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Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Stefan Ekernas as New Vice President of Species Conservation & Coexistence
Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Stephan Ekernas as its new Vice President of Species Conservation and Coexistence, where he will oversee Defenders’ field conservation programs.
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Trump Administration Opens Door to Bear Baiting, Den Hunting in Alaska Preserves
The National Park Service finalized a regulation that abdicates the agency's responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska's national preserves, deferring instead to state regulations. Defenders of Wildlife condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
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BLM Prepares Illegal Move to Open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge to Oil & Gas, a Dangerous Precedent for Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is calling on BLM to withdrawal an unprecedented proposal to open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah to new oil and gas leasing.
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
