PhotoTucked into the fiscal relief package for Puerto Rico this spring was a provision to give away a national treasure that belongs to all Americans — 3,100 acres of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. In May, the House approved a defense authorization bill that included a provision to transfer to the Air Force jurisdiction over a huge portion of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada. It is the largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states. In Massachusetts, a battle is underway over the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge on Cape Cod, where state and local officials claim that 4,000 acres of the refuge actually belong to the state. These refuges play a special role by protecting vital habitat for our country’s extraordinary wildlife.

Source: New York Times August 17, 2016 07:18 UTC