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swimming manta rays
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.
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greater sage grouse
Washington, D.C.

Final Rescission of Public Lands Rule Reverses Modern Land Management, Threatens Wildlife Habitat

The Bureau of Land Management today announced a decision to roll back the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly referred to as the Public Lands Rule. The policy modernized how BLM manages our national public lands and represented the critical incorporation of ecological resilience into management alongside traditional resource extraction.

Press Releases

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elk landscape
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Decries Supreme Court Decision Dismantling National Environmental Policy Act

The Supreme Court today ruled that federal agencies may ignore foreseeable environmental impacts when approving projects, opening the door to additional pollution, degradation of federal
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US Capitol Building Washington DC
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Strongly Condemns House Budget Reconciliation Bill as Disastrous for Wildlife, Imperiled Species

Defenders of Wildlife today strongly condemns the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House as disastrous for American wildlife and imperiled species.
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Bison Cow with new Calf in Yellowstone National Park
Golden, CO

Bison Receive Dual Listing, Bolstering Protections

Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill today designating bison in Colorado as wildlife in addition to livestock, opening the species up to management by Colorado
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sea lion, alaska
Washington, D.C.

House Subcommittee Considers Bills to Reverse Course on Offshore Protections

The House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is taking up legislation today that would prioritize oil and gas production over
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Endangered Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus), Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
Washington, D.C.

Over 150,000 Americans Oppose Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Effort to Eliminate Habitat Protections for Vulnerable Wildlife

Over 150,000 Americans have opposed a proposed rulemaking by the Trump administration to eliminate major habitat protections for endangered species in the U.S. after it was unveiled in April — and as the period for public input concludes today.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268