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Nature 432, 661 (9 December 2004) | doi:10.1038/432661a; Published online 8 December 2004

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Ecologists attack plans for rare-species act

Emma Marris

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Critics say US bills will soften protection of endangered animals.

Buoyed by their election victory last month, Republican leaders are gearing up for a push to reform the Endangered Species Act in 2005.But environmental groups — and many ecologists — fear that the changes could gut the land-mark 1973 law, which protects species' habitats throughout the United States.