Hello, I am concerned about…

Hello,
I am concerned about some of the proposed changes to the ESA. As a MSc student, I think that the ESA should maintain its science-based listing process and not allow minister discretion at listing. It is also important that mandatory habitat protection is maintained without minister discretion as delays in protection can be permanently detrimental to threatened species. Lastly, successful species protection and improvement requires direct funding, a general conservation fund will increase the time and hoops conservationists need to go through in order to put protection measures in place and may redirect effort away from the most vulnerable species and habitats. I hope this ESA review looks forward long term and realizes many of the proposed changes will do more harm than good and re-directs back into efficient and effective conservation action.