Biodiversity science's missing species.

A new U.S. rule narrows the definition of harm under the Endangered Species Act, excluding habitat alteration from protected activities, risking ecological integrity.

• Why it matters: Understanding and protecting habitats is crucial because species are inseparable from their ecosystems; weakening habitat protections could accelerate species decline and ecosystem degradation.
• What they did: The administration implemented a rule change that no longer considers habitat destruction as harm, shifting the legal focus solely to direct harm to animals, amidst ongoing policy proposals affecting conservation areas.
• The result: This change undermines habitat-based protections, potentially increasing threats to biodiversity and complicating efforts to preserve ecosystems vital for wildlife survival.