Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a land conservation bill that supporters say intended to protect biodiversity and improve climate resilience

Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a land conservation bill that supporters say intended to protect biodiversity and improve climate resilience.

The legislation set goals of conserving 30% of Vermont land by 2030 and 50% by 2050.

Scott said in his veto message the conservation goals in the bill “are unnecessarily tied to – and unreasonably limited to – permanent protection.”

Environmental groups criticized the move.

The bill would have created a statewide conservation plan, given the current and future development pressures on Vermont’s landscape, combined with the “historic biodiversity loss and climate change,” the Vermont Natural Resources Council said in a statement.

Last month, the Biden administration detailed steps to achieve an ambitious goal to conserve nearly one-third of America’s lands and waters by 2030.