Trump administration moves to narrow protections for endangered species | Trump administration

the Trump administration It is planned for the limited protection of endangered species, in a step that environmentalists say to accelerate extinction by opening critical habitats for development, registration, mining, and other uses.

The proposal is the latest innovative effort Donald TrumpWho made it a priority Dismantling the protection of endangered species As part of the broader endeavor to increase energy extraction and industrial access, even in the most sensitive and weak natural areas in the United States.

The proposed new proposal from American fish service, wildlife and national marine fish fisheries service provides a new explanation for the 1973 endangered species law, which would A strike that destroys habitats from the regulations.

In the case it is a long -term definition of two terms in the Law of Endangered Species: “damage” and “Take”. “The damage” means changing or destroying the places that these species live. “Take”, at the same time, is a term used in regulations to indicate any measures that include hunting, capture, wound or killing protected species, which included changing or destroying the places where these species live.

American fish and Wildlife The service and the service of national marine fish fisheries said at a proposed base, issued on Wednesday, that the amendment and destruction of habitats should not be considered “harmful” because it does not intend to intentionally target, which is defined as “taking”.

The proposal says: “The current organizational definition of” damage “, which includes amending habitats, contradicts the best meaning of the legal term” take “.

Legalese challenges can enable a limited application of regulations, which would liberate the industry to continue or start activities that affect habitats.

But losing habitats It is considered the strongest driver for losing species. Beating the word or changing these definitions may cause catastrophic damage to the species already close to the edge of the abyss.

“if [you] Noah Greenwald, director of endangered species at the Center for Biological Diversity, said, adding that the proposal “cuts the heart from the endangered species law.”

Environmental scientists argue that the definition of “taking” has always included measures that harm the species, and the definition of “damage” by the US Supreme Court.

Greenwald said that the album and the leopards in Florida are protected because the current rule prohibits the destruction of habitats. The legislation helped protect more than 1700 species and its habitors, 99 % banned One of those listed of extinction is the most popular eagle.

But if the new rule is adopted, the person who is registered in the woods will not be obeyed or builds a development as long as he can say that he does not intend to harm the endangered species.

The proposed base was expected to be published in the federal registry on Thursday, when a 30 -day year suspension began. Environmental groups are already planning to challenge the base in court if adopted. Questions remain about whether it is Trump administration Law be able to cancel a base that has already supported the Supreme Court.

“The proposal threatens half a century of progress in protecting and restoring endangered species.” He added that the law “is currently aware of the concept of logical mice that the destruction of the forest, beach, river, or wetlands on which the type of what depends on survival depends on is harmful to this type.”

It is not the first attempt by the administration to undermine protection. One of Trump’s first orders after returning to the White House in January, Declared a state of national energy emergency Even a standard medium of the standard luxury of oil and gas drilling, and calls for the endangered species committee, a group called “God’s Squad”, to meet at least every three months.

This committee, which will be led by US Interior Minister Doug Burgum, is rarely used, five other officials from various government agencies and a representative of a affected country, but he has the ability to overcome the act of endangered species even if it leads to the extinction of some kind, and thus the existential result.

Changing the base can prove an easier strategy to overcome protection. It can also threaten memorization areas that remain safe due to the species they call home.

The issue is a special concern in Hawaii. The islands contain more endangered species more than any other country – 40 % of the endangered and endangered species in the country – although Hawaii has less than 1 % of the land area in the United States, according to national agencies Fish And the Wildlife Foundation.

The removal of these guarantees will accelerate the extinction crisis in Hawaii and the erosion of the biological and cultural heritage of the islands.

She referred to the example of the original original bees that feed on and vaccinated coastal dunes factories. Very little facade property in the ocean is still developed and the remainder tends to be fragmented pockets. Other species listed on the coast – such as green sea turtles – can lose their homes if protection is removed.

“Habitans are life, right?” She said. “Without that, there is no recovery and without recovery, there is only extinction.”

Oliver Milman and Associated Press contributed to the reports