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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

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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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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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Lupine flowers in Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Admiralty Island National Monument, Tongass National Forest, Alaska
Juneau, AK

Trump Administration Paves Way for Old-growth Clearcutting in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest

The Trump administration today announced plans to gut long-standing protections against logging and road-building in the Tongass National Forest, a cherished old-growth temperate rainforest in Southeast Alaska and homelands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people.
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Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Reacts to Retirement of Environmental Champion Rep. Lowey

Defenders of Wildlife reacts to retirement announcement of Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).
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Prairie dog mom and pup
Laramie, WY

New U.S. Forest Service management proposals threaten endangered wildlife, ecosystem of Thunder Basin National Grassland

Today, the U.S. Forest Service released a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Thunder Basin National Grassland containing management alternatives designed to strip vital protections that vulnerable native species depend on, placing ranching interests over wildlife conservation.
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Beluga Whale Pod Chuckchi Sea
Anchorage, AK

Groups sue EPA for paving way for hazardous industrial mine  

More than a dozen groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to protect Alaska fisheries, wildlife, jobs, communities, and ways of life from
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Ocelot looking up
Lima, Peru

Biodiversity Crisis in Latin America Brings Nations Together for the First High Level Conference of the Americas on Wildlife Trade

Governments, international governmental organizations and NGOs met last week in Peru at the First High Level Conference of the Americas on Wildlife Trade to discuss new challenges and opportunities surrounding illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in the region.
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