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UNDERSTANDING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT What is the ESA? • Federal Law : 1973 (USA), 1976 (Canada) protecting wildlife & plants • Conserve & recover species in danger of extinction • Preserve ecosystems that sensitive species depend upon • Each State also has their own laws protecting species FEDERAL AGENCIES IN CHARGE • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Dept. of Interior • National Marine Fisheries Service in the Dept. of Commerce • Terrestrial & freshwater species plus migratory birds • Marine, estuarine, & anadromous species Examples of Federally Listed Species Bull trout Mexican spotted owl San Joaquin kit fox Oregon silverspot Giant kangaroo rat California jewelflower Indiana bat Canada lynx Piping plover Desert tortoise Number of U.S. Listed Species per Calendar Year Calendar Year Total Number (cumulative) 1980 281 1985 384 1990 596 1995 962 2000 1244 2002 1260 Species Recovery Plans • Restore populations to sustainable levels – Stop & reverse decline, remove threats – Habitat protection or restoration, removal of exotic species, clean up pollution, captive breeding • USFWS, State & Federal Agencies, Universities, private institutions, local stakeholders • May take years USFWS Habitat Conservation Plans • Agreements with private landowners: allow resource harvest or development on part of their land if endangered species on their property benefit overall – Restore habitat, fund conservation research, remove exotic species • 250 HCP’s (200 in progress) – 18.5 million acres ESA Successes • Bald Eagle – Listed 1973 • >100,000 pairs in lower 48 states –417 pairs - 1963 • Hunting, DDT • Downlisted (Threatened) 1995 • Still Endangered in California American Peregrine Falcon •Listed 1970 (324 pairs) •DDT •6,000 breed in captivity & released De-listed 1999 1,300 breeding pairs (41 states) More Recovered Species Gray Whale Canada Goose Columbian white-tailed Deer Red Kangaroo International Wildlife Treaties • U.S./Canada/Mexico Trilateral Committee for Wildlife & Ecosystem Conservation & Management (1996) • CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (1975) – 164 member countries – Protects & regulates trade in endangered species (live specimens & products) – > 700 species listed American Alligator (>1 million in the wild now) •Listed 1967, De-listed 1987 Hunting & Habitat Destruction American Peregrine Falcon PRIMARY ROLE OF THE FEDERAL LEAD AGENCIES (e.g. FWS, NMFS) • Identification and listing of species and critical habitats. • Administration of coordination & consultation provisions. • Developing recovery plans. DEFINITIONS • Critical habitat: Areas with physical or biological features that are essential to a species conservation • Both occupied range & its former range – Areas may require protection or special management SOME DEFINITIONS: • Endangered---In danger of extinction in foreseeable future throughout its range, e.g. Steelhead, California Condor • Threatened---Likely to become endangered in foreseeable future throughout its range, e.g. Piping plover, Bog turtle. • Species---Any species, subspecies, or distinct population segment DEFINITIONS (continued) •Take ---To harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. –Violation of law carries criminal penalties.