• The United States government is rolling back conservation policies in a way that demonstrably risks accelerating already at-risk coral reefs around its island territory, Guam, in the Pacific Ocean. • Part of the issue is the way the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is defined. • Researchers from the University of Tokyo, University of Guam, University of Technology Sydney and Cornell University strongly suggest broadening key species categories such that reefs are more generally protected. • At present, overly specific terminology means anything outside key categories doesn’t fall under the ESA and is therefore open to further human interference.
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