Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Conservation

Wetlands 102 Webinar

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Check out the South Carolina Conservation Coalition’s second webinar all about wetlands, their benefits, and how we can help preserve them as they face new threats. Wetlands play crucial roles for our communities. They protect us from flooding, saving tens of millions of dollars in damage, while delivering economic benefits across the state. Development pressures are mounting as South Carolina continues to grow, but there’s still hope to conserve our valuable wetlands.

Hear from Dr. Pam Martin, SCELP fellow and Coastal Carolina University professor, and Matthew Millwood, Senior Planner for Georgetown County, for a presentation on the value of wetlands and how Georgetown County passed the first comprehensive wetland protection ordinance in the state. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is proud to be a member of the South Carolina Conservation Coalition and to work alongside partners across the state to raise awareness and advance protections for South Carolina’s valuable wetlands.

Learn more about the South Carolina Conservation Coalition at https://www.conservationcoalitionsc.org/.

Webinar recorded on October 14, 2026. Provided by the South Carolina Conservation Coalition.

Header image credit: Beth McLain

From Webs to Wings: Discovering the Spiders and Caterpillars of Fall

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Fall is a great time to slow down, step outside, and take a closer look at the wildlife around us. In September, SCWF hosted two hands-on educational programs that invited participants to do just that. From colorful caterpillars hiding among native plants to intricate spider webs stretching between trees, these often-overlooked creatures play important roles in South Carolina’s ecosystems.

Discovering the World of Caterpillars

At the SCWF Sumter Wetland Preserve, participants joined Professor Dave Coyle for an up-close look at the many caterpillars that call South Carolina home at our “Things that Flutter and Gorgeous Caterpillars” class. The group discovered a variety of caterpillars, including fall webworms, unicorn prominents, morning glory prominents, clear daggers, rustic sphinxes, bagworms, Palamedes swallowtails, inchworms, spiny oak-slugs, and armyworms. Many of the caterpillars were found on or associated with native plants around them. For example, a rustic sphinx caterpillar was found on American beautyberry, a Palamedes swallowtail was found on swamp red bay, and a spiny oak-slug was found on blackberry.

One of the biggest takeaways from the class was the important relationship between caterpillars and plants. While some caterpillars specialize in eating only certain plants, many are generalists that can feed on a variety of species. Providing a diversity of native plants in our yards and landscapes can therefore create valuable habitat for caterpillars and the wildlife that depends on them. And caterpillars are more than just an interesting discovery on a walk. They are an important source of food for birds and other wildlife and play a key role in healthy ecosystems. Participants also spotted several spiders during their exploration, including golden-silk orbweavers, jumping spiders, crab spiders, and other orbweavers — a reminder that there is always more wildlife to discover when we take the time to look closely.

Getting to Know South Carolina’s Spiders

At Goodale State Park, participants joined Professor Austin Jenkins for our “Spiders of September” workshop. The program offered an opportunity to learn more about these fascinating arachnids and take a closer look at the incredible diversity of spiders found throughout South Carolina. The group observed a remarkable variety of spiders, including labyrinth orbweavers, orchard orbweavers, spinybacked orbweavers, green lynx spiders, giant golden orbweavers, jumping spiders, fishing spiders, crab spiders, and several other species.

South Carolina is home to hundreds of spider species, each with its own unique behaviors, habitats, and adaptations. Even their webs can provide clues about what kind of spider built them. Orb weavers, for example, construct the familiar circular webs many of us recognize, while funnel-weaving spiders create sheet-like webs that lead into a protected funnel where the spider can hide. The group also learned that spiders are remarkably successful at colonizing new and disturbed habitats. They can be among the first animals to establish themselves in changing environments, making them an important part of the natural world around us. And, of course, no spider class would be complete without a reminder that not everything with eight legs is actually a spider. Participants also spotted harvestmen, commonly known as “daddy longlegs,” which belong to a different group of arachnids.

