Dhaka: The Trump administration has announced the withdrawal of a long-standing rule that automatically provided protections for plants and animals listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. Critics argue this decision could hinder efforts to prevent species from becoming extinct.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the decision, revealed on Friday by the US Interior Department, signifies that newly listed threatened species will not receive immediate federal protections. Authorities will now be required to develop separate protection plans for each species, a process that may be time-consuming and allow industries to seek exemptions for activities like oil and gas drilling, mining, and construction in affected habitats.
Environmental organizations have expressed concern that this change could delay protections for vulnerable species such as monarch butterflies and alligator snapping turtles, potentially increasing their risk of extinction. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the decision, arguing that the Endangered Species Act has been used excessively to block development projects nationwide. He emphasized that success should be measured by species recovery and removal from the endangered list, rather than the number of species added.
The administration has also finalized a rule requiring officials to consider economic impacts when designating critical habitats for threatened species. Conservationists warn this could allow businesses to exert more influence over decisions concerning environmentally sensitive areas. Noah Greenwald of the Center for Biological Diversity criticized the potential for industry exemptions, which he believes would undermine wildlife protection efforts.
The automatic protection rule was initially introduced for wildlife in 1975 and expanded to plants in 1977. Proponents of the recent changes, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Property and Environment Research Center, argue that automatic protections dissuade private landowners from participating in species recovery efforts, as restrictions persist even when a species improves from endangered to threatened status. Jonathan Wood, vice president of the Montana-based research center, stated that the new approach could foster more proactive conservation strategies.
To date, no new species have been added to the endangered or threatened lists during Trump’s second term, although over 20 species were listed in his first term. In comparison, approximately 60 species were added during Biden’s presidency. Currently, around 30 species, such as monarch butterflies, alligator snapping turtles, California spotted owls, and various snakes, fish, clams, and insects, are being considered for threatened status.
The administration has implemented several wildlife protection policy changes in recent months. In March, exemptions were made for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from parts of the Endangered Species Act, citing national energy security. Last week, officials altered the legal definition of “harm” to protected species, permitting development in critical habitats as long as animals are not directly injured or killed.
This week, the Interior Department reduced protected habitat for Canada lynx in the Rocky Mountains and announced plans to grant states greater authority over grizzly bear management. The Endangered Species Act has been praised for aiding the recovery of species like the bald eagle and the American alligator. Burgum noted that approximately 97% of species listed under the law remain protected, and many Republican lawmakers believe that recovered species should be removed from the list more swiftly.