Gosar cheers removal of Sonoran desert tortoise from Endangered Species candidate list

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) released a statement this week commending the recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to remove the Sonoran desert tortoise from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) candidate list, calling it a win for common sense.

“For far too long, unnecessary and misguided species listings, not based on science, have resulted in endless new regulations that harm our economic prosperity,” Gosar said.

Gosar’s statement acknowledged the likelihood of an appeal from environmental groups, but an accompanying release highlighted the reasons why the decision stands to benefit Arizonans, one of which is that listing the tortoise would impact State Trust land revenues, which help fund K-12 education.

“Local conservation efforts continue to yield positive results for threatened species like the Sonoran desert tortoise and incentivize local property owners, ranchers and developers to work with federal and state wildlife management agencies,” Gosar said. “I applaud and congratulate the State of Arizona for the role it played in ensuring today’s outcome. Congress must continue to make progress to ensure that local conservation efforts which invest significant resources to preserve species are rewarded.”