It could soon become a lot harder for conservation groups to sue to stop development in sensitive wildlife habitat in California and across the country.

Conservation groups pointed to a rule change finalized Friday by a federal agency under President Donald Trump. The move guts part of the Endangered Species Act by redefining the term “harm” to exclude habitat destruction.

Jewel Tomasula, national policy director for the Endangered Species Coalition, said it opens the door to projects that disturb wildlife habitat as long as the projects do not directly kill the species.

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“We know that the Trump administration and industry is going to look to abuse this by taking all the chances they can get to destroy habitat and to have unchecked activities like logging, mining, oil and gas development,” Tomasula contended.

In a statement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service defended the change, calling the old definition of harm a misguided example of federal overreach and a burden to landowners. California is home to more than 142 animal species federally listed as endangered or threatened, including the monarch butterfly and the California condor.

Conservation groups have vowed to sue to stop this rule change. Tomasula encouraged people to make voices heard on the Trump administration’s interpretation of the Endangered Species Act.

“With enough public outcry and pressure, the Trump administration can roll back their decisions. Congress can also step in and void this rule,” Tomasula pointed out.

Habitat protection under the California Endangered Species Act remains in force. Meanwhile, other endangered or threatened species in the state include the San Joaquin kit fox, bighorn sheep, the desert tortoise and the southern sea otter.