404 Species Mega-petitioned from Center of Biological Diversity:

Where are we now?

Presented by:Channing St. Aubin

US Fish and Wildlife Service Panama City, FL

ESA – Primer

Endangered - any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range

Threatened - any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range

Candidate - are those taxa for which the Service has sufficient information on their biological status and threats to list as endangered or threatened under the Act, but for which the development of a listing regulation has been precluded to date by other higher priority listing activities.

How Listing a Species Happens?

USFWS – Terrestrial and FreshwaterNMFS - Marine

- Jointly manage sea turtles and sturgeon

1) Candidate Assessment Process – we identify a species as a candidate

2) Petitioned to list a species

Candidate Species

• Five Factor Analysis

A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species’ habitat or range

B) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes

C) Disease or predation

D) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms

E) Other natural or manmade factors affecting the species’ survival.

Petitioned Species

90 day finding - “Not substantial” information- “Substantial” information = May be warranted

12 month Status Review (may be challenged date specific)- Species does not warrant protection- Protection warranted but precluded- Warranted and publish a proposed rule

Candidate List

• Added when there is sufficient information- Biological vulnerability, threats, 5 factor analysis

• Proposed as Threatened or Endangered - Establish Critical Habitat

- Areas that contain the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species

So you are labeled T & E, now what?

• Protection from take (kill, harm, or harassment) and commercial trade

• All federal projects reviewed - (permits, activities, funding)

• Species Recovery Plan - Species recognition and education of what that species is facing - Allows for possible land acquisition and increased cooperation with State agencies to benefit the species - Encourages and results in implementation of conservation actions for the species - Eligible for grants and federal incentive programs

ESA - Listings

• President Ford – 47 listings (15/yr)• President Carter – 126 listings (32/yr)• President Reagan – 255 listings (32/yr)• President Bush – 231 listings (58/yr)• President Clinton – 521 listings (65/yr)• President Bush – 60 listings (8/yr)

404 Species CBD Mega-petition

• April 2010: USFWS received 1,145 page mega-petition to list 404 aquatic, riparian, and wetland species from the southeastern US– Center for Biological Diversity (CBD),Alabama Rivers

Alliance, Clinch Coalition, Dogwood Alliance, Gulf Restoration Network, Tennessee Forests Council, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy

www.biologicaldiversity.org

• May 2011: FWS settled lawsuits with Wild Earth Guardians (WEG) and CBD over a backlog of 251 candidate species. – Settlement included a work plan to guide agency

actions over next 6 years (2012-2017)

• September 2011: FWS found 374 of the 404 species from the “mega-petition” may warrant ESA listing

Taxonomic Breakdown

– 92 Crustaceans– 92 Mussels and Snails– 82 Plants– 55 Insects – 48 Fish– 15 Amphibians– 13 Reptiles– 4 Mammals– 3 Birds

Gomphus sandrius

Where are we now?

• Status Review - gather as much information on population status and distribution of species

- Species distribution and abundance - Species habitat needs/threats- Ongoing conservation efforts

• Work to conserve as many of these species as we can before they need Federal protection

- Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA)- Agreements with other Federal Agencies

- Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA)- Agreements with non-federal land owners

CCAs and CCAA’s are both voluntary, formal agreements with the Service.

Benefits:• Identified threats are reduced or removed• Conserved now, possibly before an ESA listing is necessary• Cost effective way to conserve species• Assurances for landowners• Many species already a priority for states & other

stakeholders

Out of 24 CCAA’s, only 1 of the 40 species covered has been listed under the ESA

• Cordulegaster sayi Dragonfly (FL, GA)• Gomphus westfalli Dragonfly (AL*, FL)• Libellula jesseana Dragonfly (AL*, GA*, FL)• Ophiogomphus australis Dragonfly (LA, MS, FL)• Somatochlora calverti Dragonfly (AL*, FL)• Stylurus potulentus Dragonfly (AL*, FL, MS)• Oecetis parva Caddisfly (AL*, FL)• Agarodes logani Caddisfly (FL)• Hydroptila sykorai Caddisfly (FL)• Lepidostoma morsei Caddisfly (FL, MS, NJ, TX)• Oxytheria setosa Caddisfly (AL, FL, GA)• Triaenodes tridontus Caddisfly (AL, FL, OK)

* Likely to occur

Panama City Field Office ~ 40 species

12 insects that are lacking information:

Species Occurences

Questions?

For more information visit:

http://www.fws.gov/panamacity/channing_staubin@fws.gov

(850) 769 – 0552 ext 248