1. UNDERSTANDING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

2. 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

3. FEDERAL AGENCIES IN CHARGE U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Dept. of Interior Terrestrial & freshwater species plus migratory birds National Marine Fisheries Service in the Dept. of Commerce Marine, estuarine, & anadromous species

4. Examples of Federally Listed Species

5. Bull trout

6. Mexican spotted owl

7. San Joaquin kit fox

8. Oregon silverspot

9. Giant kangaroo rat

10. California jewelflower

11. Indiana bat

12. Canada lynx

13. Piping plover

14. Desert tortoise

15. Number of U.S. Listed Species per Calendar Year Calendar Year Total Number (cumulative) 1980281 1985384 1990596 1995962 20001244 20021260

16. 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

17. 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

18. Bald Eagle – Listed 1973 >100,000 pairs in lower 48 states –417 pairs - 1963 Hunting, DDT Downlisted (Threatened) 1995 Still Endangered in California ESA Successes

19. American Peregrine Falcon Listed 1970 (324 pairs) DDT 6,000 breed in captivity & released De-listed 1999 1,300 breeding pairs (41 states)

20. More Recovered Species Canada Goose Gray Whale Columbian white-tailed Deer Red Kangaroo

21. 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

22. American Alligator (>1 million in the wild now) Listed 1967, De-listed 1987 Hunting & Habitat Destruction

23. American Peregrine Falcon

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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.