize with immigrants because many of them are fleeing poverty and tyranny in their homelands. Immigrants pay taxes, help to support the US social security system, and contribute to American society.

Opponents of immigration include individuals that want to ban or significantly reduce all immigration, and those that simply want more stringent efforts to end illegal immigration. Opponents argue that current immigration policies and border patrol methods are too lenient and allow terrorists to infiltrate into the US.

ReferencesReferences

Two short articles identified below have very different views on the impacts of illegal immigration on state economies. Use these references along with resources from your own research to help answer the questions that follow.

PR, N. (2014, June 19). Illegal Immigration Costs California Taxpayers More Than $25 Billion a Year, Finds FAIR. PR Newswire US.
Link to article
Hoyt, J. (2004, May 10). Why business should speak out on immigrant workers. Crain’s Chicago Business, 27(19), 11-11. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from Regional Business News database.
Link to article

Questions

How do the views presented in the articles differ? How does illegal immigration both hurt and help state economies? Do you feel that the author’s of these two articles are ignoring each others side, or is it possible that the Illinois economy is simply better equipped to absorb illegal immigration? Before answering this final question make sure to consider the affiliations of the authors.