Wildlife Is All Around Us

Together these two classes highlighted just how much wildlife can be found in places we might otherwise overlook. A caterpillar tucked beneath a leaf, a spider waiting in its web, or a harvestman moving through the leaf litter may seem small, but each plays a role in the larger ecosystem. Taking the time to observe these animals can help us better understand the habitats around us, and why protecting those habitats matters.

These classes also offered an important reminder about the value of leaving natural areas a little wild. Leaf litter, fallen branches, native plants, and other natural features provide food, shelter, and places for wildlife to live and reproduce. Even something as simple as leaving the leaves in your yard can provide winter shelter for spiders and other small animals.

Creating Wildlife Habitat at Home

You don’t have to visit a preserve or state park to discover incredible wildlife. You can create habitat right in your own backyard by incorporating native plants and providing food, water, cover, and places for wildlife to raise their young. Native plants are especially valuable for caterpillars and other insects because they provide the resources they need to complete their life cycles. A wildlife-friendly yard can also attract spiders, birds, butterflies, moths, and countless other species. SCWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat® program provides resources for creating and improving wildlife habitat at home. By making thoughtful changes to our landscapes, we can create spaces that support wildlife while bringing more of South Carolina’s natural world closer to home.

Keep Exploring

The best way to appreciate wildlife is to take the time to observe it. Look beneath leaves, examine native plants, watch for webs, and pay attention to the small creatures that often go unnoticed. Whether you’re fascinated by caterpillars, curious about spiders, or simply want to learn more about South Carolina’s wildlife, there’s always something new to discover. Thank you to everyone who joined us for these programs, and to Professor Dave Coyle and Professor Austin Jenkins for sharing their knowledge and helping participants see this incredible wildlife from a new perspective.

Interested in joining us for a future program? Visit our events page to see upcoming classes, workshops, and opportunities to get outside and learn more about South Carolina’s wildlife.

WAIT Partner Update: Michelin

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Michelin Americas Research Center (MARC) has been providing wildlife habitat and supporting SCWF through the Wildlife and Industry Together (WAIT) partnership for 15 years! Recently, Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager conducted a flora and fauna survey at the MARC facility in the upstate.

Among several species of birds, native plants, and a few reptiles, Jay found what he would consider the “holy grail” of caterpillars; the curve-lined owlet moth, which was found on a large patch of native greenbrier, a vine that many homeowners and businesses remove because of its thicket-forming nature. Without this patch of greenbrier, however, this caterpillar would not have been spotted. Within the 196 acres of wildlife habitat at MARC, there is a healthy population of native persimmon, oaks, black cherry, black locust, and maple trees, which support many of our silk moth caterpillars like the polyphemus, imperial, and luna moths – all of which have been spotted and recorded by Michelin employees using the iNaturalist app for this property.

 

In addition to many moths recorded by employees, 56 bird species have been recorded, including a yellow-crowned night heron, as well as several frog species, many reptiles, beetles, and mushrooms. Vines such as trumpet vine, passionflower, crossvine and greenbrier were abundant, providing food for both larva and adult moths and butterflies. Late summer and fall blooming flowers like common boneset, goldenrod, and aster were abundant in the prairie area near the retention pond, increasing the variety of food provided to wildlife on the property. It is a wonderful thing for companies to provide habitat for wildlife on their property, but in addition to that, the employees at MARC are recording and documenting the species they are seeing on their property, contributing to citizen science and connecting to the world around them. We applaud MARC and its employees for their conservation and education efforts at and around their property!

Wetlands 101 Webinar

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Wetlands are essential to South Carolina’s communities and ecosystems, but they’re facing growing threats from development and a changing landscape. In this webinar, the South Carolina Conservation Coalition explores why wetlands matter, the benefits they provide, and what communities can do to help preserve them.

