Following a court order, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 4.6 million acres on Federal lands in four southwestern states as critical habitat for the threatened Mexican spotted owl. The designation includes 830,000 acres in Arizona, 525,000 acres in Colorado, 54,000 acres in New Mexico, and 3.2 million acres in Utah. No private, state, or tribal lands are included in the designation.
Critical habitat refers to specific geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management considerations. A critical habitat designation does not set up a preserve or refuge and only applies to situations where Federal funding, authorization or permits are involved. Since no private, state or tribal lands are being designated, today
