Lawsuit Challenges Failure to Protect Olympic Marmots – Center for Biological Diversity

Report on the Conservation Status of the Olympic Marmot and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

A lawsuit has been initiated against the U.S. federal government concerning its failure to decide on Endangered Species Act protections for the Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus). This species, endemic to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, faces significant threats from climate change and ecosystem imbalance. The effort to protect the marmot directly aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

2.0 Threats to Species Survival and Link to SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The survival of the Olympic marmot is under threat from multiple factors, highlighting the urgent need for action under SDG 15, which calls for halting biodiversity loss and protecting threatened species (Target 15.5). The current estimated population is between 2,000 and 4,000 individuals, making it the rarest marmot species in the United States.

• Habitat Degradation: The alpine and subalpine meadow ecosystems required by the marmots are being altered, contravening the goals of conserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems (Target 15.1).
• Ecosystem Imbalance: The historical eradication of wolves has led to an expansion of coyote populations into higher elevations, resulting in increased predation on marmots. This imbalance disrupts the natural ecosystem integrity that SDG 15 aims to protect.
• Biodiversity Loss: The potential extinction of this endemic mammal represents a direct loss of biodiversity, a critical concern addressed by SDG 15.

3.0 The Role of Climate Change in Accordance with SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Climate change is a primary driver of the threats facing the Olympic marmot, underscoring the interconnectedness of biodiversity and climate as outlined in SDG 13. The petition for protection emphasizes the need to address climate-related hazards.

• Warming Temperatures: Rising temperatures are causing tree lines to move uphill, shrinking the marmots’ meadow habitat.
• Loss of Snowpack: Reduced snow cover exposes marmots to predators for longer periods and alters their hibernation cycles.
• Increased Wildfire Seasons: Prolonged and more intense wildfire seasons further degrade the fragile alpine environment.

The call to transition away from fossil fuels is presented as a necessary long-term solution, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 13 to combat climate change and its impacts.

4.0 Proposed Interventions and Institutional Accountability (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

The legal and ecological actions proposed to protect the marmot reflect the principles of strong institutions and partnerships for the goals.

1. Legal Action for Institutional Response: The lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity aims to hold a government agency accountable for its legal mandate under the Endangered Species Act. This action promotes the rule of law and responsive institutions, a key target of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
2. Formal Protection and Recovery Plan: Securing protection under the Act would enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a comprehensive recovery plan, creating a robust framework for achieving the conservation targets of SDG 15.
3. Ecosystem Restoration: The proposal to reintroduce wolves to Olympic National Park is a measure aimed at restoring ecological balance, a core principle of SDG 15. This would naturally manage coyote populations and reduce predation pressure on the marmots.
4. Partnerships for Conservation: The collaborative effort between the Center for Biological Diversity and Olympic Park Advocates exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), demonstrating how non-governmental organizations can work together to drive action on environmental protection.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on a threatened species and its habitat, the role of climate change, and the legal action taken to enforce environmental laws touch upon the following SDGs:

• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire piece revolves around the protection of a specific terrestrial species, the Olympic marmot, and its alpine meadow ecosystem from threats like habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly identifies climate change as a major threat to the marmots. It mentions “warming temperatures, loss of snow, increased and prolonged wildfire seasons” and calls for moving “away from dirty fossil fuels,” directly linking the species’ survival to urgent climate action.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article’s core narrative is about a lawsuit filed against a government administration for failing to act on a petition. This invokes the principles of environmental law, access to justice, and holding institutions accountable for their legal responsibilities, which are central to SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues discussed, several targets under the identified SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The lawsuit to protect the Olympic marmot, a species with a population of only 2,000 to 4,000, is a direct effort to prevent the extinction of a threatened species and protect its degrading alpine meadow habitat.
  • Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species…” While not about poaching, the call to reintroduce wolves to control coyote predation addresses an unnatural threat to the marmots caused by previous human intervention (wolf eradication), aligning with the target’s goal of protecting species from harm.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The statement, “We have to move quickly away from dirty fossil fuels if this species… is to have any chance at survival,” is a clear call to integrate climate change mitigation policies at a national level to protect biodiversity.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The Center for Biological Diversity is using the legal system (“sued the Trump administration”) to enforce the Endangered Species Act, demonstrating the use of the rule of law to achieve environmental protection and hold the government accountable.
  • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The lawsuit stems from the “federal government’s failure to make an initial determination on the Center’s petition,” highlighting a breakdown in responsive decision-making, which the legal action seeks to rectify.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to track progress:

• Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

  • Population of the species: The article provides a direct quantitative indicator of the marmots’ status: “Just 2,000 to 4,000 of the marmots are thought to be alive today.” Monitoring this number would directly measure progress towards preventing their extinction (Target 15.5).
  • Official conservation status: The entire goal of the lawsuit is to get the Olympic marmots protected under the Endangered Species Act. A change in their official conservation status would be a key indicator of progress (Target 15.5).
  • Ecosystem health: The article describes the degradation of “alpine and subalpine meadow ecosystems” due to “tree lines moving uphill.” The condition and extent of this habitat serve as an implied indicator of progress in reducing habitat degradation (Target 15.5).

• Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

  • National fossil fuel policies: The call to “move quickly away from dirty fossil fuels” implies that national policies on fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are a relevant, though not explicitly quantified, indicator for measuring the integration of climate action (Target 13.2).

• Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

  • Government response to legal petitions: The “failure to make an initial determination on the Center’s petition” is a clear, negative indicator of institutional responsiveness. The timeline and outcome of the government’s decision following the lawsuit would be a direct measure of progress towards responsive decision-making (Target 16.7).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: biologicaldiversity.org