Coalition Co-Chair Emily Poole leads a conversation with staff from the SC Office of Resilience and the Town of Bluffton about recent efforts to protect wetlands, build resilience across the state, and create local policies that support wetland conservation.

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is proud to be a member of the South Carolina Conservation Coalition and to work alongside partners across the state to raise awareness and advance protections for South Carolina’s valuable wetlands.

Learn more about the South Carolina Conservation Coalition at https://www.conservationcoalitionsc.org/.

Webinar recorded on August 11th, 2026. Provided by the South Carolina Conservation Coalition.

Header image credit: Andrea Capers

Protecting Habitat for Endangered Species- Chapin Magazine

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Written by Sara Green for Chapin Magazine

Published September 10, 2026: https://www.chapinmagazine.com/home/2026/9/9/protecting-habitat-for-endangered-species

Protecting Habitat for Endangered Species

Mountain stream – photo by Greg Hammond

Standing amongst towering longleaf pines in the sandhills of South Carolina, I watch in awe as a pair of red-cockaded woodpeckers enter and exit a nesting cavity in one of the trees. I delight in the squeaky sounds of this species that has recently been removed from “endangered” status after decades of habitat restoration and conservation work.

Northern bobwhite quail – photo by Matthew Jolley

 

Suddenly, behind me, a different sound transports me back to my childhood – “bob-WHITE!” Now, that’s a sound I don’t hear as often anymore. Northern bobwhite quail populations have declined by more than 85% across the United States. However, numbers have started to increase again in SC over the last 10 years.

As I’m standing in the longleaf pine forest, watching red-cockaded woodpeckers and listening to the calling quail, I cannot help but think about how habitat restoration efforts have helped both of these species. They both thrive in mature pine woodlands without hardwood trees and dense shrubs. Regular controlled burns every 2 to 3 years prevent hardwood growth, allowing the low plants which quail need for their food and cover to flourish while making it easier for the woodpeckers to forage for food.

These important habitat protections have historically come from an important federal law – the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Because of the previous “endangered” status of the red-cockaded woodpecker, its habitat in longleaf pine forests has been protected through the ESA. Although the northern bobwhite quail isn’t endangered, its struggling population has also greatly benefited from the protections of the woodpeckers’ habitat.

This is just one example of how the habitat protections that the ESA has provided are critical to preserving endangered species populations, as well as many other species of wildlife that depend on those same habitats, including game species and migratory birds.

Today, these habitat protections are in jeopardy. A new federal rule attempts to eliminate protection for the habitat of endangered and threatened species. This could be a death sentence for imperiled wildlife and the at-risk habitats they depend on.

Worldwide, wildlife populations have declined by an average of nearly 70% in the past 50 years. More than one-third of U.S. wildlife species are at risk of extinction. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has identified 1,764 species of plants and animals which are in need of conservation measures – more than double the number from 10 years ago!

Habitat loss is the #1 cause of extinction. Roughly 85% of ESA-listed species rely on habitat protection for their survival and recovery.

The ESA has been one of the most effective and comprehensive conservation laws in the world, preventing extinction for 99% of species protected by it since it was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973. Congress intended the ESA to regulate the destruction of habitat when it proclaimed the first purpose of the ESA was “to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved.”

For more than 50 years, through twenty-five congressional terms and ten presidential administrations, prohibited “take” of species protected by the ESA has included significant habitat changes that result in species death or injury.

South Carolina is now one of the fastest growing states in the country, and new development is popping up everywhere. Forests, fields and wetlands are disappearing and wildlife are pushed out in search of other suitable habitats.

The ESA’s historic definition of “harm” includes habitat destruction or modification. The ESA’s historic definition of prohibited “take” of a listed species included actions that destroyed habitat when doing so would kill or injure wildlife. The ESA thus forced parties who sought to destroy the habitat of listed species to look before they leapt.

Importantly, the ESA rarely stops development projects. Instead, professionals from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service work with developers to design a project that reduces harm to imperiled wildlife and their habitat. The ESA has worked historically to protect habitats while still allowing projects to proceed with adequate safeguards.

