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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.
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Running brown bear, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Judge Vacates Land Exchange, Halts Road Through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

A federal judge today vacated an illegal closed-door deal between the U.S. Department of the Interior and a for-profit Alaska Native corporation, King Cove Corp., that exchanged a 10.5-mile corridor of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness lands to enable a road connecting King Cove and Cold Bay.
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Ashley National Forest
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Strongly Opposes USDA Proposal to Dismantle Long-Standing Protections for National Forests

The United States Department of Agriculture today announced that the U.S. Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to fully rescind the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule — a bedrock conservation policy that has protected nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forests for over two decades.

Press Releases

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Southern Sea Otter on its Back with Tag on its Foot
Olympia, WA

Defenders Offers Reward for Information on Sea Otter Poaching

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that a federally protected sea otter was illegally tortured and killed in February 2025. Both FWS and Defenders
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20202.10.06 - Sandhill crane in flight over Llano Seco- Frank Schulenburg (CC BY-SA 2.0).jpg
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Newsom Signs Bill to Save Native Species from Federal Protections Rollbacks

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into state law Assembly Bill 1319, which was sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife and authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), which
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gray wolf
Washington, D.C.

Assault on Endangered Species Protections Continues with New Bill to Delist Gray Wolves

Defenders of Wildlife is sounding the alarm over the latest congressional attack on gray wolves following the introduction of the Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief
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Solar energy development in the Ivanpah Valley, California
Washington, D.C.

Amendment to Exempt Defense Activity from the ESA Soundly Defeated

Defenders of Wildlife applauds the members of the House of Representatives who voted down a repeat amendment to H.R. 3838, the National Defense Authorization Act
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sage grouse in snow at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Condemns Revocation of Public-Backed Land Health Rule

Defenders of Wildlife today condemns the Trump administration’s announcement that it will revoke the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, a critical rule that modernized the
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