US administration proposes major changes to wildlife and forest protections

The Trump Administration has introduced several policy changes affecting wildlife protection and land management. The Department of the Interior has redefined ‘harm’ under the Endangered Species Act, a move that would mean habitat destruction is no longer classified as harmful to threatened or endangered species.

Additionally, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has proposed removing Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears in the lower 48 states, despite recent findings regarding their extinction risk. Under an expanded ‘4(d) rule’ supported by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, grizzly bear management would shift to individual states, potentially increasing trophy hunting and allowing for more frequent kills near livestock on public lands.

Furthermore, the Department of Agriculture has proposed canceling the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This action would open tens of millions of acres of National Forests to logging, motorized use, and new road development.