Guest commentary: Support endangered species, 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 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, and protection from storms and flooding, and they 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 Southwest Florida, Lee County has lost 31% of its wetlands from 1993 to 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 join the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) in letting our leaders know that healthy habitats are critical for the survival of endangered species and necessary for our survival, as well. To take action, visit https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0001. You can use arguments from this guest commentary or craft your own comments by May 19.
Thank you for your support of our natural systems!
Founded in 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s (SCCF) mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. For more information, visit www.sccf.org.