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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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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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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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Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Refusal to Protect Wolverines
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied protection today to the rare and elusive wolverine under the Endangered Species Act, prompting a coalition of conservation groups to announce their intention to file a notice of intent to sue as soon as the final rule is published in the Federal Register.
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Newsom Executive Order Sets Biodiversity, Working Lands Protection Goals
Today, Governor Newsom signed an executive order (EO) focused on protecting California’s biodiversity and natural working lands.
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Congress Urges Interior Dept. To Abandon Reinterpretation of 100-Year-Old Law Protecting Migratory Birds
Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), today, joined with House colleagues Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Francis Rooney (R-FL), and 48 other House Members in calling
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How Climate Change Impacts Fires in the West
The U.S. is facing a deadly record-breaking fire season, with nearly 70 (down from 128 two weeks ago) wildfires burning across 12 states.
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Seismic blasting efforts halted in Atlantic Ocean
A status conference on seismic litigation revealed today the industry will not pursue efforts to employ seismic blasting to search the Atlantic Ocean for offshore petroleum deposits this year, and possibly for several years.
jcovey@defenders.org
