Endangered lizard listing threatens oil and gas drilling in New Mexico and West Texas

Federal wildlife officials declared a rare lizard in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas an endangered species. They said future energy development, sand mining, and climate change are the biggest threats to its survival in a valuable oil and natural gas area. The lizard is called the dunes sagebrush lizard. The lizard is in danger of extinction because of these threats. Even if the oil and gas or sand mining industry doesn't expand further, the current operations will still harm the lizard. This decision comes after twenty years of disagreements between the government, conservationists, and the oil and gas industry. Environmentalists are happy about this decision because it helps protect the lizard. However, industry leaders are upset because they think it will affect their ability to produce fossil fuels. The lizard has been struggling to survive due to its habitat being threatened by human activities. The lizard is unique and has been facing extinction because it lives in an area desired by the fossil fuel industry. The decision to protect the lizard is crucial for its survival. The lizard's population has been decreasing rapidly, and this decision aims to prevent its extinction. Scientists say the lizard is only found in the Permian Basin, which is a small area. Efforts to protect the lizard have been ongoing since 2002. Despite conservation agreements in place, the risk of extinction for the lizard remains high due to human activities like road construction and industrial development. In conclusion, the decision to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard is essential to prevent its extinction. Despite efforts to conserve the species, the threats from human activities continue to endanger its survival. The conflict between conservationists and industry leaders highlights the challenges of balancing economic interests with environmental protection.