Preventing Endangered Species Listings with the Tongass Conservation Strategy Steve Brockmann U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Who is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Department of Interior Administer the Endangered Species Act (along with NOAA)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Programs National Wildlife Refuges Migratory Bird Mgmt Office of Law Enforcement Fisheries Ecological Services

Work with Federal agencies and applicants for Federal permits Identify ways to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife ◦Review of Timber Sales, etc Field Offices in Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks

The Endangered Species Act Purpose is to prevent extinctions Species are listed if we believe that they are in danger of extinction. Provides for protection of listed species and the ecosystems upon which they depend

Protection of Listed Species Take of listed species prohibited No federal actions that would jeopardize continued existence of listed species No adverse modification of critical habitat allowed Agencies must consult with USFWS or NOAA if they propose to implement a project that “may affect” listed species

Priority Goals for ESA in Alaska Protect listed species and their habitat, and work with partners to help them recover Work with our partners to conserve species and their habitat so that listing under the ESA is not necessary

Listing Petitions (Southeast Alaska) 1993-Alexander Archipelago Wolf 1994-Queen Charlotte Goshawk 2001-Kittlitz’s Murrelet 2004-Yellow-billed Loon 2011-Alexander Archipelago Wolf 2011-Prince of Wales Flying Squirrel

Petition Evaluation Process 90-Day Finding ◦Does the Petition present “substantial information”? Status Review ◦Best Available Information ◦Evaluate threats ◦5 listing factors “12-month Finding” ◦Is listing as warranted?

Five Listing Factors Habitat Loss Overutilization (harvest) Disease or Predation Inadequacy of Regulatory Mechanisms Other Natural or Manmade Factors

Development of the Tongass Conservation Strategy Designed to avoid the need to list wolf, goshawk and other forest-dependent species Tailored for Southeast Alaska conditions

Island Ecosystems Limited dispersal between islands for many species Incomplete faunas that vary among islands ◦Not fully known for the Tongass Endemic species and subspecies ◦Unique, locally-adapted, restricted to a specific location Independent populations ◦Recruitment from adjacent populations may not occur Prone to extinctions

Important features of the TCS Strategically located Reserves ◦Spacing between Large, Medium, and Small reserves ◦Protect features important to local species Linked by corridors Standards and Guidelines for individual species Applies to all islands and mainland ◦Recognition of independence of island populations Reserves in each watershed ◦Provides for dispersal through timber harvest areas

Queen Charlotte Goshawk Petition 1994 Original finding 1995 ◦Not warranted, based on anticipated TLMP Series of lawsuits and legal rulings ◦1995 to 2004

Queen Charlotte Goshawk 2012 Finding ◦Listed as “Threatened” warranted in BC ◦Listing not warranted in Alaska ◦Based on amount of mature and old forest remaining into the future

Alexander Archipelago Wolf Original Petition finding: Listing not warranted ◦Based on anticipated TLMP Remanded by US District Court 1997 finding: Listing not warranted 2011: New petition to list “90-day” finding expected within a few weeks ◦Will indicate whether petition presents “substantial information”

Prince of Wales Flying Squirrel Petitioned in 2011 Finding published August, 2012 ◦Petition does not present substantial information indicating that listing is warranted

Prince of Wales Spruce Grouse Species assessment completed 2010 Population size and trend unknown Habitat use includes 2nd growth Threats not great enough to cause extinction

Conservation Strategy Review Existing Conservation Strategy has been successful in preventing listings Opportunity to improve conservation where vulnerabilities have been identified