As President of the Juniata Valley Audubon Society, I stand with many who believe in protecting the natural world we depend on — our parks, wildlife and air.

In my experience, this is a shared value of both my Republican colleagues and Democrat colleagues. These wonders must be preserved, yet today, they face unprecedented threats due to regulatory rollbacks under the Trump administration.

Conservation is a human issue, not a political one. Our environment affects our health, economy and quality of life. Many of my Republican and Democrat friends can agree on this. Unfortunately, the current administration has undermined key environmental protections, risking decades of progress.

Rollbacks are threatening our future.

The Trump administration has taken actions that endanger our parks, wildlife, and public lands:

— The Clean Power Plan rollback increases pollution and climate change risks.

— The Endangered Species Act has been weakened, removing protections for at-risk species.

— Public land protections have been reduced, allowing destructive drilling and mining.

— The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections are undercut, threatening bird species already in decline.

— Water pollution protections have been diminished, endangering our drinking water and ecosystems.

These changes have real-world consequences, threatening biodiversity and putting communities living near polluted sites at risk.

The rollback also hurts the people protecting our environment. Budget cuts have led to job losses for park rangers and environmental staff, leaving national parks underfunded and understaffed.

These professionals safeguard our national parks, monitor ecosystems and protect endangered species, but many are facing layoffs and pay cuts. As jobs are lost, our parks grow more vulnerable to industrial exploitation.

But, this administration has made it perfectly clear (even in their first term) that this is the point of the cuts.

We cannot afford to lose this fight. The rollbacks pose an existential threat to our planet and the livelihoods of those protecting it.

To help, residents can join local conservation groups and become part of the movement to advocate for stronger conservation policies.

Advocate for stronger regulations by writing to your representatives, demanding accountability for harmful environmental decisions.

Support conservation workers by standing with park rangers and environmental staff, calling for fair treatment and restored funding.

Stay informed and share the facts.

Michael Kensinger of Altoona is president of the Juniata Valley Audubon Society.