Proposed Habitat Is Cut for 2 Endangered Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reduced proposed critical habitat acreage for two California endangered species, the arroyo toad and the Riverside fairy shrimp. Both species are nearly extinct because much of their habitat has been lost to development.

The service’s Carlsbad office said the acreage was being reduced because of new exemptions for military lands, and complete or nearly complete habitat conservation plans.

Such plans allow habitat to be destroyed in exchange for setting aside land elsewhere. The reduced acreage was proposed as a result of lawsuits by home builders and others.