Two weeks ago, while many people celebrated planet Earth’s natural beauty and resources on Earth Day, the Trump Administration proposed a rule change that would profoundly weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the most important law in our country protecting threatened plants and animals.

The proposal by the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce would limit the regulatory definition of “harm,” radically altering what it means to harm imperiled plants and animals.

One example of the law’s value: In 1940 only 21 Whooping Cranes remained in the wild. Today, thanks largely to the ESA and The International Crane Foundation, there are 690 “Whoopers.” Thousands of other plants and animals have also been saved and protected by the ESA.

The proposed new definition stipulates that species are protected only from intentional killing or injury, but not from the loss of habitat that plants and animals need to survive. Therefore, animals dying as collateral damage to development would no longer “count.” Consequently, freshwater diversions, wetland drainage, land development, drilling and other disturbances are expected to increase.

Submit a public comment opposing this proposed rule change on the Federal Register by May 19. Comments may be submitted digitally. Go to federalregister.gov and search for the Endangered Species Act. Please, call your Congressperson and urge them to protect the Endangered Species Act and defend this bedrock environmental law. Humanity will not thrive if plants and animals don’t.

MAGGIE WAGGONER

Lewisburg

Submitted by email