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Defenders-Sponsored Bill to Help Fund Sea Otter Conservation Heads to Governor for Signature
The California state legislature today voted to re-establish the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, providing residents with the opportunity to directly support this iconic animal.
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Bipartisan Bill Promotes Nonlethal Solutions to Decrease Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Defenders of Wildlife commends the leadership of Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Steven Daines (R-MT) for introducing S.5234, the Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act, which would promote the use of nonlethal solutions to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, including those between predators and livestock and harm caused by wildlife to human infrastructure.
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Defenders Celebrates Vote to Add Okefenokee Refuge to UNESCO World Heritage List
The United Nations World Heritage Committee voted to add the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to its World Heritage List.
Press Releases
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U.S. Shortfin Mako Proposal at ICCAT Falls Short
Member countries acknowledge the dire situation the species is facing, but the process towards any consensus has been slow, even as time is running out. A similar meeting last year stalled after the countries couldn’t come to terms.
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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles Face Greater Threats From National Parks Funding Cuts in Texas
Despite public opinion and science, the Biden administration continues to implement harmful Trump-era cuts to the Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Program (STSR) at Texas’ Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS), leaving endangered sea turtles even more vulnerable.
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House Passes Pro-Wildlife Infrastructure Bill
After months of negotiations, today, the U.S House of Representatives passed its bi-partisan infrastructure bill, INVEST in America Act, H.R.3684, that includes several pro-wildlife provisions, most notably investments to establish a national wildlife corridor protection program.
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Interior Appropriations Includes Wins, Losses for Biodiversity
The House Committee on Appropriations will consider spending for Interior and Environment for fiscal year 2022 this morning. The spending bill includes both wins and losses for biodiversity. In the face of losing 1 million species to extinction, Defenders continues to advocate for increased levels of funding to support threatened and endangered species, and we are particularly disappointed in the low levels of funding for the main U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program responsible implementation of the Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, the bill also includes some important wins for wildlife.
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Groups urge inclusion of Legacy Roads and Trails Program in Infrastructure Package
As Congress considers infrastructure packages to Build Back Better, conservationists urge legislators to include authorization and funding for the Legacy Roads and Trails program that will address the crumbling road infrastructure on national forest lands and ensure that the road network can sustain an increase in the recreating public as well as the effects of a changing climate. Groups are pleased to see authorization and funding of the program included in infrastructure proposals.
jcovey@defenders.org