There are many examples of wildlife species that need habitat protections all across our state. Due to the different types of ecosystems from the mountains to the sea, our state hosts a globally significant variety of species.

Altering forest habitat would degrade nesting, denning, and feeding features for the recently listed northern long-eared bat and two other bat species in SC listed as endangered. According to the SCDNR, bat species prey on insects and are of great economic importance to the state – they suppress nocturnal insect populations, including crop and forest pests, and reduce the need for costly pesticides. Bats save South Carolina’s agricultural industry over $115 million each year in pest suppression services, totaling $22.9 billion for the U.S. annually.

The Carolina heelsplitter is a critically endangered freshwater mussel found in streams across central SC. These and other freshwater mussels help establish the foundation of aquatic ecosystems and are vital for water quality. Mussels are natural filters and help to remove algae and bacteria from streams by feeding on them. They keep waterways clean for fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as for people. Since they filter water, however, mussels are especially vulnerable to habitat alteration including building of impoundments, channelization, dredging, and streambank scouring by stormwater runoff.

Loggerhead sea turtles are South Carolina’s state reptile, and a beloved visitor to our sandy beaches every summer for nesting. They are listed as “threatened” under the ESA, and as such, our beaches have been protected from alteration that would disrupt nesting habitat for this species as well as the endangered leatherback and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles which also occasionally visit SC beaches. Coastal residents and tourists alike know that we can’t walk on the dunes to avoid destroying the very environment that the turtles rely on for nesting. We can’t leave chairs or tents on the beach overnight, and we must fill in holes in the sand for risk of obstructing the turtles. All of these protections help to keep the loggerheads coming back to our beaches every summer.

Loggerhead sea turtle – photo by Sara Green

 

Just down the beach, piping plovers, a small, federally threatened shorebird, use South Carolina’s coast extensively as a wintering and migratory stopover habitat. They arrive on the South Carolina coast from northern breeding grounds starting as early as July and remain through late winter or early spring. They rest and feed on our wide sandy beaches, sand spits, and small coastal islands where they look for food in shallow pools and muddy areas where ocean tides bring in tiny sea creatures. Like many of South Carolina’s listed species, plovers face many threats from habitat destruction or modification, such as ripping up dune grass, raking beaches without adequate spotting for nests, shoreline alteration, or stabilization projects. These habitat impacts undoubtedly cause harm to the plovers by destroying areas they need to rest and forage during a large part of the year.

Piping plovers – photo by Harry Collins

 

To continue to protect these and other endangered and threatened species, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation has joined with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and state affiliates from North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, and Hawaii to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Federal District Court in Charleston, SC over the agencies’ reckless and illegal attempt to eliminate protection for the habitat of protected species under the ESA.

This unlawful regulatory shift could be a death sentence for imperiled wildlife and at-risk habitats they depend on, as well as common species which share those habitats. The agencies’ rescission violates federal laws including the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the ESA itself. This issue is very simple – if we want to protect species, we have to protect their homes.

Loggerhead sea turtle hatchling – photo by Ron Scroggy

 

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation

One of the 52 state & territory affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) was founded in 1931. As the oldest conservation organization in the state, SCWF promotes science-based wildlife conservation policies and provides high quality education programs for all ages. SCWF’s mission is to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy. This is an urgent responsibility for all South Carolinians. Our natural resources improve the quality of life for each of us: hunters and fishermen, hikers and bikers, bird watchers and nature lovers, surfers and kayakers, and countless others. Our goal is to help people connect more deeply with nature—and to protect it for the next generation. Contributions to SCWF are an investment in the quality of South Carolina’s future. For more information, visit scwf.org.

WAIT Partner Update: Westinghouse

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After a recent visit in the spring, Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager, felt invigorated after touring part of the Westinghouse property with their employees. The excitement came after learning about the pre-construction work and stormwater modifications for a proposed new facility on their site. 

