Final signature count: 12,526

12,526 signatures toward our 50,000 goal

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is one of our nation’s most effective and important environmental laws. Passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, the ESA represents a commitment by the American people to work together to protect and restore our most vulnerable fellow species.

Ninety-nine percent of species protected by the ESA’s list have avoided extinction since 19731. Not until the Trump Administration’s final week in office was it changed.

The change narrows the ESA’s definition of “habitat,” making it more difficult to protect areas threatened and endangered species need to survive and thrive.2.

The Trump Administration argued that a “critical habitat,” often described as home to an endangered species, no longer deserves protection if said species is not seen living there. Further, “the definition excludes areas that do not currently or periodically contain the requisite resources and conditions, even if such areas could meet this requirement in the future after restoration activities or other changes occur3.”

The ESA no longer protects areas that could be restored or safeguarded to provide additional habitat for future recovery. Habitat that has been historically used by a species and habitat that could be important as species move in response to threats such as climate change are also cut out of any federal protection4.

The ESA’s definition of habitat makes a big impact on species conservation. Its current incarnation leaves species without protections for areas they will need to be conserved. This is wholly inconsistent with the purpose and legal requirements of the ESA.

As we face accelerating loss of biodiversity in the United States and the rest of the world due to habitat loss and climate change, protecting remaining habitats is more important than ever. The only alternative is cascading extinction5.

Take a stand for endangered species by signing the petition below.