Why Secretary of the Interior Burgum Really Loves the Dire Wolf
No one was happier to hear the news that scientists had “resurrected” a long-extinct wolf species than the US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum.
Although the company Colossal Biosciences did not actually clone a dire wolf, which went extinct more than 10,000 years ago, Secretary Burgum was quick to leap on the idea that “de-extinction” can make the Endangered Species List obsolete.
“It’s time to fundamentally change how we think about species conservation,” Burgum wrote on X. “The only thing we’d like to see go extinct is the need for an endangered species list to exist. We need to continue improving recovery efforts to make that a reality, and the marvel of ‘de-extinction’ technology can help forge a future where populations are never at risk.”
Dream on. Burgum gets a couple of things wrong here. It’s not enough to resurrect an extinct species (even if that were possible). If we want the species to survive we’ll need to protect its habitat, an aspiration that is at odds with Burgum’s enthusiasm for extracting natural resources from pristine lands in Alaska, urging development on federal land, or reviving America’s “beautiful coal” industry.
As a former venture capitalist and governor of North Dakota, Burgun has never hidden his eagerness to develop untouched lands and his antipathy to environmental regulations. Apparently he believes that animals remain for years on the endangered list “because the status quo is focused on regulation more than innovation.”
Burgum’s approach to conservation surprised outdoor retailer REI which had endorsed the secretary’s nomination earlier this year. Last week, in a fit of buyer’s remorse, REI rescinded its endorsement (for whatever that’s worth).
“We shouldn’t have signed a letter of support for the nomination of Doug Burgum for Interior Secretary,” REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton posted on instagram. “We apologize to our members. We retract our endorsement.”
So REI is joining a coalition of like-minded businesses called Brands for Public Lands. The coalition has issued two immediate demands: transparency of the Department of the Interior and consultation with the public on decisions that affect public lands. It also wants Congress to prevent the large-scale sell-off of federal land.
Given Secretary Burgun’s track record and stated objectives, good luck with that.
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