The new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act in the United States allows companies to accidentally kill protected animals while engaging in activities such as logging and dam construction. This change represents a significant and different policy during Donald Trump's presidency.
New Interpretation of the Law
A new guideline sent to employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specifies that for the killing of an endangered species to be considered illegal, it must be targeted intentionally. This policy sharply departs from past practices where parties were held responsible for incidental harm to protected species such as grizzly bears and salmon.
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Experts' Concerns
Experts warn that this law allows logging companies to clear forests in the Pacific Northwest while knowing that endangered birds will lose their lives. Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service during Barack Obama's presidency, described this change as contrary to the history of the Endangered Species Act and referred to it as a major exception. Ashe also added that this policy reduces individuals' accountability for their actions.
Impacts of Legal Changes
The Trump administration seeks to revert laws to their original intent, and these changes appear to have been made under pressure from Republican representatives and industry lobbyists. These changes have faced numerous lawsuits from states and conservation groups. The new interpretation of what constitutes illegal harm is detailed in a directive published on September 14 by Brian Nesvik, the director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Nesvik noted in this directive that logging does not inherently harm the bats that live in the trees unless the intent of the logging is to kill or trap them. These changes have fueled concerns among environmental activists, who believe that these policies could lead to a faster extinction of endangered species.
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Source: independent.co.uk
