Support Endangered Species and Habitats in Florida!

The federal government is moving swiftly to remove protections for endangered species by redefining the word “harm” in the long-standing Endangered Species Act (ESA), the main law to protect and conserve at-risk species in the United States.

A proposed rule, issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, seeks to exclude the destruction of critical habitat from what is considered "harm" under the act. Currently, when interpreting whether a species will be harmed, the destruction of key habitat is taken into account. Instead, the rule calls for a narrower interpretation of “harm” to mean a species should only be protected from being intentionally maimed or killed.

The importance of a healthy and stable habitat is critical to the recovery of any species at risk. The biggest threats to endangered species are:

• Deforestation
• Urbanization
• Fragmented Habitats

All of these actions directly contribute to the rapid decline of most of the species currently listed under the ESA. Removing habitat protections from the ESA would only serve to make environmental destruction easier and the restoration of our imperiled species more difficult.

Endangered species are not the only organisms that rely on intact natural environments. The environments that house endangered species also provide humans with clean water, clean air, protection from storms and flooding and carry out critical carbon sequestration processes, amongst other invaluable ecosystem services. Unimpaired habitats are also popular destinations for recreation and tourism, fueling our economies.

While habitat loss is an issue across the country, Southwest Florida is in an especially precarious position. According to an updated GIS map from the Conservancy of SW Florida, Lee County has lost 31% of its wetlands from 1993-2003, and rapid development in our region continues.

The value of protected ecosystems stretches far beyond the habitat benefits they provide, and the future of Florida relies on a strong balance between growth and conservation.

Please Take Action Today

Please join SCCF in letting our leaders know that healthy habitats are critical for the survival of endangered species, and necessary for our survival as well. You can use arguments from this email, or craft your own comments by May 19. Thank you for your support of our natural systems!