The Biden administration has abandoned the definition of “habitat” for endangered animals and created areas under President Donald J. Trump that the government can protect for endangered animals. We will return to the understanding that existed before the reduction.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Department have made a statement from the regulation unsuitable for development and other changes, but if they can be restored, they will once again be “important habitats.” I was able to protect.
The Trump administration narrows the definition of “habitat” and limits federal protection only to areas where endangered species can be maintained, as opposed to wider historic habitats where animals can someday live or live. did.
However, the Trump administration’s rules were at odds with the protection objectives of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, wildlife officials said.
“For species that are endangered due to habitat loss or climate change and literally have little habitat left, all the tools in the toolbox are available to protect the appropriate remaining habitat. It is necessary, “said Bridget Fahei, head of conservation and classification at the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Biden administration’s environmental agenda
President Biden is pushing for stronger regulation, but faces a narrow path to achieving his goals in the fight against global warming.
Designation of important habitat does not limit activity on private land without federal approval or funding. Federal agencies need to ensure that such habitat is not destroyed or adversely affected by funding, permits, or actions taken.
The move is in the midst of a growing biodiversity crisis, with an estimated million species of flora and fauna endangered around the world. The main cause is the loss of habitat as people turn wild areas into farms, cities and towns. Pollution and climate change exacerbate the problem.
The Biden administration’s changes are the first of some expected reversals of the rules of the Trump era governing the Endangered Species Act. Authorities expect to withdraw the second rule related to habitat needs next month. And at the beginning of June, they proposed new rules to enhance species protection in changing climates by allowing regulators to introduce experimental populations of animals outside historical limits. ..
However, another radical change in the Trump era to the application of the Endangered Species Act in 2019 leaves those plans unclear, says environmental advocates. These rules allow regulatory agencies to consider economic factors in their species protection decisions. Make it easy to remove animals and plants from the endangered species list. Loosen the protection of species newly listed as “endangered”. This is a lower level than endangered species. It makes it difficult to consider the effects of climate change when protecting species at risk.
These changes have been praised by industry groups such as: tThe National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Beef Cattle Producers, and the Western Energy Alliance welcomed deregulation.
However, the Conservation Body filed a legal objection to the set of rules in 2019, but the proceedings are still pending.
“These harmful rules have been in force for almost three years, and the Biden administration hasn’t worked yet,” said a lawyer at Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law group that filed proceedings on behalf of a number of environmental groups. One Kristen Boyles said. “And, of course, government agencies are using them because they have to use the regulations that are in force,” she said, referring to government groups such as the Fish and Wildlife Service.
A year ago, an official of the Biden administration Announced their intentions Review your changes. Currently, they are awaiting a court ruling on a series of regulations in 2019.
Angela Sonma, Head of the Endangered Species Division at NOAA, said: Office of protected resources.