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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.
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sage grouse in snow at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Final Rescission of Public Lands Rule Reverses Modern Land Management, Threatens Wildlife Habitat

The Bureau of Land Management today announced a decision to roll back the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly referred to as the Public Lands Rule. The policy modernized how BLM manages our national public lands and represented the critical incorporation of ecological resilience into management alongside traditional resource extraction.

Press Releases

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Border wall javelina

Senate Votes to Terminate National Emergency Declaration

Today, the Senate voted to pass a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency declaration made by President Trump in an attempt to bypass Congress
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Coral reef, Palmyra Atoll
Washington, DC

United Nations Releases Major Report on Climate Change’s Devastating Effects on Oceans and Wildlife

Today, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released the long-awaited “Special Report on the Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC),” a 1170-page account detailing the devastating effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.
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Greater sage-grouse
Washington, DC

Appropriations bills target greater sage-grouse, border wall

“This year has been another bad year for sage-grouse. The Trump administration has yanked away protections for the grouse and is supporting state plans that jeopardize this iconic bird’s future, all while populations continue to decline across the West."
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Capitol Building
Washington, DC

Western Caucus Members Push Anti-Endangered Species Act, Wildlife Extinction Package

The Congressional Western Caucus introduced a package of 19 anti-wildlife, anti-public lands, anti-Endangered Species Act (ESA) bills today. This Extinction Package would severely weaken implementation
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American Pika
Washington, DC

Defenders Testifying in House Subcommittee Hearing on Climate, Wildlife Impacts

Defenders of Wildlife’s senior policy analyst for climate adaptation, Aimee Delach, will deliver testimony at a legislative hearing before the House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on
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