Habitat for Species Recovery Seen Wanting

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is approving only about one of every two acres that federal biologists propose setting aside to help vanishing species recover.

Between 2001 and 2003, the government cut 42 million acres from plans to create nearly 83 million acres of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, a National Wildlife Federation study found.

The administration also more often cited economic reasons to justify decisions to reduce acreage. In 2001, that rationale was used to trim about 1 percent of the acreage; by 2003, that had risen to 69 percent.

The federation contends the administration is trying to undermine the Endangered Species Act. That conclusion is based on the group's interpretation of a study, provided to The Associated Press, of all critical habitat plans prepared during the Bush administration by the Interior Department's Fish and Wildlife Service and the White House's Office of Management and Budget.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040624/D83DCQ2O0.html