Environmental groups highlight bill to protect habitat for endangered Maine species

An environmental coalition on Friday announced its top priorities for the current legislative session, including a bill to protect habitat for endangered species. At a virtual event sponsored by Maine's Environmental Priorities Coalition, Maine Audubon's Eliza Donoghue said the number of threatened and endangered species is growing in Maine, partly due to climate change and habitat loss. While the state has a number of policies to protect these species, most environmental permits for smaller projects don't have to consider or mitigate the effects on their habitat. That's a gaping hole that a bill sponsored by Democrat Lori Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach would fill. The coalition also highlighted bills to protect tribal sovereignty, develop offshore wind, promote trails, and conserve forests.