"It's possible the federal government could consider the situation so dire for the northern spotted owl that they would go to simply a no-take policy, where you just can't destroy spot owl nests," said Ash. "It could — might possibly — render a lot of habitat conservation plans null and void."
Habitat conservation plans are agreements between landowners and Fish and Wildlife that balance protections for a species against landowners' rights to use their property.
The northern spotted owl was designated a threatened species in 1990. Lawsuits by environmental groups forced the Clinton administration to adopt the Northwest Forest Plan in 1994, which cut logging on federal lands in the Northwest by more than 80 percent. The Northwest Forest Plan became a de facto recovery plan for the owl, but did not cover state and private forestlands.
Where does one start with such a poorly written article? According to the Audubon women, cutting nests is OK This is wrong, it is federal crime to harm an endangered species... a federal go to jail type offense.
So, if the Northwest Forest (ie Clinton) Plan doesn't cover private land, why do the private landowner's have Habitat Conservation Plans (ie permits) from the fed gov?
Here's the skinny: the enviros hate the individual Habitat conservation plans because they are backroom deals between big industry and the feds - in which they have no input.
The other issue here is that the feds once again, will fail to abide by a court order. In this case, delaying the recovery plan indefinitely.
M2...thanks for the stats on the state of the economy on the Klamath...
You have FReep Mail sir!!!