Dear SCBNA Members and Supporters,
We are writing to share that the Society for Conservation Biology North America (SCBNA) has submitted a public comment letter in strong opposition to the proposed rule to rescind the regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This dangerous rollback would significantly weaken habitat protections for imperiled species and undermine the scientific and legal foundations of one of our nation’s most important conservation laws.
In our letter, we emphasized the overwhelming scientific consensus that habitat loss is a primary driver of extinction. The current definition of “harm”—which includes significant habitat modification that results in injury or death to wildlife—has been upheld by the Supreme Court and is essential for proactive, science-based conservation.
Now we need your help.
We’ve created a toolkit to make it easy for you to take action, raise awareness, and speak out in defense of the ESA. Here's how you can get involved:
-
Explore our Action Toolkit – Access talking points, social media graphics, and more: access our toolkit HERE.
-
Amplify on Social Media – Share our posts and graphics to help spread the word: Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.
-
Submit Your Own Comment – Add your voice to the public record before the deadline (May 19, 2025): Submit your comment HERE.
-
Reach out to your Representative - find out how HERE & use our pre-made SCRIPTS for easy communication.
Together, we can ensure that the ESA remains a powerful safeguard for species and the ecosystems they depend on.
With gratitude,
Lauren Jonaitis
Vice President of Policy
Society for Conservation Biology North America