In the remaining days of his term, Trump removed the protection of more than three million acres of land inhabited by the endangered northern spotted owls. Located across the Pacific Northwest regions, Trump’s latest action further increased the number of public lands that have lost protection against logging activities not covered by forest management rules, The regions affected are mostly in Northern California, in the coasts of Oregon and Washington all regarded as prime timber locations .

Although the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service already changed the rules regarding public lands allocated as habitats for the northern spotted owl, the revision will take effect on March 16, 2021. This means that there is still time for wildlife organizations to bring the matter to the current president’s attention who, in all probability, will see to the reversal of such action.

President Biden after all was the Vice President to former President Obama with whom he worked in protecting 548 million acres of public property, both in sea and land. The size made record as the largest measure of land that has been granted protection in the history of U.S. public land management.

Trump’s Public Land Management Track Record

According to the Center for American Progress’ (CAP), which in May 2020 had conducted an analysis of Trump’s track record in public management, Trump had actually stripped rather than provided public lands with protection, which affected almost 35 million acres of public land. Described as nearly the size of the state of Florida, Trump made record as the only president in U.S. history to have taken action in removing instead of instituting protection on public lands.

According to the CAP report, the degeneration of the natural heritage caused by the Trump administration occurred within the 4-year span of his term is a serious concern. The report underscores the importance of public land management because they are finite resources, which if destroyed will be gone forever.