U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday the dunes sagebrush lizard in west Texas and southeast New Mexico has been declared an endangered species. Federal officials cited future energy development, sand mining and climate change as biggest threats to survival of the dunes sagebrush lizard. “We have determined that the dunes sagebrush lizard is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range,” officials said. The lizard is “functionally extinct” across 47 percent of its range. “Even if there were no further expansion of the oil and gas or sand mining industries,” they added, “the existing footprint of these operations will continue to negatively affect the dunes sagebrush lizard into the future.”
Associated Press said Permian Basin Petroleum Association and New Mexico Oil and Gas Association expressed disappointment with the decision. “This listing will bring no additional benefit for the species and its habitat yet could be detrimental to those living and working in the region,” Ben Shepperd of PBPA and Missi Currier of NMOGA said in a joint statement.
Environmentalists first petitioned for the species’ protection in 2002.