Habitat protection program failing, researchers say
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CNN's Jim Hill reports on the use of Habitat Conservation Plans to help endangered species.
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February 12, 1999
Web posted at: 12:20 p.m. EST (1720 GMT)
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- A federal program designed to benefit both landowners and threatened species often fails to help the latter because of loopholes and inadequate science, according to a national research group.
Habitat Protection Plans, a 1982 provision to the Environment Protection Act, allow landowners to develop where endangered species live, as long as they find a way to offset any damage to the species in question.
But the plans are often concocted without sound
science, researchers say. For example, when desert tortoises were moved to make way for a new development, the reptiles perished due to diseases contracted in their new home.
CNN's Jim Hill has the full story on the embattled program.
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ANCHORS & REPORTERS:
Jim Hill
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RELATED SITES:
Endangered Species Home Page, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs)
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
• Using Science in Habitat Conservation Plans (PDF file)
Tortoise Group: The Organization for the Protection of Nevada's Resident Tortoises, Inc.
The Desert Tortoise Council
Reason Foundation
• Lynn Scarlett
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