Defenders Responds to Redefinition of Harm Under ESA

Andrew Bowman, Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO, today released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s notice that it intends to rescind the regulatory definition of “Harm” under the Endangered Species Act:

“Despite the fact that the Endangered Species Act is America’s single greatest tool to prevent species extinction, has a 99% success rate and is supported across party lines and the country by 95% of the electorate, the Trump administration is hellbent on destroying it to further line the pockets of industry. The vast majority of imperiled wildlife listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA are there because of loss of habitat. This latest salvo to redefine “harm” to eliminate protection for wildlife from habitat destruction, if successful, will further imperil threatened and endangered species. We will fight this action and continue to protect the wildlife and wild places we hold dear as a nation.”