The Trump administration has unveiled plans to alter the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a critical environmental law that has guided wildlife conservation for over 50 years. The proposed regulation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks to redefine the term "harm," thus reducing protections for endangered species.
This adjustment implies that habitat destruction will no longer be considered harm, a shift that environmentalists warn could jeopardize many species. The administration argues that the existing definition of harm is excessively broad, which they claim puts unnecessary burdens on businesses. They advocate for a narrower interpretation focusing only on intentional acts of killing or injuring species, like hunting or trapping.
Critics, including Andrew Bowman, President of Defenders of Wildlife, argue that habitat loss is the leading cause of species extinction, indicating that these changes would severely affect the preservation of vital ecosystems. Many view this proposal as one of the most significant rollbacks of environmental protections since the law was enacted in 1973 under President Richard Nixon. By facilitating increased development, logging, and drilling, the administration's actions signal a dramatic departure from longstanding conservation efforts.
This adjustment implies that habitat destruction will no longer be considered harm, a shift that environmentalists warn could jeopardize many species. The administration argues that the existing definition of harm is excessively broad, which they claim puts unnecessary burdens on businesses. They advocate for a narrower interpretation focusing only on intentional acts of killing or injuring species, like hunting or trapping.
Critics, including Andrew Bowman, President of Defenders of Wildlife, argue that habitat loss is the leading cause of species extinction, indicating that these changes would severely affect the preservation of vital ecosystems. Many view this proposal as one of the most significant rollbacks of environmental protections since the law was enacted in 1973 under President Richard Nixon. By facilitating increased development, logging, and drilling, the administration's actions signal a dramatic departure from longstanding conservation efforts.
