habitat destruction

The Trump administration finalized a rule changing how the Endangered Species Act is enforced by narrowing the definition of 'harm' to exclude habitat destruction from activities like logging and oil drilling. Environmentalists argue the change could accelerate species extinction, while industry representatives and Republican allies claim it restores the law's original intent and supports economic growth.

The Trump administration finalized a rule narrowing the definition of 'harm' under the Endangered Species Act, allowing activities like oil drilling and logging in critical wildlife habitats if animals are not directly killed. Environmentalists warn this could accelerate species extinction, while industry groups argue it protects economic growth and private property rights.

The Trump administration repealed a key provision of the Endangered Species Act that protected habitats of endangered species from development, logging, and mining. The rule change removes a 50-year-old definition of 'harm' that included habitat protection, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court in 1995 to safeguard old-growth forests for spotted owls.

Two men were killed by crocodile attacks in North Sumatra, Indonesia, highlighting the country's status as having the world's highest annual crocodile-related fatalities. Environmental groups attribute these incidents to habitat destruction caused by logging, plantations, and other land-use changes.