{"id":19357,"date":"2023-03-06T18:10:14","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T18:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=19357"},"modified":"2023-03-06T18:10:14","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T18:10:14","slug":"esa-policy-news-march-6-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2023\/03\/06\/esa-policy-news-march-6-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"ESA Policy News: March 6, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this issue:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Comment Period for the National Nature Assessment Closes March 31, 2023<\/a><\/strong>
\nWhite House Office of Science and Technology Policy leaders appeal for input from ecologists in a Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment editorial.<\/p>\n

Call for Nominations for 2023 ESA Regional Policy Award<\/a><\/strong>
\nESA seeks nominations for its annual Regional Policy Award to recognize a local or regional policymaker who has integrated environmental science and policy in initiatives that foster more sustainable communities.<\/p>\n

Congress<\/a>
\n<\/strong>House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee votes to nullify Clean Water Act rule using the Congressional Review Act.<\/p>\n

Executive Branch<\/strong><\/a>
\nUSFWS proposes listing two populations of California spotted owl under the Endangered Species Act.<\/p>\n

States<\/strong><\/a>
\nWashington state holds carbon allowance auction.<\/p>\n

International<\/strong><\/a>
\nUnited Nations report cautions against solar radiation management and calls for international regulations for the use of this technology.<\/p>\n

Scientific Community<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Polar researchers criticize the National Science Foundation\u2019s physical qualification program.<\/p>\n

Federal Register<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Comment Period for the National Nature Assessment Closes March 31, 2023<\/h2>\n

In April 2022, the Biden administration announced the launch of the first-ever U.S. National Nature Assessment (NNA). Led by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, this report will assess the state of the U.S.\u2019s lands, waters and wildlife and the specific benefits that they provide. The assessment will also allow the country to look ahead at how nature might change in the future and identify opportunities for investments in nature to help achieve climate, health, environmental justice and economic goals.<\/p>\n

In October 2023, the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy (OSTP) issued a Request for Information (RFI), entitled Framing the National Nature Assessment, to inform the development of the NNA. The comment period ends March 31, 2023.<\/p>\n

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for ecologists to provide input to the US government on how nature, biodiversity and ecosystems will be measured to provide the information needed to manage ecosystems and biodiversity within the United States.<\/p>\n

In an editorial<\/a> in ESA journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Heather Tallis, Allison Crimmins and Jane Lubchenco write: \u201cWe invite you to help shape it and ensure strong, diverse, relevant content. You can start by telling us: What questions should the NNA answer? What needs should it fill? How can we ensure strong collaboration with users and incorporate diverse ways of knowing nature? What form should the final product(s) take to be most accessible and useful to you, your community, and the government?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tallis is the acting director of the National Nature Assessment and the assistant director for biodiversity and conservation sciences in the White House OSTP. Crimmins is the director of the National Climate Assessment and Lubchenco is the OSTP deputy director for climate and the environment.<\/p>\n

OSTP requests a limit of 3500 words and\/or seven pages for each RFI submission. Submit a comment here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Call for Nominations for 2023 ESA Regional Policy Award<\/h2>\n

Do you know someone who has made positive efforts toward environmental sustainability in Portland, Oregon?\u00a0 ESA seeks nominations for its annual Regional Policy Award to recognize a local or regional policymaker who has integrated environmental science and policy in initiatives that foster more sustainable communities.<\/p>\n

ESA has honored past award recipients for policy work that included:<\/p>\n