Defenders of Wildlife and eight partner environmental organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s agreement to trade away congressionally designated wilderness wetlands in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to authorize construction of a destructive and unnecessary road through the heart of this vital preserve. The deal with King Cove Corporation was negotiated behind closed doors and signed by Secretary Zinke amidst the government shutdown.
Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:
“The Trump administration’s illegal backroom deal to force a road through Izembek is unconscionable. President Trump and his administration plan to rip irreplaceable federal wildlands from public ownership to satisfy commercial interests. We will not wait for the bulldozers to destroy Izembek’s wilderness wetlands and threaten the species that depend on them for survival. Our lawsuit seeks to stop this boondoggle and uphold protections for Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.”
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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