A scientific report commissioned by the Bush Administration shows the marbled murrelet, a robin-sized seabird that nests only in old-growth forests, is in greater danger of extinction than previously known. However, after concealing the report, a top administration official has postponed related action, apparently giving the timber industry more time to attack the its findings and the scientists who wrote it.

Among the report's most disturbing conclusions is that, under existing protections, the marbled murrelet faces a 100% probability of extinction in California within the next forty years. Environmental advocates say the finding raises serious questions about the adequacy of current protections for the species, including the controversial Habitat Conservation Plan, which gave the Pacific Lumber Corp. (PL) federal permits to kill marbled murrelets by destroying its habitat.

"This report justifies some of our deepest fears about the impacts of old-growth logging on the marbled murrelet," Cynthia Elkins, program director of the Garberville-based Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), said. "The science clearly shows the murrelet needs more protection, not less, yet the Bush Administration is trying to open up its rare habitat to even more logging."

EPIC has brought a series of lawsuits to protect the marbled murrelet and its ancient-forest habitat, particularly over the logging practices of PL. A deal to protect part of the Headwaters Forest gave Maxxam Corp., the Houston-based owners of PL, $600 million in public funds and a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Under its HCP, Maxxam/PL received a "take" permit to log approximately 10,000 acres of marbled murrelet habitat and kill up to 340 of the birds.

The marbled murrelet was listed as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 1992. Last year, the Bush Administration agreed to review the murrelet's status, settling a lawsuit brought by timber interests who sought to remove existing protections for the murrelet and its habitat. But the report, completed in March, was withheld from the public until the Oregonian newspaper pushed for its release and obtained a copy on May 4, 2004.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) was scheduled to report to the federal court overseeing the case by April 30 on whether they would recommend lifting protections for the murrelet. Instead, Craig Manson, assistant secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, has held up the listing recommendation, and the FWS asked the court for a 60-day extension.

The report notes that the murrelet's future could be "severely compromised" by changes to the Northwest Forest Plan, changes which are being aggressively pursued by the Bush Administration in order to boost logging. More than 5 million acres of four national forests in northwestern California are governed by the plan.

"The marbled murrelet is a special creature that brings the spirit of the ocean and ancient forests together. This report delivers sobering news, but we're determined to see that its predictions are averted, and that the marbled murrelet continues to grace our skies and shores," Cynthia Elkins said.