BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 26, 2025
Protecting imperiled species against destruction and fragmentation of their habitat is essential to conserve biological diversity. Habitat loss is the single biggest reason that many species face extinction. Yet, the Trump administration has proposed a rewrite of the definition of “harm” in rules under the Endangered Species Act. Regulations under the ESA define “harm” to include “significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.” The proposed change would remove this clause. The Trump proposal is illegal, ill-advised, and intended to disable the law that has worked to protect America’s wildlife for more than 50 years. ~ Sharon S. Tisher, lecturer emerita, UMaine