U.S. weighs reducing spotted owl habitat - AP

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

U.S. weighs reducing spotted owl habitat

By JEFF BARNARD, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jun 12, 4:16 PM ET

GRANTS PASS, Ore. - The Bush administration Tuesday proposed
cutting 1.5 million acres from Northwest forests considered
critical to the survival of the northern spotted owl, reopening
the 1990s battle between timber production and wildlife habitat
on public lands.

The owl, which became a symbol of the decline of the Northwest's
timber industry, was declared a threatened species in 1990 due
primarily to heavy logging in the old growth forests where it
nests and feeds.

Recent research has noted that while old growth forests suitable
for owl habitat have increased, owl numbers have continued to
decline, and that the owl faces a new threat from a cousin, the
barred owl, that has been invading its territory.

The proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was published
in the Federal Register. It calls for cutting critical habitat for
the owl from the 6.9 million acres designated in 1992 to 5.4
million acres.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070612/ap_on_sc/spotted_owl

[tridim]

1. This plan makes no sense. What am I missing?

Besides the obvious fact that Bush doesn't give a flying fuck about the environment, of course.

The plan is to destroy more habitat because the species is still in decline? Huh?

[Nihil]

2. Ah, you have to use Bushist "logic":

"There are fewer owls now so they need less room."

QED :crazy: