Press Releases
Jaguar photo by Tierra Curry/Center for Biological Diversity.
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Viewing recent news releases in the Florida and Caribbean Region program.
Pine Rocklands Conservation Team Wins 2024 Regional Recovery Champion Award
MIAMI— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a 2024 Regional Recovery Champion Award for the southeastern United States to the Pine Rocklands Conservation Team, a public-private partnership dedicated to protecting and restoring South Florida’s critically endangered pine rocklands ecosystem.
Read more.Hábitat del Tinglar en Puerto Rico: un paso más cercano a la protección
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Como resultado de una petición sometida por grupos de conservación, el Servicio Federal de Pesca y Vida Silvestre anunció la semana pasada que considerará designar hábitat de anidación para el tinglar (Dermochelys coriacea) en Puerto Rico como hábitat crítico protegido bajo la Ley de Especies en Peligro de Extinción. El hábitat revisado protegería tres importantes playas de anidación de tinglares en Puerto Rico, además de incluir otras playas alrededor de la isla.
Read more.Leatherback Sea Turtle Habitat in Puerto Rico One Step Closer to Protection
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— As a result of a petition filed by conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that nesting habitat for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Puerto Rico may warrant protection as designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The revised habitat would protect three important leatherback nesting beaches in Puerto Rico and may also include several other beaches on the island.
Read more.Judge Halts Operations at Everglades Detention Center With Preliminary Injunction
MIAMI— A federal judge today ordered the state of Florida and the Trump administration to halt construction, stop bringing new detainees and begin winding down operations at the mass detention center in Big Cypress National Preserve known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The preliminary injunction, requested by Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Miccosukee Tribe marks a major victory for Florida’s imperiled wildlife and fragile ecosystems which are threatened by the detention center.
Read more.Judge Hits Everglades Detention Center With Temporary Restraining Order
MIAMI— A federal judge today sided with conservation groups and granted a temporary restraining order ordering the state of Florida and the Trump administration to stop further construction of the mass detention center in Big Cypress National Preserve known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Rare Southeastern Pinesnake
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect the Florida pinesnake under the Endangered Species Act. The pinesnake lives in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
Read more.Hearing on Everglades Immigration Detention Center Set for Wednesday
MIAMI— U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams will hear testimony and arguments Wednesday in Miami on a lawsuit brought by conservation groups seeking an injunction against the state of Florida and the Trump administration over the construction and operation of the massive detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Read more.Legal Victory Gives Eastern Black Rails Another Shot at Habitat Protections
WASHINGTON— In a major victory for one of America’s most imperiled marsh birds, a federal court today sided with the Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf by striking down the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s refusal to designate critical habitat for the eastern black rail in Louisiana, Texas and other Gulf Coast states.
Read more.Legal Warning: Everglades ICE Facility Causing More Damaging Environmental Violations
MIAMI— Conservation groups warned government agencies in a legal filing today that they’re breaking the law by failing to protect the Big Cypress National Preserve from the increasingly destructive effects of the mass detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Read more.Legal Fight Continues Against Everglades I.C.E Detention Facility
MIAMI— Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal reply brief on July 3 in support of their motion for a temporary restraining order and injunction to stop activity at so-called “Alligator Alcatraz.” The massive immigration detention center is being constructed at breakneck speed in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve and threatens the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.
Read more.Virtual Press Conference Tuesday on Trump’s Visit to Planned Everglades Detention Center
MIAMI— Environmental groups will host a virtual press conference Tuesday about threats posed by the proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center under construction in Florida’s Everglades, and their federal lawsuit filed to halt it. Trump is scheduled to tour the site at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Everglades From Becoming I.C.E Detention Center
MIAMI— Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity today sued in U.S. District Court to protect the Florida Everglades from a reckless plan to create a massive detention center to confine people who are rounded up in immigration raids.
Read more.Legal Victory Gives Striped Newt Another Chance at Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— In a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to consider granting Endangered Species Act protections to the striped newt, which lives in Florida and Georgia.
Read more.Ghost Orchid Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— Following a petition and agreement with The Institute for Regional Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the ghost orchid as an endangered species.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Manatee Harassment in Crystal River
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity warned the Trump administration today that it intends to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and so-called Department of Government Efficiency for failing to adequately staff the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, resulting in unlawful harassment of protected Florida manatees.
