Are all 26,182 acres critical habitat?
A. While we are proposing 26,182 acres of critical habitat for the bay checkerspot butterfly, not all the areas within these broad boundaries contain the specific habitat features required by bay checkerspots and therefore not all areas will require Federal agencies to consult with us. We would require consultations only in those areas that contain the physical and biological features necessary to the species survival. For example, existing houses, shopping centers and similar development do not provide specific habitat for the butterfly, but are in some places included in the designation because of limitations in our ability to map the boundaries at a finer scale. Q. Do listed species in critical habitat areas receive more protection? A. An area designated as critical habitat is not a refuge or special conservation area. Listed species and their habitats are protected by the Endangered Species Act whether or not they are in an area designated as critical habitat. Q. What protection do