The stormwater modifications include implementation of an Army Corp approved Nationwide Permit 27 for wetlands enhancement. They have created a stream with purposeful meanders, riffles, and pools that will provide habitat for all types of wildlife.

 

 

During the visit, Jay heard the songs of white-eyed vireo, blue-grey gnatcatchers, and Northern parulas as they were claiming their breeding territory in the area. Westinghouse has also installed blue bird and owl nesting boxes on their site.

 

The purpose of the stream is to separate natural stormwater that comes onto the site from Bluff Rd. from the industrial stormwater. Hundreds of native plants were installed along the sides of the stream to prevent erosion while at the same time providing additional habitat for wildlife. The stream could become one of the most biodiverse areas of any WAIT partner in the state and we are very excited they completed this enhancement project.

Learn more about our WAIT program here.

State Museum opens Carolina Wildlife Garden

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Article published on August 30th, 2026 by Cola Daily

https://www.coladaily.com/communities/state-museum-officially-opens-carolina-wildlife-garden/article_55129083-2e57-447b-b147-907473dcd229.html

Photo courtesy of South Carolina State Museum

A Carolina Wildlife Garden featuring South Carolina natural and cultural history is now officially open at the South Carolina State Museum.

The museum hosted a ribbon cutting August 29 to publicly launch the new educational garden, envisioned and brought to life by Planting South Carolina’s Roots, an initiative of a Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) Spring 2026 Class cohort in partnership with the State Museum and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

“This garden grew out of our desire to create a permanent native habitat that would welcome visitors to the State Museum and educate them about plants native to South Carolina that support pollination and wildlife,” said Amy Bartow-Melia, South Carolina State Museum executive director and member of the Riley Institute DLI Planting South Carolina Roots cohort. “We hope the garden inspires visitors to cultivate a greater diversity of native plants in their own gardens.”

 

Photo courtesy of South Carolina State Museum

To help young gardeners start their own native gardens, the Planting South Carolina’s Roots also provided seeds and planting kits to the 300 participants in the State Museum’s summer camps. With ongoing financial support, school groups visiting the museum will continue to receive seeds and planting kits to encourage curiosity, responsibility and a lasting appreciation of South Carolina’s unique natural heritage.

For inspiration, visitors can see native plants like Yellow Jessamine, Frog Fruit, Phlox, and Butterfly Weed in the Carolina Wildlife Garden just as they enter the South Carolina State Museum parking lot from Gervais Street.  The garden was planted in May 2026 with the help of Girl Scout Troop 1630 and the Future Farmers of America Chapter at Lexington-Richland 5 using a design developed by landscape gardener Dr. Lisa Kershaw and with financial support from Skyla Credit Union and Elrod Pope Law Firm.

“This Carolina Wildlife Garden embodies the spirit of the community coming together to plant living and lasting roots that will continue to grow and flourish for all of us to enjoy and learn from for many years to come,” said Richland County Council Chair Jesica Mackey, who helped cut the ribbon officially opening the garden.

The garden is already actively attracting wildlife. Since the May planting, museum staff have documented 22 species of insects visiting the garden including beetles, butterflies, dragonflies and bees. Last year, the City of Columbia affiliated with Bee City USA to encourage improving local landscapes for pollinators, and this Carolina Wildlife Garden is doing just that.

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation also recognized the project during the ribbon cutting ceremony, designating the garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

 

Photo courtesy of South Carolina State Museum

“We are excited that the State Museum is now home to a wildlife garden that is already a habitat for a variety of creatures,” said Sara Green, executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. “The location of this garden is ideal to help thousands of visitors who come to the museum each year learn more about how they can foster similar wildlife gardens at home.”

The Carolina Wildlife Garden will serve as a living classroom and a statewide resource to provide students, educators, families and community organizations with opportunities to engage in the exploration of conservation, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship.

