As an ecologist, I have to…

As an ecologist, I have to weigh in that this is not okay. No one has done a thorough accounting of how much biodiversity and healthy natural habitat we (and everything else) need to survive. When you start compromising the integrity of environments that are supposed to be protected, you potentially diminish our life support systems - our ability to breathe clean air, drink clean water, develop medications and treatments for disease, sequester carbon and so much more. This is not your right to make "exceptions" in the name of growth. Stop making unilateral decisions that affect everyone. We need healthy ecosystems and their services more than we need economic growth. Hands off. No exceptions.