United States and the Endangered Species Act - Great Northern LCC

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Shared responsibilities for wildlife, birds, plants, insects and marine life ... member of the animal kingdom, including
United States and the Endangered Species Act

Endangered Species Act l  Federal

Act l  Implemented by: l  US

Fish & Wildlife Service l  NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service l  Shared

responsibilities for wildlife, birds, plants, insects and marine life

Endangered Species Act An Act to provide for the conservation of endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants, and for other purposes l  Original Statute passed in 1973 l  Relatively little controversy when originally passed l  Preceded several other earlier acts to protect imperiled species l  Major amendments 3 times

ESA Overview l 

“…to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, and

l 

to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species, and

l 

to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the purposes of the treaties and conventions set forth in … this section”.

ESA Overview In short, the Act Requires the Services to: l List,

classify, protect and recover species (S4, S9 &

S12) l Review and evaluate federal actions for potential affects to listed species (S7) l Oversee recovery activities (S4, S5, S6) l Work cooperatively with the States (S6) & Internationally (S8) l Provide exemptions for scientific efforts and conservation activities (S10)

ESA Overview Important Terminology l 

l 

Species - (ESA Section 3(16)) includes any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish and wildlife. Fish or Wildlife - (ESA Section 3(8)) means any member of the animal kingdom, including without limitation any mammal, fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, or other invertebrate, and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof, and any dead body or parts thereof.

ESA Overview l  Plant

- (ESA Section 3(14)) means any member of the plant kingdom, including seeds, roots, and parts thereof.

ESA Overview l  Endangered

Species - any “species” which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. (ESA Section 3(6))

ESA Overview l  Threatened

Species - any “species” which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. (ESA Section 3(20))

ESA Overview l  Decisions

under the Act:

l  Director,

USFWS, Department of Interior l  Director, NOAA, Department of Commerce l  Require

review by Public, Tribes, other Federal Agencies and States

l  Subject

to Judicial System Review

ESA Overview l  Implementation l  Best

when all partners included

l  Federal,

l  Recovery l  Where l  Bald

International, Tribal, State, Public

Success

flexible and adaptive

eagle l  Peregrine falcon

ESA Overview l 

Achieving conservation without listingl  Protect and “recover” sensitive species before threats reach critical levels l  Work together to address threats l  Develop Conservation Agreements to l  Reduce threats l  Implemented actions early, and l  Monitor success

ESA Overview l 

Collaboration… l  Share Information l  Biology,

l  Work

surveys, scientific expertise

Together

l  Address

biological uncertainty through jointly funded science l  Develop conservation actions to address threats

ESA Overview Some Species of interest within the GNLCC

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 

Greater Sage Grouse North American Wolverine Canada Lynx Grizzly Bear Bull Trout Woodland Caribou Sprague’s Pipit Gray Wolf Others…

Questions?