 

SCWF Participates in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census

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For 15 minutes in August, South Carolinians slowed down and paid attention to the flowers around them. Instead of simply passing by a blooming plant, participants watched closely, counting bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, and other insects as they visited flowers. Those observations may have only lasted a short time, but together they contributed to something much bigger: a regional snapshot of pollinator activity across the Southeast.

On August 21st and 22nd, SCWF participated in and hosted community counts for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a citizen science project created by the University of Georgia. The annual effort invites people of all ages and experience levels to observe pollinators visiting a single blooming plant and record what they see.

 

 

The first count of the day started at the SCWF office in Columbia at 1519 Richland Street. Two years ago, we installed a pollinator garden outside of our office. We got to observe our native plants in action as we counted the pollinators that visited our plants like butterfly weed and baptisia. Our staff observed a lot of small bees, honey bees, and flies as we participated in the count.

 

 

The next stop of the day was at Chapin Town Hall in Chapin. In partnership with our friends with the Chapin Garden Club, a beautiful 70ft long Carolina Fence Garden has been installed at Chapin Town Hall. This garden was buzzing full of pollinators and insects. We welcomed the public to come out and join the count, and were also joined by the Chapin Garden Club and Snug Harbor Wildlife Rescue. During this count, we observed a lot of different species of wasps, small bees, months, and even some butterflies! Families also enjoyed a special garden story time and pollinator education from our Conservation Program Manager Savannah Jordan, and left with a fun prize and a free packet of native flower seeds to continue supporting pollinators at home.

 

The last count of the day was at the Richland Library in Ballentine. The community was invited to come out to the library’s pollinator garden to join Master Naturalist Tami Kyre, SCWF Conservation Project Manager Savannah Jordan, and Richland Library staff member Melissa Sprenne for an afternoon of pollinator discovery and education. Families searched the garden for pollinators while learning how to identify the many buzzing visitors that call the space home. The day also featured a special story time, interactive educational activities, and free, native seeds to take home. It was a fun and engaging celebration of pollinators that brought together people of all ages and an opportunity to learn more about the important role we all can play in creating habitat for them!

 

Participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census was a wonderful reminder to slow down, take a closer look at the flowers around us, and appreciate the pollinators that play such an essential role in our ecosystems and food systems. Every observation made contributed valuable community science data that helps researchers better understand pollinator populations, identify trends, and inform conservation efforts to protect these essential species and their habitats. We are grateful to everyone who joined us at one of our events, participated in the census, and helped make a difference for pollinators!

 

 

Ephemeral Streams May Now Be at Risk – New Research

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Lacey McCormick & Erica Claycomb

National Wildlife Federation

https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2026/7-20-2026-Charleston-Drinking-Water

 

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Researchers at Yale and the University of Massachusetts have found that 50 percent of the water in the Edisto River starts out in streams that may no longer be protected by the Clean Water Act. These types of streams also provide 40 percent of the water in Bushy Park Reservoir.

New Research: Maps of streams at risk in the Edisto River and Bushy Park Reservoir watersheds

The Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that streams can only be protected under the federal Clean Water Act if they are “relatively permanent,” effectively excluding ephemeral streams that flow after rainfall or snowmelt.

The decision also greatly restricted which freshwater wetlands can be protected. An Environmental Protection Agency analysis suggests that roughly 74 percent, or 2.3 million acres, of South Carolina’s freshwater wetlands may no longer be protected.

“Clean drinking water starts at the source,” said Sara Green, executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. “For decades, the Clean Water Act helped protect the streams that provide our drinking water. Now we need to look at what we can do on the state and local level to keep these streams clean and healthy.”

The new maps of Charleston-area streams were built using models originally developed for a nationwide study of ephemeral streams published in the journal Science.

