CCFE PROGRAMS

Endangered Species and Conservation

The success of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is well documented, and continues to be an instrumental tool in preventing the extinction of well over 1,000 threatened and endangered plant and animal species. The most famous example of the law’s success is the revival of the symbol of our American spirit, the Bald Eagle. Other recovered species include the American Peregrine Falcon, the American Alligator, and the Green Sea Turtle. Over two-thirds of listed plants and animals have seen marked improvement under the current law, further cementing the ESA’s success. During the 109th Congress, Chairman Pombo of the House Resources committee was determined to weaken the critical protections endangered species need to survive. CCFE worked with our Senate leaders and conservation partners to ensure the ESA remained intact and celebrated when voters ended Pombo’s career in Congress at the polls in November. 

Species Protection

Protecting the environment also means protecting the wildlife that live in the special habitats and natural areas of New York and Connecticut. CCFE focuses on ways to increase the survival of rare and endangered species including shorebirds and horseshoe crabs that live along Long Island's Atlantic coast.

Piping Plover Protection Project
The Piping Plover Protection Project is a continuing effort to train plover stewards and educate the public to protect and increase the population of the piping plover, an endangered shorebird. CCFE’s plover specialist staff member annually trains volunteers as “plover defenders” during the Fourth of July fireworks at Jones Beach State Park and the two-day Memorial Day Air Show at Jones Beach. In 2006, CCFE recruited 45 plover defenders for the fireworks and 20 plover stewards for the air show.  CCFE also runs an active program of habitat protection and monitoring during the plover-nesting season, from March to September. 

Additionally, CCFE continues to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to survey and track the establishment of plover pairs and their hatching success. 

Horseshoe Crab Protection
CCFE worked with key state policy-makers to provide important information on the decline of Horseshoe Crabs and dependent migratory shorebirds. In January 2007, as a result of CCFE work, , the State of Connecticut decided to continue its leadership role in conservation issues by creating three horseshoe crab refuges in key ecologically significant areas. Connecticut plays a critical role in helping to ensure the future of the horseshoe crabs and the migratory birds that rely on crab eggs. For this reason, Connecticut also delayed the horseshoe crab season to avoid the peak migration time for birds that travel through Connecticut. 

In New York, CCFE educated administration officials about the importance of limiting the taking of horseshoe crabs to 150,000 per year. This step, which the state administration took, was an important first step for New York State to provide adequate protection to ensure that the population is sustainable.