Download Biological Goals and Objectives: Approach and Organization

DRECP
Biological Goals and Objectives: Approach and Organization
Stakeholder Meeting
March 9, 2011
Dudek
ICF International
Presentation Outline
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Regulatory background
Definitions
Structure of goals and objectives
Examples
Next steps
Regulatory Background
• USFWS/NMFS ESA Regulations
– Final Addendum to the HCP Handbook (“Five‐
Point Policy”) (65 Fed. Reg. 106, 35242 – 35257, June 1, 2000)
• CA NCCP Act
– No specific requirement
Definitions
• Biological Goals = Broad guiding principles for the conservation strategy ( = vision)
– Typically qualitative
• Biological Objectives = Conservation targets or desired conditions
– Must be measurable
– Quantitative when possible
– Clearly state a desired result
• Conservation Actions = Specific actions implemented to achieve the goals and objectives
• Conservation Strategy = Collection of all conservation actions
5‐Point Policy on Objectives
• Objectives or conservation actions should include:
– Species or habitat indicators
– Locations
– Actions
– Quantity or state
– Timeframe
Structure of Biological Goals and Objectives
Biological Goals and Objectives: Structure
• Goals and objectives should frame the conservation strategy
• Multiple objectives support one goal
• Conservation actions will likely support multiple objectives
• Organize hierarchically
– Landscape level (wildlife linkages, ecosystem processes, biodiversity)
– Natural community level
(species' habitat, community function)
– Species level (populations)
Science Advisors Recommendations
• Include explicit, hierarchical goals for maintenance of biological diversity and ecosystem function – in addition to goals for covered species
• Evaluate impacts on all goals, not just species
• Choose conservation strategies that best satisfy suite of biological goals while also meeting renewable energy goals
Science Advisors Recommendations
Overarching biological goal of DRECP should be:
Contribute to the persistence, distribution, and diversity of the desert biota and all its natural components and processes today and into the future, while accommodating renewable energy development and adapting to climate change.
Example: Landscape Level
• Goal 1: Protect and maintain natural and semi‐
natural landscapes to maintain biological diversity.
– Objective 1.1: By 2035, establish a network of at least 100,000 acres of conservation areas that includes the diversity of natural communities and environmental gradients in the Plan Area.
– Objective 1.2: By 2035, protect linkages of at least X miles wide between conservation areas and between existing Type 1 and 2 Open Space to ensure connectivity for Covered Species and other biological diversity.
Example: Natural‐Community Level
• Goal 2: Protect and maintain desert dunes that benefit Covered Species, promote biodiversity, and maintain ecological functions.
– Objective 2.1: By 2035, protect and maintain at least 10,000 acres of desert dunes in the Plan Area in the [list locations].
– Objective 2.2: By 2035, protect and maintain at least 10,000 acres of sand transport zones in order to maintain eolian processes that will help sustain the dune systems conserved by the Plan.
Approaches to Species Objectives
• List objectives for every species
– Inefficient because of significant overlap
• List objectives by species only if needs not met by natural community objectives
– Group species by natural community
– Some species span multiple communities
– Some species appear to be “left out”
• Proposal: List all species, but group when appropriate
Biological Goals and Objectives: Sources
• Existing conservation targets
– Federal Recovery Plans (listed species)
– Existing conservation plans
– Other HCP/NCCPs
• Results of DRECP Gap Analysis
• Impact Analysis results
• Expert opinion
Next Steps
• Develop preliminary biological goals and objectives for – Landscape level
– Natural‐community level
– Two Covered Species
• Review with Covered Species Working Group
• Once agreement on structure, apply to remaining Covered Species as appropriate • Develop new goals and obj. as new species added
• External input from species experts
• Continually refine and update as conservation strategy evolves Next Steps: Schedule
• Mid‐March: REAT Agencies review working draft
• Late March: Working draft to Covered Species Working Group
• March 31: Working draft of 14 Covered Species in Framework Conservation Strategy Report
• April‐May: Revise and expand goals and objectives based on feedback and seek external scientific input