Image
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.
Image
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.
Image
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
Image
California State Senate Defends Desert Water, Passes SB 307
In a resounding step towards defending desert water resources, the California Senate yesterday passed SB307, a commonsense solution to protect Mojave Trails National Monument springs, groundwater and wildlife. The legislation now advances for a full Assembly vote.
Image
House Appropriations Committee Moves to Fund, Protect Wildlife
The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations passed its Fiscal Year 2020 Interior and Environment spending bill out of committee today. This environmentally progressive bill now moves to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.
Image
Sen. Whitehouse, Rep. Cartwright Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Combat Climate Change
Responding to increasing and pervasive impacts of climate change on both natural and human communities, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) introduced the Safeguarding America’s Future and Environment (SAFE) Act in the Senate and House of Representatives today.
Image
Trump Administration Issues More Waivers of Law For Expedited Border Wall Construction in Wildlife Refuges and Protected Lands
As published in today’s Federal Register, the Trump administration announced it will waive dozens of environmental and public safety laws in more locations in Arizona and California in order to expedite border wall construction.
Image
Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue Country's Largest Agricultural Water District Over Illegal Plot to Raise Shasta Dam
Yesterday, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups filed a lawsuit against Westlands Water District for unlawfully aiding efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to raise Shasta Dam.
jcovey@defenders.org
