National Wildlife Federation blames RFS for destroying wildlife habitat

December 19, 2016 |

In Washington, the National Wildlife Federation says the Renewable Fuel Standard has resulted in a major transformation on the landscape. Farmers, hoping to take advantage of rising prices for corn and other commodity crops, converted more than 7 million acres of native prairie, rangeland, wetlands, and forests into cropland – a devastating loss of important wildlife habitat and critical ecosystem functions like water filtering across the country. This destruction occurred despite language in the law meant to prohibit this type of land conversion, thanks in large part to the government’s refusal to enforce the provision.

Its new report Fueling Destruction compiles the mounting research it says brings to light the unintended consequences of requiring the use of corn-based fuels, and calls on Congress to change the law to protect wildlife populations, safeguard clean water, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Category: Policy

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