WASHINGTON Rep. Pete A. Tenorio says removing the nightingale reed warbler from the federal list of endangered bird species or fencing off a bird habitat could address the plight of local cattle grazers occupying public lands.
Under the law, cattle grazing on public lands designated as mitigation areas for endangered species is illegal.
In a letter to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Tenorio said his office and the Office of the Governor can work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources to help local cattle grazers.
DLNR is the local agency tasked to enforce the federal Endangered Species Act.
Tenorio said designated bird habitats within a cattle grazing region could be fenced off, “thus preventing cattle grazing within it from destroying the habitat.”
“Another approach may be to begin addressing the issue of ‘delisting’ the bird species from the federal…list of endangered species, thus permanently allowing our local grazers to continue this traditional activity,” Tenorio said.
Marianne Teregeyo, DLNR special assistant for correspondence, said the department has a pending lawsuit against one rancher for alleged illegal cattle grazing on a public land in Marpi designated as a mitigation area for endangered bird species.
Since last year, DLNR has intensified its campaign against cattle grazing at the commonwealth forest and the upland mitigation bank.
Tenorio said he will initiate discussions on this issue with the appropriate federal agencies in Washington, D.C.
“If an interim solution could be provided to our grazers while these alternatives are explored, it will provide ample time for our grazers to undertake long term planning to comply and could eventually relocate at less cost,” Tenorio said.
