Secretary Haaland on Endangered Species Day

Transcript:


Hi, I'm Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior

Animals, plants, insects, and all living things are part of the balance of nature that our world relies on, but today there are species at risk of being lost forever.  
Over a century ago, we learned that forms of wildlife are not only valuable but vulnerable to human actions. I often think about the heartbreaking extinction of the passenger pigeon, a bird who supplied sustenance to small communities and migrated in massive flocks across the middle of our country.  

Their migrations made seasonal sounds and the spectacle of their sheer numbers  was a part of American life. A Potawatomi Chief remarked that he “witnessed these birds drop from their course like meteors from heaven.” 
But sadly, mass hunting and human disruptions to their nesting grounds created a domino effect and in 1900, the last known wild passenger pigeon died in captivity.  

Our national symbol, the Bald Eagle, faced a similar fate, until we took active steps to save them.  
Whether we think about it regularly or not, plants and wildlife make all our lives better. And they need our active protection. 
At Interior we’re bringing partners together to recover plants, fish, wildlife and their habitats before they need protection under the Endangered Species Act. 

It’s a strategy that’s making great strides, in part because conserving one at-risk plant or animal often benefits many others. 
While significant progress has been made in safeguarding our nation's imperiled animals, plants, and insects, many still face daunting challenges to recovery, including climate change.  

The Endangered Species Act is so important to ensuring our next generation experiences the wonders of nature.  Our new America the Beautiful initiative to conserve 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 will go a long way to complementing the Endangered Species Act by  

Valuing traditional knowledge,  

Expanding collaborative conservation,  

Increasing access for outdoor recreation, and  

Creating jobs by investing in restoration and resilience projects and initiatives 

On this Endangered Species Day, I honor the science-based work that protects so many critical species. I encourage everyone to think about how you can play a role in protecting animals, plants, and insects now - for future generations. 

Protecting plants and wildlife for the present, and for the future; on Endangered Species Day, Secretary Haaland encourages everyone to think about the role they can play in saving animal and plant species from endangerment, and extinction.

  • Video
    08/29/2025

    Inside Interior | August 29, 2025

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    Transcript:

    This is Inside Interior.

    From minerals to monuments, from public safety to public lands, the Department of the Interior is focused on energy, security, and preserving what matters most to America.

    First up: the U.S. Geological Survey just released the draft 2025 List of Critical Minerals - designed to guide federal investments, permitting, and policy decisions. New additions to the list? Potash, silicon, copper, silver, rhenium, and lead. These additions strengthen domestic mining, streamline permitting, and boost U.S. mineral processing - ensuring America remains resource-secure and globally competitive.

    In more good news, Interior just announced 42 new hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 87,000 acres of public land - that's three times more than the last administration allowed. It's a win for conservation, the outdoor economy, and the American way of life.

    In Washington, D.C., crime is down, and our Park Police are stronger than ever. And now, thanks to President Donald Trump’s latest executive order, more park police officers are being hired to keep America’s capital safe and secure. To thank our law enforcement for their brave work and dedication, Secretary Doug Burgum and Interior employees hosted a cookout this week for our Park Police officers in D.C. 

    Additionally, Interior deputized Customs and Border Protection officers to work alongside our park police to end rampant crime in our nation's capital.

    Mark your calendars for July 23, 2026, which has been officially designated by Interior as the Day of the American West, honoring the people, values, and traditions that shaped this nation’s frontier.

    And this past Monday, we celebrated 109 years of the National Park Service. That’s over a century of protecting America’s most treasured landscapes, from Alaska to the monuments in D.C.

    At Interior, we are building a safer, stronger, and more self-reliant America.

    That's it for this edition of Inside Interior.

    Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend.

    News and headlines from around Interior August 29, 2025

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