Save the Redwoods League Opposes Four Harmful Changes to the Endangered Species Act—Seeks Comments by December 21

Statement in response to federal proposals to weaken critical protections under the landmark Endangered Species Act of 1973.

San Francisco, Calif. (December 10, 2025) — Save the Redwoods League urges the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to reconsider four harmful proposals to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The League strongly encourages everyone to voice their opposition to these proposed changes on Regulations.gov before the public comment period ends on December 21. 

On November 19, the USFWS announced four proposed revisions aimed at dissolving vital protections for imperiled animals, plants, and the landscapes that serve as their critical habitat.

These proposals include: 

• Eliminating automatic protection for threatened species: The Fish and Wildlife Service’s “blanket rule” that automatically protects wildlife and plants when classified as threatened would be eliminated, replaced by a lengthy species-specific rule-making process. 

• Allowing economic considerations to override conservation: Development projects could supersede conservation needs when designating critical habitat for species recovery. 

• Restricting future threat protections: The definition of “foreseeable future” within the ESA would be changed, making it harder to protect endangered species from threats that have yet to materialize, like long-term effects from climate change. 

• Limiting interagency consultations: Restrictions on consultation processes would increase the chances of projects negatively impacting ESA protections. 

“Save the Redwoods League stands firmly against these efforts to erode the Endangered Species Act,” said Steve Mietz, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. “Species such as the marbled murrelet, coho salmon and Humboldt marten need old-growth redwood forests to survive. The ESA is a key mechanism to protect these and many other species, and the old-growth forests they rely on. We urge everyone who holds these iconic forests dear to raise their voices before the December 21 deadline.” 

Habitat loss and destruction are the primary threats to endangered species. If the strict protections in the Endangered Species Act are dismantled, it will weaken the conservation community’s ability to protect more redwood landscapes in the future and make it easier for developers to potentially degrade redwood forests on their property. 

These proposed changes would undercut some of the ESA’s ability to prevent species loss and protect the critical habitats that endangered species depend upon. Stripping these protections runs counter to ecological science, legal precedent and the core intent of the ESA—to conserve species and the ecosystems they rely on to survive. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on these proposed changes until December 21. The proposed changes are listed under the following docket numbers: 

• FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0039 (Section 4) 

• FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0044 (Section 7) 

• FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0029 (Section 4(d)) 

• FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0048 (Section 4(b)(2)) 

Save the Redwoods League encourages everyone to express opposition to these harmful proposals and to support maintaining the full scope of protection under the Endangered Species Act before the deadline. 

Submit your comment here. Be sure to include the four docket numbers listed above in your comment. 

One of the nation’s longest-running conservation organizations, Save the Redwoods League has been protecting and restoring redwood forests since 1918. The League has connected generations of visitors with the beauty and serenity of the redwood forests. Our supporters have enabled the League to protect more than 220,000 acres of irreplaceable forests in 66 state, national, and local parks and reserves. For information, visit SaveTheRedwoods.org.

Tags: 2025, Press Release