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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Administration’s Assault on Endangered Species Act

Defenders of Wildlife today filed an amended complaint challenging the Trump administration’s escalating effort to dismantle longstanding protections for threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife

Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.

Press Releases

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CA Mountains
SACRAMENTO, CA

California Legislature Sends Landmark Wildlife Coexistence Bill to Governor

The California state legislature today passed with bipartisan support a landmark bill to re-establish the statewide Wildlife Coexistence Program within the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will better manage and reduce human-wildlife conflict through non-lethal and proactive strategies.
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Tongass Nat'l Forest
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Joins Recreation, Conservation Groups to Unite Against Forest Service Travel Rule Rollback

The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a process to significantly revise its Travel Management Rule, which guides where motorized vehicles are and are not allowed on almost 200 million acres of national forests and grasslands
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landscape photo showing dense forest environment in the foreground and a snow mountain peak into the distance
Washington, DC

BLM Proposal Puts Wildlife and Public Lands at Risk, Sends Taxpayers the Bill

Defenders of Wildlife and coalition partners oppose BLM's proposed Oil & Gas Rule that will harm wildlife, weaken bonding requirements and limit public input.
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Mule Deer
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Administration Continues Assault on National Forests, Moves to Gut Rule Managing Off-Road Vehicles

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced its intention to revise the Travel Management Rule governing motorized vehicle use on almost 200 million acres of federal lands.
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Charles J. Sharp
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Trump Administration Advances Roadless Rule Repeal at the Expense of Wildlife, Clean Water and Public Will

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released its proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement seeking to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a bedrock law that protects 45 million acres of national forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243