Change could cripple Endangered Species Act, Minnesota science teacher says
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The federal government is altering the definition of the word “harm” under the Endangered Species Act. Environmental groups are suing to stop the change before it takes effect in September.
Harm previously referred to anything that injures or kills a protected organism, including habitat modification or degradation. Under the new language, habitat is no longer a consideration.
“By removing that as a barrier, you’re opening the door for increased development” that could harm species, St. Cloud science teacher Devon Bowker, known online as Devon the Nature guy, told MPR News host Clay Masters.
In Minnesota, “species like the rusty patched bumblebee — they are very fragmented in terms of their habitat. They have very small pockets of good, valuable habitat for them,” he said.
“Removing these kinds of restrictions, allowing people to just mow through a pollinator patch or to develop a prairie — which, we don’t have much prairie remaining — really is like a stake through the heart of the core protections that could keep these species around.”
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.
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