Preventing Endangered Species Listings

with the Tongass Conservation Strategy

Steve BrockmannU.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 ProgramsNational Wildlife Refuges

Migratory Bird Mgmt

Office of Law Enforcement

Fisheries

Ecological Services

Ecological ServicesWork 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 ActPurpose 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 SpeciesTake 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 Wolf1994-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 FactorsHabitat LossOverutilization (harvest)Disease or PredationInadequacy of Regulatory MechanismsOther Natural or Manmade Factors

Development of the Tongass Conservation StrategyDesigned to avoid the need to list wolf,

goshawk and other forest-dependent species

Tailored for Southeast Alaska conditions

Island EcosystemsLimited dispersal between

islands for many speciesIncomplete faunas that vary

among islands◦Not fully known for the Tongass

Endemic species and subspecies ◦Unique, locally-adapted, restricted

to a specific locationIndependent populations

◦Recruitment from adjacent populations may not occur

Prone to extinctions

Important features of the TCSStrategically located Reserves

◦Spacing between Large, Medium, and Small reserves

◦Protect features important to local speciesLinked by corridorsStandards and Guidelines for individual

speciesApplies to all islands and mainland

◦Recognition of independence of island populationsReserves 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 WolfOriginal Petition 19931995 finding: Listing not warranted

◦Based on anticipated TLMPRemanded by US District Court1997 finding: Listing not warranted2011: New petition to list“90-day” finding expected within a

few weeks◦Will indicate whether petition presents

“substantial information”

Prince of Wales Flying SquirrelPetitioned in 2011Finding published August, 2012

◦Petition does not present substantial information indicating that listing is warranted

Prince of Wales Spruce GrouseSpecies 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