Cases

Northern Spotted Owl Critical Habitat

Clients

Cascadia Wildlands ProjectFriends of Living Oregon WatersHeadwatersKlamath-Siskiyou Wildlands CenterOregon Wild

Regional Office / Program

Northwest Office

Case Overview

The Fish and Wildlife Service approved several timber sales in areas nominally protected as critical habitat for the northern spotted owl. Earthjustice sued to stop the sales. In February 2007, the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals ruled that the FWS violated the Endangered Species Act when it approved the sales.

Case Updates

November 9, 2021 Press Release: Victory

Conservation Groups Relieved Protections Will Remain for 3.4 Million Acres of Critical Northern Spotted Owl Habitat

Critical habitat rule reverses Trump administration’s dismantling of environmental protections for Northwest old-growth forests

March 23, 2021 Press Release

Conservation Groups Ask Court to Reinstate Protections on 3.4 Million Acres of Critical Northern Spotted Owl Habitat

Legal action seeks to reverse Trump administration’s dismantling of environmental protections for Northwest’s disappearing old-growth forests

March 23, 2021 document

Spotted Owl Complaint

Earthjustice's Northwest office filed a complaint March 23, 2021 to protect more than 3 million acres of northern spotted owl habitat.

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Case page created on February 20, 2007.