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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.
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Court Rules Habitat Must Be Protected After FWS Attempts to Waive Protections for Less Than 40 Sierra Nevada Red Fox
Defenders of Wildlife earned a significant victory for the Endangered Species Act today when a federal district court found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to not designate critical habitat for the endangered Sierra Nevada red fox was a violation of the law.
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Construction on Gateway to Road through Izembek Continues
The Ninth Circuit today denied Defenders of Wildlife’s emergency motion to halt construction on King Cove Corp.’s 2.8-mile road segment leading to the doorstep of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. Defenders’ request for immediate injunctive relief marks the latest stage in its larger effort to block a damaging and precedent-setting road from King Cove to Cold Bay, Alaska, that would plow through the heart of Izembek.
Press Releases
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Statement on Biden Administration's Announcement to Improve, Strengthen the ESA
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries have proposed regulatory revisions to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
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Groups File Suit Against Interior Department to Prevent Destructive Highway Through Protected National Conservation Area
In response to the Trump administration’s decision in January 2021 to permit the construction of a four-lane highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, today
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Statement from Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Leasing Suspension
Statement from Defenders of Wildlife on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease sale suspension.
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Biden administration defends Trump-era approval of massive Willow project
Today the Biden administration confirmed by submitting legal briefs that it will undermine its own climate goals and allow harm to local Indigenous communities by continuing to defend the flawed Trump era approval of the massive Willow oil project in court.
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Federal Protections Proposed for Lesser Prairie-chicken May Be Insufficient
The Interior Department announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will propose the southern population of lesser prairie-chickens for listing as endangered
jcovey@defenders.org
