Date: 5/14/25 6:24 pm From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: AAS Call to Action--Preserving the Current Definition of "Harm" Under the Endangered Species Act
Dear Birders,
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries
Service are proposing to remove the current definition of "harm," which
includes habitat modification or degradation that leads to the death or
injury of endangered and threatened species. This proposed change will
significantly weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which protects the
habitat of such species.
Habitat loss is one of the chief drivers of the severe drop in North
American bird populations by 30% over the last 50 years. Preservation of
habitat, which has taken place pursuant to the ESA, has been successful in
stabilizing or increasing 78% of endangered or threatened bird species.
Failing to protect habitat going forward because we now no longer recognize
this as "harm" can only reverse the last 50 years of environmental
protection.
