([link removed])

Deadline Tomorrow: Speak Up for Endangered Species!

Dear John,

The attempts to undermine the Endangered Species Act just keep coming. Earlier this month, the Trump administration proposed a new rule ([link removed]) that would harm threatened and endangered species by making it harder to protect the habitat that is critical for their survival. The proposed rule seeks to establish a new definition of "habitat," which federal agencies will use as a starting point to further designate "critical habitat" under the ESA.

Designation of critical habitat is a vital tool available under the ESA to help conserve species. Critical habitat is specific geographic areas that contain features essential to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, including shelter, water, food, and other nutritional requirements; areas for breeding and raising young; and adequate space for animals to engage in normal growth and behaviors.

This proposed change would result in the exclusion of areas that do not meet a restrictive definition of habitat, thereby decreasing the amount of habitat that can be protected under the ESA. Preventing reckless development on critical habitat is vital for stabilizing populations of threatened and endangered species. Listed species that have protected habitat are more than twice as likely to move toward recovery than species without it.

This move comes less than a year after the administration finalized three sweeping rules ([link removed]) that weakened this vital conservation law. At this point, it's no surprise that the administration continues to cave to industry demands at the expense of imperiled species. However, we will never stop fighting these appalling setbacks, and we need your help.

TAKE ACTION ([link removed])

What You Can Do
The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are accepting comments from the public on the new rule. Please submit a comment ([link removed]) before the September 4 deadline asking the agencies to withdraw this proposal.

Share this eAlert with your family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to submit a comment, too. Thank you for taking action on behalf of wildlife!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

P.S. Follow us on Facebook ([link removed]), Twitter ([link removed]), and Instagram ([link removed]) for other important animal protection actions and news.

Photo by David Shindle

([link removed]) ([link removed]) ([link removed]) ([link removed])

Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org ([link removed])

The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

Donate ([link removed])

Forward to a Friend:
[link removed]
Unsubscribe:
[link removed]

Email Privacy Policy:
[link removed]

Update Profile:
[link removed]

900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003