jack arnold - usfws

20
Fish and Wildlife Service and The Endangered Species Act Arkansas Forestry Association Annual Meeting Hot Springs, Arkansas October 7, 2015

Upload: arkansas-forestry-association

Post on 16-Feb-2017

401 views

Category:

Environment


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Fish and Wildlife Service and The Endangered Species Act

Arkansas Forestry Association Annual MeetingHot Springs, Arkansas

October 7, 2015

Page 2: Jack Arnold - USFWS

A LEGACY OF BIODIVERSITY

Page 3: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Listing Program Overview

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20160

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Listing Workload 1996-2016

listing determinations CH designations (pCH or fCH) petition findings (90-day & 12-mo.)

Page 4: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Number of listed threatened and endangered species as of October 5, 2015:

U.S. = 1583 Southeast = 372 Arkansas = 38

Arkansas species: mammals = 4 (all bats); birds = 6fish = 5; mussels = 14; amphibians = 1crayfish = 2; insects = 1plants = 5

Endangered Species Scoreboard

Page 5: Jack Arnold - USFWS

…and workload is expected to

increase in the future

species require 90-day or 12-month petition findings

AT RISK SPECIES -THE CHALLENGE

25%

of national listing workload under MDL is in R4

343

A tremendous listing workload…

Page 6: Jack Arnold - USFWS

They are leading the path forward

Data sharing Develop and maintain website Compile regional spatial data Develop surveys schedule Develop data management

system for assessments Improve coordination

WILDLIFE DIVERSITY COMMITTEESoutheastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA)

Page 7: Jack Arnold - USFWS

CATEGORIZING SPECIES

37%

U

L

G N+

35%

13%

Not categorized: 15%

Status

Review

GImmedi

ateAction Ready

NInfo

Lacking

UUnknown

LDetermin

ed Threaten

edFinding Ready

Page 8: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Maintain lead for all southeastern species Work closely with the States and stakeholders Incorporate species status assessment well before

finding Increase capacity Identify efficiencies

(e.g., batching species)

SE VISION FOR POST-MDL WORK

FWS crayfish workshop 2014

Page 9: Jack Arnold - USFWS

We need data on petitioned species(e.g., status, distribution, biology, threats)

We will encourage participation in species status assessments

We need help identifying and implementing conservation actions benefitting petitioned species

COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

Page 10: Jack Arnold - USFWS

EARLY SUCCESSES

Seven Species Withdrawn

from Petition

Not Substantial

petition findings for 19

species

Not-Warranted

Findings for 16 species

Page 11: Jack Arnold - USFWS

The Service is working on a number of actions to improve and clarify implementation of the Endangered Species Act.

These actions are intended to: Improve the science and increase transparency Incentivize voluntary conservation efforts Focus limited resources to achieve more

successes Engage the States more fully

ESA Regulatory Improvements

Page 12: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Clarifying procedures for designating and revising Critical Habitat

Clarifying the definition of Adverse Modification of Critical Habitat

Codifying/clarifying the use of surrogates for individuals in quantifying the limit of exempted take within biological opinions

Clarifies how we interpret and apply “significant portion of the range”

Pre-listing conservation actions policy Petition regulation revisions

Regulation/Policy Revisions

Page 13: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Would require Coordination with the States Would limit petitions to one species per petition Would expand content requirements and

guidelines

The draft rule published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2015 and the comment period was extended to September 18, 2015.

Additional details on all these regulatory reforms are available at:

www.fws.gov/endangered/improving_esa/index.html

Petition Regulation Revisions

Page 14: Jack Arnold - USFWS

For species listed as threatened under the ESA: The Secretary shall issue such regulations as

she deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of the species.

The Secretary has the discretion to exempt any act that may result in take otherwise prohibited under the ESA

Unless specifically exempted, all take is prohibited

Section 4(d) of the ESA

Page 15: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Exemptions are: intended to minimize the regulatory burdens for

landowners exempt certain activities from the ESA take

prohibitions, that are beneficial for the conservation of the species, while still providing protections important for the species.

customized based on the biology and management needs of each species. 

Activities not exempted are not prohibited – just need to coordinate/consult with FWS prior to action

4(d) exemptions

Page 16: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Final rule listing black pine snake as Threatened published in the Federal Register on October 6, 2015

Includes 4(d) exemptions intended to encourage habitat management that would benefit the snake

Exempts take associcated with activities such as thinning, herbicide treatment, prescribed burning, and most normal forest management practices

activities that do not protect the snake’s underground habitat, such as stump removal, are not exempted

For forest management activities outside known areas occupied by the snake, no consultation required

For the black pine snake

Page 17: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Final rule listing the northern long-eared bat as threatened was published in the Federal Register on April 2, 2015.

includes interim 4(d) exemptions for normal forest management activities,

except for the conversion of mature mixed hardwood forest to intensively managed monoculture pine plantations, which could represent a long-term loss of habitat for the bat.

includes the conservation measures intended to protect the bat during its most vulnerable life stages—when the bats are hibernating, and when females are raising young that are not yet able fly.

For the northern long-eared bat

Page 18: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Working forests and their stewards are vital to ensuring there is forestland to sustain wildlife

We realize how important active management is maintaining forest health

We are working to increase management flexibility while still meeting our statutory requirements

Please let us know how we can more actively engage you.

In Closing…..

Page 19: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office110 South Amity Road, Suite 300Conway, Arkansas 72032501-513-4770

Melvin Tobin – Field Supervisor Chris Davidson – Endangered Species Lead

Biologist

Local Contacts:

Page 20: Jack Arnold - USFWS

Jack ArnoldDeputy Assistant Regional Director – Ecological ServicesU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[email protected]

Questions?