Image
Defenders Celebrates U.S. Appeals Court Ruling to Protect Imperiled Sea Turtles from Drowning in Fishing Nets
A federal appeals court upheld the rule requiring shrimp trawling vessels to use turtle excluder devices so that sea turtles can avoid getting caught in nets.
Image
House Gambles with Survival for North Atlantic Right Whales in Latest Vote to Delay Protections
The House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 9436, a bill that will delay conservation protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Image
District Court Okays Bulldozing a Road to the Doorstep of Izembek Wilderness
A federal district court in Alaska today allowed construction to begin on a 2.8-mile road segment on KCC lands to connect to a 10.5-mile road within Izembek.
Press Releases
Image
Freeing the Ocklawaha River
Between November 2019 and the end of February 2020, those looking over the edge of the Rodman Dam could glimpse a ghostly forest of long-dead cypress trees normally deep beneath the water of the Rodman Reservoir. This haunting sight is a rarity, coming once every few years as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection draws down the reservoir, exposing the historic path of the once-mighty Ocklawaha River.
Image
Final State Budget Funds Wildlife Projects, Delays Studies for Dam Management
Last week Gov. Jay Inslee finalized the state’s fiscal year 2020 operating budget, allocating urgent funds for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Image
Lawsuit Challenging Diversion of Military Funds for Border Construction Moves Forward
In some good news in the fight against the building of the border wall, which would be devastating for wildlife, a District Court Judge ruled Thursday that a key challenge in our lawsuit can move forward: whether President Trump can legally divert $3.6 billion in military funds to build a wall.
Image
Environmental Coalition Urges California Governor to Maintain Water Quality Regulations During COVID-19 Crisis
Following last week’s sweeping announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it will suspend enforcement of environmental protection laws due to the current COVID-19 crisis, California environmental groups urge Governor Newsom not to follow the federal government’s lead.
Image
Trump Administration Moves Ahead with Oil and Gas Drilling on Public Lands and Waters
Last week, the Trump administration moved forward with a 78 million acre lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. This rush to drill comes right before the 10th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster that occurred on April 20, 2010.
jcovey@defenders.org
