Federal ESA ‘harm’ rewrite has Georgia conservation groups on alert

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:45:00 -0400

ATLANTA — A federal rule change scheduled to take effect Sept. 14 would narrow how the Endangered Species Act defines “harm,” and Georgia conservation leaders say the rewrite could leave habitat for some of the state’s most carefully managed species newly exposed.

According to a July 30 Georgia Recorder investigation by Ross Williams, the change rescinds the long-standing regulatory definition of “harm.” Intentionally killing a protected animal would still be forbidden, but indirectly killing a species by altering or destroying its habitat would no longer count as harm under the new federal interpretation.

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Federal ESA ‘harm’ rewrite has Georgia conservation groups on alert