“Our research shows that small streams exert a meaningful influence on downstream, larger rivers, including systems that supply drinking water,” said Craig Brinkerhoff, a river scientist and engineer at Yale. “All of these waters are connected and if enough of these streams were polluted or damaged, it could potentially impact Charleston’s drinking water supplies over the long run.”

EPA is currently working on a formal rule outlining which types of streams and wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act.

“Healthy streams and wetlands aren’t just pretty, they filter and remediate common pollutants like bacteria and agricultural runoff. Without Clean Water Act protections, a critical piece of our water treatment infrastructure is at risk,” said Green.

South Carolina’s drinking water infrastructure was recently rated a D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which estimates the state already has $6 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs.

EPA documents acknowledge that loss of protections for these streams could increase the cost to treat raw water to drinking water standards.

“It’s a double-whammy that we are losing these longstanding federal protections at the same time the President’s budget proposes deep cuts to water treatment funding,” said Jessie Ritter, associate vice president for water at the National Wildlife Federation. “EPA should be transparent about how leaving these streams unprotected will affect Americans’  drinking water.”

Additional Resources:

SCWF joins the National Wildlife Federation and other state affiliates in a lawsuit to uphold the Endangered Species Act

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SELC, Conservation Groups, to Sue Over ‘Disastrous’ Wildlife Rollbacks

National Wildlife Federation and five others will take FWS and NMFS to Federal Court  

CHARLESTON, S.C.—The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Florida Wildlife Federation, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Association of Northwest Steelheaders, and Conservation Council for Hawaii, gave 60-day notice to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that they intend to sue over the agencies’ reckless and illegal attempt to eliminate protection for the habitat of protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). For decades, habitat protections under the ESA have been critical to the survival and recovery of nearly all listed species. 

 

This unlawful regulatory shift could be a death sentence for imperiled wildlife and at-risk habitats they depend on. It could also harm common species, including iconic southern wildlife like bobwhite quail and brook trout. The agencies’ rescission violates federal laws including the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the ESA itself. 

 

“This disastrous rescission attempts to pull the teeth out of the ESA and tries to allow widespread destruction of iconic habitats across the nation, like our treasured long-leaf pine ecosystems in South Carolina,” said Catherine Wannamaker, a senior attorney in SELC’s Charleston office. “The rescission is not just illegal, it makes no sense. To protect and recover imperiled species, you must protect their homes.”

 

Habitat loss and degradation are the main causes of extinction for listed species, meaning habitat protection and restoration are essential to imperiled species’ successful conservation and recovery. The rescission finalized today by FWS and NMFS removes the definition of “harm” from the agencies’ rules. For decades, agencies defined harm to include “significant habitat modification or degradation” that kills or injures wildlife.  This definition was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995.  

 

“South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states, and the associated new development is really changing the landscape of our beautiful state — which is the reason a lot of people move here,” said Sara K. Green, executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. “The habitat protections that the Endangered Species Act has provided are critical to preserving endangered species populations as well as many other species of wildlife that depend on those same habitats, including game species and migratory birds.” 

 

Removing this definition will risk accelerating destruction of habitat, which is the leading cause of species decline. The stakes from any narrowing of habitat protections are higher for wildlife here in the South. We host a globally significant variety of plants and animals that are under mounting pressure because of human-made threats, including climate change and habitat loss. More than 250 species across SELC’s six-state region are protected by the ESA.

 

“To remove habitat considerations from how we conserve wildlife is simply illogical,” said Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. “This proposal to remove habitat protections is a death knell for species.”

 

The ESA is one of the most effective and comprehensive conservation laws in the world, preventing extinction for 99 percent of species protected by it. The ESA also has broad public support. It was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, and since then, through twenty-five congressional terms and ten presidential administrations, has regulated the destruction of habitat. This rule change risks the ESA’s legacy of successfully protecting our national heritage. 

 

Donate HERE to help SCWF fight for endangered and threatened species in our state.

 

Header photo credits: Debra Partridge