Read more.Legal Intervention Sought to Protect Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Vessel Strikes
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups have filed a motion to intervene as defendants on behalf of NOAA Fisheries in a case challenging the agency’s 2008 vessel speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The case, brought by a vessel captain fined for knowingly violating seasonal speed limits, alleges that the agency lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule. Plaintiffs are asking the court to forbid the agency from enforcing civil penalties against the captain and the vessel owner.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Rescue Critically Imperiled Florida Salamanders
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the Trump administration today that it intends to sue over ongoing violations of the Endangered Species Act that are harming federally protected frosted flatwoods salamanders at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in north Florida.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect 11 South Florida Species
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, represented by the Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University College of Law, sued the Trump administration today for delaying Endangered Species Act protection for a lizard, two snakes and eight plants found in South Florida.
Read more.Legal Intervention Launched to Protect Florida Scrub Jays
FORT MYERS, Fla.— Four conservation groups, represented by Earthjustice, filed a request in federal court today to defend critical Endangered Species Act protections for the imperiled Florida scrub jay.
Read more.Florida Manatees Denied Greater Endangered Species Act Protections
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today denied endangered status for the Florida manatee and proposed to protect the Antillean manatee of Puerto Rico as endangered.
Read more.Four Caribbean Lizards Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a petition and legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity and reptile ecologist Renata Platenberg, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect four skinks found only in the Caribbean. The agency also proposed designating more than 150,400 acres of protected critical habitat for the four rare lizards.
Read more.Caribbean’s Pillar Coral Protected as Endangered
MIAMI— The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a final rule today to change the status of the pillar coral, a species found in Florida waters and elsewhere in the Caribbean, from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Two Florida Flowers
ST PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and biologist Kevan Schoonover McClelland filed petitions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today seeking Endangered Species Act protections for Jobé bluecurls and hidden bluecurls. These two exceedingly rare, ornate and fragrant flowers are found only in Florida.
Read more.Florida Manatees to Receive Nearly 2 Million Acres of Revised Protected Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed a revised critical habitat plan that would protect 1,904,191 acres of critical habitat for the Florida manatee, as well as 78,121 acres for the Antillean manatee in Puerto Rico. Their habitat hasn’t been updated since they were originally protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1976.
Read more.Former Piney Point Owner Liable for Tampa Bay Pollution Tied to Massive 2021 Fish Kill
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— A federal judge has found HRK Holdings LLC liable for a major pollution event in 2021. HRK’s Piney Point facility was linked to a massive fish kill after 215 million gallons of toxic wastewater were discharged into Tampa Bay to avert the catastrophic collapse of a waste impoundment.
Read more.Florida’s Black Creek Crayfish to Receive Endangered Species Act Protections
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the Black Creek crayfish as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the agency to protect the Florida crayfish in 2010.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Finalize Protection for 11 South Florida Species
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, represented by the Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University College of Law, notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that they intend to sue the agency for delaying Endangered Species Act protection for an imperiled lizard, two snakes and eight plants.
Read more.Cedar Key Mole Skink Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following an agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity to reconsider protections for the Cedar Key mole skink, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the skink as endangered under Endangered Species Act. The Service has also proposed to protect nearly 3,000 acres of life-saving critical habitat for the skink on its Florida islands.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Gulf Sturgeon from Dredging Project in Alabama’s Mobile Bay
MOBILE, Ala.— Mobile Baykeeper and the Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today that they intend to sue over the Corps’ failure to protect threatened Gulf sturgeon from a massive dredging project in Alabama’s Mobile Bay. Gulf sturgeon are ancient animals capable of growing 9 feet long and weighing 385 pounds.
Read more.Scientific Review Shows Gopher Tortoises at Risk of Extinction
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In a formal peer-reviewed letter published today in Global Ecology and Conservation, experts in modeling and turtle biology detailed several errors in a population viability model that led to a significant overestimate of future gopher tortoise populations. The flawed model was used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deny federal Endangered Species Act protections to the tortoises across most of their range in 2022.
Read more.Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle Protected as Threatened
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a petition and agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Victory Speeds Protection Decision for Rare Ghost Orchid
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to decide by June 1, 2025, whether to protect the imperiled ghost orchid. The agreement follows a lawsuit filed by The Institute for Regional Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Failure to Protect Manatees in Florida, Puerto Rico
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Environmental advocates notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue over the agency’s failure to respond to a request for stronger Endangered Species Act protections for West Indian manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico. The notice was sent by Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Save the Manatee Club, Miami Waterkeeper and Frank S. González Garcia.
