A rare Jamaican butterfly gets US endangered species protection

The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to list the Jamaican kite swallowtail butterfly as an endangered species. This means the butterfly will receive protections under US law, even though it lives in Jamaica.

The US Endangered Species Act can protect species that live entirely outside the United States. This proposed rule means that any US-based activity that might harm the Jamaican kite swallowtail, such as certain types of trade or development, would be restricted. It extends the reach of US environmental law beyond its borders.