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Habitat Protections Under Fire | Montpelier News
A major rewrite of the Endangered Species Act, finalized July 10th, slashes federal protections by narrowing “harm” to only direct injury or death — excluding habitat destruction. This could pave the way for drilling and mining in critical zones, sparking alarm among conservationists. States like Vermont, home to federally listed species including the Canadian lynx and Jesup’s Milk-vetch, fear ripple effects as habitat degradation becomes legally permissible. While proponents claim the old definition overreached on property rights, scientists argue habitat loss is extinction’s leading cause —…
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