Read more.Critical Habitat Designated for Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a court-ordered agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated more than 1.1 million acres of critical habitat for the endangered Florida bonneted bat. The indigenous bat faces devastating habitat loss from sea-level rise and destructive development.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Protect Leatherback Sea Turtle Habitat in Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Conservation groups filed a legal petition today urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revise protected critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) under the Endangered Species Act. The petition asks the wildlife agency to protect three important leatherback nesting beaches in Puerto Rico and to consider the addition of other important nesting beaches for this species on the island.
Read more.Petición busca proteger el hábitat de la tortuga laúd en Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Grupos conservacionistas presentaron hoy una petición legal instando al Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de los Estados Unidos a revisar el hábitat crítico protegido para la tortuga marina tinglar (Dermochelys coriacea) bajo la Ley Federal de Especies en Peligro de Extinción. La petición solicita a la agencia de vida silvestre que proteja tres playas de anidación del tinglar en Puerto Rico, las cuales en la actualidad carecen de algún tipo de protección legal.
Read more.Miami Wilds Stalls as Commissioners Withdraw Proposal in Victory for Endangered Wildlife
MIAMI— Miami-Dade County commissioners voted today to withdraw a proposal that would have amended the development lease agreement with Miami Wilds, LLC. Today’s decision stymies plans for a controversial themed water park and retail development that threatens endangered species near Zoo Miami.
Read more.Legal Victory Restores Safeguards for Miami-Dade Wildlife Habitat Threatened by Controversial Water Park
MIAMI— Responding to a lawsuit by conservation groups, a federal judge found today that the National Park Service violated the law when it released land-use restrictions on a site proposed for the controversial Miami Wilds water park.
Read more.Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office Recommends Canceling Miami Wilds Deal
MIAMI— The Miami-Dade County Mayor’s office issued a memorandum today recommending that the county commissioners rescind the development lease agreement with Miami Wilds LLC for a proposed water park development in an environmentally sensitive area at Zoo Miami.
Read more.Manatees Move Toward Restored Endangered Species Safeguards
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Responding to a formal petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club and Frank S. González García, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that reclassifying the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered may be warranted.
Read more.Diminutive Florida Snake to Receive Federal Endangered Species Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a 2012 petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the short-tailed snake as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also announced its intent to propose protections for the snake’s critical habitat.
Read more.Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Moves Toward World Heritage List
ATLANTA— Following widespread bipartisan support, the National Park Service announced today that it will nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage List.
Read more.Miami Cave Crayfish to Receive Endangered Species Act Protections
MIAMI— Following a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the Miami cave crayfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also announced its intent to propose protections for the crayfish’s critical habitat.
Read more.Miami-Dade Commissioners to Vote on Future of Miami Wilds Development
MIAMI— Following a lawsuit filed by conservation groups, the Board of County Commissioners for Miami-Dade County will meet Wednesday, Sept. 6, to vote on the future of the Miami Wilds theme park, retail, hotel and parking lot development. The development threatens several endangered species and their critical habitat on and around the proposed project area.
Read more.Pillar Coral Proposed for Increased Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service proposed today to change the status of the pillar coral, a species found in Florida waters and elsewhere in the Caribbean, from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal is based on population declines and susceptibility to a recently emerged coral disease, according to the Service.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Denial of Endangered Species Protection to Gopher Tortoise
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Nokuse Education, Inc. sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying Endangered Species Act protections to gopher tortoises across most of their range. The decision left the imperiled reptiles without lifesaving federal safeguards in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and most of Alabama.
Read more.Threatened Caribbean Corals Receive Critical Habitat Protections
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service announced critical habitat designations today for five species of Caribbean corals. The agency’s final rule protects 6,500 square miles of marine habitat in Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Navassa Island and the Flower Gardens Banks in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Critical Habitat Protection Proposed for Green Sea Turtles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a legal agreement with environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries today proposed to designate roughly 8,850 acres of beaches and nearly 428,000 square miles of coastal waters as protected critical habitat for six distinct populations of green sea turtles.
Read more.Small Florida Fish Is Endangered Species Act Success
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today removed a small Florida fish called the Okaloosa darter from the endangered species list because it has recovered. After decades of conservation work, the tiny fish is no longer in danger of extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Ghost Orchid
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The Institute for Regional Conservation, the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue the agency for delaying critically needed Endangered Species Act protection for the ghost orchid.
Read more.