絶滅危惧種への「危害」から生息地を損なう行為を除外 トランプ政権提案

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】ドナルド・トランプ米政権は１６日、絶滅危惧種に対する「危害（ｈａｒｍ）」の定義から生息地を損なう行為を除外し、生態学的に影響が生じやすい環境で人間の活動を可能にする規則改正を提案した。（写真は資料写真）
　米魚類野生生物局（ＦＷＳ）と米海洋大気庁（ＮＯＡＡ）は、種の保存法（ＥＳＡ）における「危害」の定義から「保護種の生息地を損なう行為」を除外すべきとの考えを示している。
　この規則改正について環境団体は、個人や政府による伐採や採掘などの活動を可能にするもので、絶滅危惧種の生息地が破壊される恐れがあると指摘している。
　環境関連の訴訟を専門とする法律事務所「アースジャスティス」は、「ＥＳＡの下、５０年以上にわたり、ハクトウワシやハイイロオオカミ、アメリカマナティー、ザトウクジラなど、米国を象徴する種を含む多くの種が救われてきた」と主張。
　「こうした成功の鍵の一つは、『危害』の定義にある。従来の定義では、種の保存に不可欠な森林や海岸、河川、湿地の破壊は、その種に危害を加えるのと同じことであるという常識的な概念が認められている」と説明し、規則改正に法廷で異議を唱える用意があると付け加えた。
　規則改正をめぐっては、３０日間のパブリックコメント（意見公募）期間が設けられる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/04/17-18:07）

The Trump administration aims to remove degradation of habitat from its definition of harm to endangered species, proposing Wednesday a rule change that would open the door to human activity in ecologically sensitive environments.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the definition of harm in the Endangered Species Act should exclude actions that impair the habitat of protected species.
Environmental groups said the rule change would allow timber, oil and mining activity, as well as other activities by individuals and the government, to destroy the habitats of endangered animals.
For 50 years, the ESA has saved numerous species -- including iconic American species like bald eagles, gray wolves, Florida manatees, and humpback whales -- from extinction, environmental law organization Earthjustice said.
One key to this success has been its definition of harm, which recognizes the common-sense concept that destroying a forest, beach, river, or wetland that a species relies on for survival constitutes harm to that species, it said, adding that the group was prepared to challenge the proposal in court.
There's just no way to protect animals and plants from extinction without protecting the places they live, yet the Trump administration is opening the flood gates to immeasurable habitat destruction, said Noah Greenwald, codirector of endangered species at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Without a prohibition on habitat destruction, spotted owls, sea turtles, salmon and so many more imperiled animals won't stand a chance, said Greenwald. Trump is trying to drive a knife through the heart of the Endangered Species Act.
The proposal will now be open to public comment for 30 days.
Since its 1973 enactment, the Endangered Species Act has been credited with saving iconic species such as the gray wolf, bald eagle and grizzly bear from extinction.
President Donald Trump ran on a platform that promised to roll back environmental regulations that crimp economic development.
In February, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a call for proposals to unleash US energy, potentially opening up fragile landscapes from the Arctic to the Grand Canyon and even national monuments for exploitation.
Days later, Trump said his administration aimed to cut about 65 percent of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency.