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THE DESERT TORTOISE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2006OUR 31ST YEAR
Our Goal To assure the continued survival of viable populations of the
desert tortoise throughout its range
2006 ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM RECAP
The 31st Annual Desert Tortoise CouncilSymposium was held February 17 through 202006 in Tucson The Annual Business Meetingkicked off the weekendrsquos events A slightlyearlier start than normal was scheduled toaccommodate all the presentations
The 31st Symposium had something foreveryone plenty of presentations on deserttortoise research and management vendorsinvited speakers awards and meeting andmaking new friends Presentation highlightsincluded the keynote address by Dr ValentineLance featured and banquet speaker Dr BrianHenen spoke about the Namaqualand speckledpadloper as well as his work with four otherspecies of South African tortoises and twospecies in Madagascar Dr Mary Brown spokeabout lessons learned regarding URTD and thegopher tortoise and Dr Jim Juvik talkedabout releasing the wrong turtles in the rightplaces
There were presentation on research of Mojaveand Sonoran desert tortoises governmentmanagement efforts to recover the tortoise and
fire and its effects on tortoises and theirhabitats There were also presentations on theBolson tortoise headstarting and the efforts ofnon-governmental organizations regardingtortoise conservation Ancillary meetings wereheld around the Symposium to discuss Bolsontortoise conservation needs
Probably one of the most noteworthyrevelations was the intriguing possibility thatwhat we now know as the desert tortoise ispossibly three species instead of one Work ispreliminary and any other concretedevelopments will be reported here
Instead of the banquet this year we tried a mixerinstead All of the other normal Saturdayevening activities occurred By having a mixerin place of a formal banquet we reduced costsfor normal banquet attendees and we finishedthe evening a little earlier
On Monday there were field trips to SaguaroNational Park - East and the Granite HillsPermanent Study Plot
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
The abstracts can be found on our web page at
httpwwwdeserttortoiseorgabstractabstracts20062006abstractspdf
Photo Contest Winners
Each first place winner took home $50 and theBest of Show won $100
Wild Desert Tortoise Ken NagyCaptive (Pet) Tortoise Ellen SchafhauserOther Desert Reptiles Andrew WaldeDesert Mammals Shelley EllisOther Desert Wildlife Ellen SchafhauserWild Desert Plants Shelley EllisDesert Scenics Shelley EllisTortoise Conservation Andrew Walde
Best of Show - Shelley Ellis Desert Scenic photo of saguaro cactus
The DTC would like to extend a big Thankyou to Andrew Walde Andrew donated hisphoto contest winnings of $100 back to theCouncil to assist the on-going desert tortoiseresearch in Sonora Mexico Photo contestwinners at
httpwwwdeserttortoiseorgawardsphoto2006winhtml
Vendors and Exhibitors
Center for Biological DiversityDaniel Patterson
PO Box 710 Tucson Arizona 85702(520) 623-5252 x 306
Fax (520) 623-9797dpattersonbiological diversityorg
wwwbiologicaldiversityorg
Desert Tortoise CouncilPO Box 3273 Beaumont CA 92223
httpwwwdeserttortoiseorg
HABIT Research LtdJohn Joynt 692 Sumas Street Victoria BC
V8T 4S6 Canada(250) 381-9425
johnhabitresearchcomhttpwwwhabitresearchcom
Hahnrsquos Natural History BooksDonald Hahn PO Box 1004
Cottonwood AZ 86326(928) 634-5016
hahnnatusedonanet
Rincon InstituteMichelle Zimmerman 13701 E Old Spanish
Trail Tucson AZ 85747(520) 647-7833 or 1 (877) 6RINCON
Fax (520) 290-0969httpwwwrinconinstituteorg
Stevan LogsdonPO Box 4070 Silver City NM 88062
(505) 388-8101logsdon_johnsonzianetcom
Tucson Herpetological SocietyDennis Caldwell
PO Box 709 Tucson AZ 85702-0709httptucsonherpsocietyorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
Zonk GalleriesDavid Hoobler
PO Box 11059 Oakland CA 94611(510) 530-2681
davidhooblersbcglobalnethttpwwwzonktheturtlecom
Desert Tortoise Council Awards
Annual Douglas DuncanResearch Valentine LanceSpecial Jeffrey AardahlSpecial Mercy VaughnService Maggie FusariService Tom Egan
In addition the Best Student Paper Award andthe first David J Morafka MemorialScholarship both went to Erin R Zylstra of theUniversity of Arizona Tucson for her researchentitled Evaluating Monitoring Strategies forthe Sonoran Desert Tortoise in SaguaroNational Park
JOHN BEHLER
The Bronx Zoo asked me (David T Schiff) tolet Johns colleagues in the herp communityknow of his death on January 31 of this yearI had the good fortune of spending a day withhim just a week ago as we put the finishingtouches on a manuscript we were working onAt the end of the day we made plans to meet inlate winter at Bog Brook where we having beensurveying turtles together for nearly a quartercentury His death has been a great shock tome and everyone who knew him
John served as Curator of the HerpetologyDepartment since 1976 at the WildlifeConservation Societys Bronx Zoo Since 1996he has also served as the Program Coordinator
for the Wildlife Conservation Societys WildlifeSurvival Center on St Catherines IslandGeorgia Behler started his career with theWildlife Conservation Society as a New YorkState Council on the Arts curatorial trainee in1970
Behler assumed leadership positions in thedevelopment of captive breeding programs forendangered and threatened crocodilianstortoises and freshwater turtles Through hisefforts batagur turtles and false gharialssuccessfully bred in captivity for the first timeat the Bronx Zoo He received the AmericanZoo and Aquarium Associations (AZA)Edward H Bean Award in 1980 for mostsignificant reptile birth for his work withChinese alligators Behlers interests alsofocused on the ecology and behavior ofreptilians and reptilian diseases He had alsodone extensive field studies of the tortoises ofMadagascar and of North American spotted andbog turtles
Among his many conservation affiliationsBehler chaired the World Conservation UnionsTortoise and Freshwater Turtle SpecialistGroup and was a member of the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) Turtle Trade Working Group He wasa former coordinator of the AZAs CrocodilianAdvisory Group and was a member of theAZAs Chelonian and Lizard Taxon AdvisoryGroups Behler worked closely with the NewYork State Department of EnvironmentalConservations Endangered Species Unit andthe National Park Service He served on hiscommunitys Conservation Board and on theWestchester Co unt y Enviro nmenta lManagement Council
Behler received a Bachelors degree inZoologyBotany from the University of Miamiand a Masters degree in Biological Sciencesfrom East Stroudsburg University
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
A native of Pennsylvania Behler resided inAmawalk New York with his wife Heauthored more than 40 popular and scientificarticles and four guidebooks highlightingreptiles and amphibians
The following announcement was prepared bythe Wildlife Conservation Society
The Board of Trustees and Staff of theWildlife Conservation Society are profoundlysaddened by the death of our esteemedcolleague John L Behler As Curator ofHerpetology Behler began his WCS career in1970 in the Reptile Department as an internJohns knowledge and love of wildlife includedworking with WCS field staff on relatedprojects in Madagascar and Asia and is knownand appreciated world-wide His workexemplified the long history of WCS settingstandards for others to follow He assumed aleadership role among his peers ingroundbreaking captive breeding programs forendangered crocodilians tortoises andfreshwater turtles and also focused on theecology and behavior of reptilians
Johns quick wit charm and dedication allowedhim to share his lifes work with many Amonghis numerous affiliations John was a foundingmember of the American Zoo and AquariumsCrocodilian Advisory Group and workedclosely with the NYS Department ofEnvironmental Conservations EndangeredSpecies Unit Likewise Behler served hiscommunity on the Sommers ConservationBoard and Muscoot Farm Nature Center inWestchester County Park
Behler authored more than 40 popular scientificarticles five guidebooks highlighting reptiliansand amphibians and co-authored a book Frogs -A Chorus of Colors with his wife DeborahBehler
We are all saddened by the loss of our friend agreat scientist and conservationist Ourheartfelt sympathies go to Johns wife Debbiemother Mildred sister Judy Howells Johnschildren Cindy Sibilia and David Behler andhis five grandchildrenrdquo
David T SchiffChairman
Ed Note - John Behler was a featured speakerat several DTC Annual Symposia
The Current Board of Directors ofthe Desert Tortoise Council
Senior Co-Chair Pete WoodmanJunior Co-Chair Dan PearsonCo-Chair Elect Kristen MurphyRecording Secretary Lori RoseCorresponding Secretary Pat von HelfTreasurer Mike CoffeenProducts Manager Tom EganImmediate Past Co-Chair Doug DuncanBoard Member Tracy BaileyBoard Member Kristin BerryBoard Member Becky JonesBoard Member Cari RonningBoard Member Glenn StewartBoard Member Bob Turner
Newsletter EditorMembership Doug DuncanWebmaster Michael Connor
FUTURE ANNUAL SYMPOSIA
The symposia location for 2007 and beyond hasnot been set Suggestions or bids for futuresymposia locations and venues will begratefully accepted The Board of Directors isresearching several locations Las Vegas StGeorge and Laughlin
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
15th ANNUAL SURVEYINGMONITORING AND HANDLING
TECHNIQUES WORKSHOP
The 15th Annual Surveying Monitoring andHandling Techniques Workshop is scheduledfor November 4 and 5 2006 at the Carriage Innin Ridgecrest CA The workshop is full If you would like to be placed on the waitinglist please contact Tracy or Mike Bailey att racybaileymchsicom Regis t rat ioninformation will be sent out via e-mail in mid-August to those registered The cost of theworkshop is $25000
The DTC Tortoise Handling Workshops arerecognized by the USFWS and CDFG but acertificate of attendance and participation doesnot guarantee a USFWS or CDFG permitHowever completion of the Workshop shouldhelp with the permitting process
NEWSLETTERMEMBERSHIP
For those receiving hard copy newsletters yourmembership expiration date will be in the upperright-hand corner of the label For thosereceiving their newsletter via e-mail we willresearch ways to include membershipexpiration dates if it is not to time-consumingIf we have your e-mail address we will notifyyou via e-mail when your membership hasexpired or is about to expire So when you joinor renew your membership please include acurrent e-mail address Member contactinformation is used solely for Council businessWe also use e-mail for the newsletters andrarely other special announcements Pleasesend change of mailing address or e-mailaddress to either the DTC address or themembership chair (fldhckycoxnet)
CONSERVATION NEWS
Federal Indictments filed for IllegalTrafficking of Protected Reptiles
A cooperative investigation led by US Fishand Wildlife Service Special Agents OregonState Police Arizona Game and FishDepartment wildlife investigators has resultedin federal indictments of nine people in theDistrict of Arizona The indictments stem fromviolations of the Lacey Act that involved theunlawful interstate sale and transport of reptilestaken in violation of state wildlife laws
Protected live reptiles including Gila monsterswere illegally collected then sold andtransported from Arizona to Oregon and otherstates Service agents and wildlife investigatorsserved several search warrants and conductednumerous interviews as part of theinvestigation To date indictments haveinvolved people from California OregonArizona Texas Nevada and New York
The Lacey Act prohibits the transportation andsale of wildlife in interstate commerce inviolation of state laws The Lacey Actprovides for felony violations maximumpenalties up to five years imprisonmentandor $250000 in fines
Gila monsters are protected by Arizona wildlifelaws One of only two venomous lizards in theworld the Gila monster can be found inportions of Arizona California Nevada UtahNew Mexico and Mexico Gila monsters arehighly sought after in the international blackmarket trade of live reptiles and can be valuedup to $3500 for each animal
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
Mojave Max the famous southern Nevadadesert tortoise who resides at the Red RockCanyon National Conservation Area officiallyemerged from his burrow at 1132 am April 32006
The tortoises debut is hailed by hundreds ofstudents in Nevada and California who havebeen studying Mojave Desert weathertemperatures and conditions to scientificallyestimate when Mojave Max would emerge fromhis burrow in 2006 They entered their guesseson line at wwwmojavemaxcom
The entries are being tabulated and the officialwinner will be announced soon Eligibility forprizes offered in southern California includedstudents in grades 1 to 12 enrolled in schools inImperial Inyo Kern Los Angeles OrangeRiverside San Bernardino and San DiegoCounties
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one ofseveral components of a desert wide tortoiseeducation program being developed by theDesert Managers Group (DMG) to helpstudents learn more about the desert tortoisesaid Anne Staley DMG desert tortoise outreachcoordinator
The DMG is a consortium of county statefederal and military agencies that work togetherto manage federal and state lands withinsouthern California and frequently deal withissues directly and indirectly related to deserttortoises their habitat and the management ofboth
Our goal is to get all students in southernCalifornia involved in the contest and oureducational program to learn more about thetortoise which was federally listed as athreatened species in 1990 added Staley
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is anexceptional teaching tool that provides a cleartie between the health of the environment andthe species that depend on it said Juan Palmafield manager for the Bureau of LandManagement Las Vegas Field Office
Like other desert tortoises Mojave Max entersa burrow to brumate (the reptilian form ofhibernation) every winter and emerges everyspring Warmer temperatures longer daylighthours and an internal clock are factors known tocontribute to his emergence every year
Bureau of Land ManagementGrazing Regulations
This issue has been covered in previousnewsletters First is the BLMrsquos news releaseand following that is a release from the Centerfor Biological Diversity Ed
BLM Issues Addendum to Final EISOn Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes
The Bureau of Land Management recentlyreleased an addendum to its finalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) onproposed regulations that will change theBLMs management of public lands grazingThe addendum and final EIS posted on theBLMrsquos Website conclude that the proposedregulations will produce long-term healthbenefits for public rangelands The proposednew grazing regulations collectively known asa ldquorulerdquo will be finalized in the near future andpublished in the Federal Register
In producing this addendum the BLMconsidered all comments made on the proposedchanges to our grazing regulations said BLMDirector Kathleen Clarke ldquoThe proposed newregulations when finalized and implementedwill enable the BLM to manage publicrangelands more effectively and efficiently
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
The abstracts can be found on our web page at
httpwwwdeserttortoiseorgabstractabstracts20062006abstractspdf
Photo Contest Winners
Each first place winner took home $50 and theBest of Show won $100
Wild Desert Tortoise Ken NagyCaptive (Pet) Tortoise Ellen SchafhauserOther Desert Reptiles Andrew WaldeDesert Mammals Shelley EllisOther Desert Wildlife Ellen SchafhauserWild Desert Plants Shelley EllisDesert Scenics Shelley EllisTortoise Conservation Andrew Walde
Best of Show - Shelley Ellis Desert Scenic photo of saguaro cactus
The DTC would like to extend a big Thankyou to Andrew Walde Andrew donated hisphoto contest winnings of $100 back to theCouncil to assist the on-going desert tortoiseresearch in Sonora Mexico Photo contestwinners at
httpwwwdeserttortoiseorgawardsphoto2006winhtml
Vendors and Exhibitors
Center for Biological DiversityDaniel Patterson
PO Box 710 Tucson Arizona 85702(520) 623-5252 x 306
Fax (520) 623-9797dpattersonbiological diversityorg
wwwbiologicaldiversityorg
Desert Tortoise CouncilPO Box 3273 Beaumont CA 92223
httpwwwdeserttortoiseorg
HABIT Research LtdJohn Joynt 692 Sumas Street Victoria BC
V8T 4S6 Canada(250) 381-9425
johnhabitresearchcomhttpwwwhabitresearchcom
Hahnrsquos Natural History BooksDonald Hahn PO Box 1004
Cottonwood AZ 86326(928) 634-5016
hahnnatusedonanet
Rincon InstituteMichelle Zimmerman 13701 E Old Spanish
Trail Tucson AZ 85747(520) 647-7833 or 1 (877) 6RINCON
Fax (520) 290-0969httpwwwrinconinstituteorg
Stevan LogsdonPO Box 4070 Silver City NM 88062
(505) 388-8101logsdon_johnsonzianetcom
Tucson Herpetological SocietyDennis Caldwell
PO Box 709 Tucson AZ 85702-0709httptucsonherpsocietyorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
Zonk GalleriesDavid Hoobler
PO Box 11059 Oakland CA 94611(510) 530-2681
davidhooblersbcglobalnethttpwwwzonktheturtlecom
Desert Tortoise Council Awards
Annual Douglas DuncanResearch Valentine LanceSpecial Jeffrey AardahlSpecial Mercy VaughnService Maggie FusariService Tom Egan
In addition the Best Student Paper Award andthe first David J Morafka MemorialScholarship both went to Erin R Zylstra of theUniversity of Arizona Tucson for her researchentitled Evaluating Monitoring Strategies forthe Sonoran Desert Tortoise in SaguaroNational Park
JOHN BEHLER
The Bronx Zoo asked me (David T Schiff) tolet Johns colleagues in the herp communityknow of his death on January 31 of this yearI had the good fortune of spending a day withhim just a week ago as we put the finishingtouches on a manuscript we were working onAt the end of the day we made plans to meet inlate winter at Bog Brook where we having beensurveying turtles together for nearly a quartercentury His death has been a great shock tome and everyone who knew him
John served as Curator of the HerpetologyDepartment since 1976 at the WildlifeConservation Societys Bronx Zoo Since 1996he has also served as the Program Coordinator
for the Wildlife Conservation Societys WildlifeSurvival Center on St Catherines IslandGeorgia Behler started his career with theWildlife Conservation Society as a New YorkState Council on the Arts curatorial trainee in1970
Behler assumed leadership positions in thedevelopment of captive breeding programs forendangered and threatened crocodilianstortoises and freshwater turtles Through hisefforts batagur turtles and false gharialssuccessfully bred in captivity for the first timeat the Bronx Zoo He received the AmericanZoo and Aquarium Associations (AZA)Edward H Bean Award in 1980 for mostsignificant reptile birth for his work withChinese alligators Behlers interests alsofocused on the ecology and behavior ofreptilians and reptilian diseases He had alsodone extensive field studies of the tortoises ofMadagascar and of North American spotted andbog turtles
Among his many conservation affiliationsBehler chaired the World Conservation UnionsTortoise and Freshwater Turtle SpecialistGroup and was a member of the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) Turtle Trade Working Group He wasa former coordinator of the AZAs CrocodilianAdvisory Group and was a member of theAZAs Chelonian and Lizard Taxon AdvisoryGroups Behler worked closely with the NewYork State Department of EnvironmentalConservations Endangered Species Unit andthe National Park Service He served on hiscommunitys Conservation Board and on theWestchester Co unt y Enviro nmenta lManagement Council
Behler received a Bachelors degree inZoologyBotany from the University of Miamiand a Masters degree in Biological Sciencesfrom East Stroudsburg University
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
A native of Pennsylvania Behler resided inAmawalk New York with his wife Heauthored more than 40 popular and scientificarticles and four guidebooks highlightingreptiles and amphibians
The following announcement was prepared bythe Wildlife Conservation Society
The Board of Trustees and Staff of theWildlife Conservation Society are profoundlysaddened by the death of our esteemedcolleague John L Behler As Curator ofHerpetology Behler began his WCS career in1970 in the Reptile Department as an internJohns knowledge and love of wildlife includedworking with WCS field staff on relatedprojects in Madagascar and Asia and is knownand appreciated world-wide His workexemplified the long history of WCS settingstandards for others to follow He assumed aleadership role among his peers ingroundbreaking captive breeding programs forendangered crocodilians tortoises andfreshwater turtles and also focused on theecology and behavior of reptilians
Johns quick wit charm and dedication allowedhim to share his lifes work with many Amonghis numerous affiliations John was a foundingmember of the American Zoo and AquariumsCrocodilian Advisory Group and workedclosely with the NYS Department ofEnvironmental Conservations EndangeredSpecies Unit Likewise Behler served hiscommunity on the Sommers ConservationBoard and Muscoot Farm Nature Center inWestchester County Park
Behler authored more than 40 popular scientificarticles five guidebooks highlighting reptiliansand amphibians and co-authored a book Frogs -A Chorus of Colors with his wife DeborahBehler
We are all saddened by the loss of our friend agreat scientist and conservationist Ourheartfelt sympathies go to Johns wife Debbiemother Mildred sister Judy Howells Johnschildren Cindy Sibilia and David Behler andhis five grandchildrenrdquo
David T SchiffChairman
Ed Note - John Behler was a featured speakerat several DTC Annual Symposia
The Current Board of Directors ofthe Desert Tortoise Council
Senior Co-Chair Pete WoodmanJunior Co-Chair Dan PearsonCo-Chair Elect Kristen MurphyRecording Secretary Lori RoseCorresponding Secretary Pat von HelfTreasurer Mike CoffeenProducts Manager Tom EganImmediate Past Co-Chair Doug DuncanBoard Member Tracy BaileyBoard Member Kristin BerryBoard Member Becky JonesBoard Member Cari RonningBoard Member Glenn StewartBoard Member Bob Turner
Newsletter EditorMembership Doug DuncanWebmaster Michael Connor
FUTURE ANNUAL SYMPOSIA
The symposia location for 2007 and beyond hasnot been set Suggestions or bids for futuresymposia locations and venues will begratefully accepted The Board of Directors isresearching several locations Las Vegas StGeorge and Laughlin
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
15th ANNUAL SURVEYINGMONITORING AND HANDLING
TECHNIQUES WORKSHOP
The 15th Annual Surveying Monitoring andHandling Techniques Workshop is scheduledfor November 4 and 5 2006 at the Carriage Innin Ridgecrest CA The workshop is full If you would like to be placed on the waitinglist please contact Tracy or Mike Bailey att racybaileymchsicom Regis t rat ioninformation will be sent out via e-mail in mid-August to those registered The cost of theworkshop is $25000
The DTC Tortoise Handling Workshops arerecognized by the USFWS and CDFG but acertificate of attendance and participation doesnot guarantee a USFWS or CDFG permitHowever completion of the Workshop shouldhelp with the permitting process
NEWSLETTERMEMBERSHIP
For those receiving hard copy newsletters yourmembership expiration date will be in the upperright-hand corner of the label For thosereceiving their newsletter via e-mail we willresearch ways to include membershipexpiration dates if it is not to time-consumingIf we have your e-mail address we will notifyyou via e-mail when your membership hasexpired or is about to expire So when you joinor renew your membership please include acurrent e-mail address Member contactinformation is used solely for Council businessWe also use e-mail for the newsletters andrarely other special announcements Pleasesend change of mailing address or e-mailaddress to either the DTC address or themembership chair (fldhckycoxnet)
CONSERVATION NEWS
Federal Indictments filed for IllegalTrafficking of Protected Reptiles
A cooperative investigation led by US Fishand Wildlife Service Special Agents OregonState Police Arizona Game and FishDepartment wildlife investigators has resultedin federal indictments of nine people in theDistrict of Arizona The indictments stem fromviolations of the Lacey Act that involved theunlawful interstate sale and transport of reptilestaken in violation of state wildlife laws
Protected live reptiles including Gila monsterswere illegally collected then sold andtransported from Arizona to Oregon and otherstates Service agents and wildlife investigatorsserved several search warrants and conductednumerous interviews as part of theinvestigation To date indictments haveinvolved people from California OregonArizona Texas Nevada and New York
The Lacey Act prohibits the transportation andsale of wildlife in interstate commerce inviolation of state laws The Lacey Actprovides for felony violations maximumpenalties up to five years imprisonmentandor $250000 in fines
Gila monsters are protected by Arizona wildlifelaws One of only two venomous lizards in theworld the Gila monster can be found inportions of Arizona California Nevada UtahNew Mexico and Mexico Gila monsters arehighly sought after in the international blackmarket trade of live reptiles and can be valuedup to $3500 for each animal
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
Mojave Max the famous southern Nevadadesert tortoise who resides at the Red RockCanyon National Conservation Area officiallyemerged from his burrow at 1132 am April 32006
The tortoises debut is hailed by hundreds ofstudents in Nevada and California who havebeen studying Mojave Desert weathertemperatures and conditions to scientificallyestimate when Mojave Max would emerge fromhis burrow in 2006 They entered their guesseson line at wwwmojavemaxcom
The entries are being tabulated and the officialwinner will be announced soon Eligibility forprizes offered in southern California includedstudents in grades 1 to 12 enrolled in schools inImperial Inyo Kern Los Angeles OrangeRiverside San Bernardino and San DiegoCounties
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one ofseveral components of a desert wide tortoiseeducation program being developed by theDesert Managers Group (DMG) to helpstudents learn more about the desert tortoisesaid Anne Staley DMG desert tortoise outreachcoordinator
The DMG is a consortium of county statefederal and military agencies that work togetherto manage federal and state lands withinsouthern California and frequently deal withissues directly and indirectly related to deserttortoises their habitat and the management ofboth
Our goal is to get all students in southernCalifornia involved in the contest and oureducational program to learn more about thetortoise which was federally listed as athreatened species in 1990 added Staley
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is anexceptional teaching tool that provides a cleartie between the health of the environment andthe species that depend on it said Juan Palmafield manager for the Bureau of LandManagement Las Vegas Field Office
Like other desert tortoises Mojave Max entersa burrow to brumate (the reptilian form ofhibernation) every winter and emerges everyspring Warmer temperatures longer daylighthours and an internal clock are factors known tocontribute to his emergence every year
Bureau of Land ManagementGrazing Regulations
This issue has been covered in previousnewsletters First is the BLMrsquos news releaseand following that is a release from the Centerfor Biological Diversity Ed
BLM Issues Addendum to Final EISOn Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes
The Bureau of Land Management recentlyreleased an addendum to its finalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) onproposed regulations that will change theBLMs management of public lands grazingThe addendum and final EIS posted on theBLMrsquos Website conclude that the proposedregulations will produce long-term healthbenefits for public rangelands The proposednew grazing regulations collectively known asa ldquorulerdquo will be finalized in the near future andpublished in the Federal Register
In producing this addendum the BLMconsidered all comments made on the proposedchanges to our grazing regulations said BLMDirector Kathleen Clarke ldquoThe proposed newregulations when finalized and implementedwill enable the BLM to manage publicrangelands more effectively and efficiently
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
Zonk GalleriesDavid Hoobler
PO Box 11059 Oakland CA 94611(510) 530-2681
davidhooblersbcglobalnethttpwwwzonktheturtlecom
Desert Tortoise Council Awards
Annual Douglas DuncanResearch Valentine LanceSpecial Jeffrey AardahlSpecial Mercy VaughnService Maggie FusariService Tom Egan
In addition the Best Student Paper Award andthe first David J Morafka MemorialScholarship both went to Erin R Zylstra of theUniversity of Arizona Tucson for her researchentitled Evaluating Monitoring Strategies forthe Sonoran Desert Tortoise in SaguaroNational Park
JOHN BEHLER
The Bronx Zoo asked me (David T Schiff) tolet Johns colleagues in the herp communityknow of his death on January 31 of this yearI had the good fortune of spending a day withhim just a week ago as we put the finishingtouches on a manuscript we were working onAt the end of the day we made plans to meet inlate winter at Bog Brook where we having beensurveying turtles together for nearly a quartercentury His death has been a great shock tome and everyone who knew him
John served as Curator of the HerpetologyDepartment since 1976 at the WildlifeConservation Societys Bronx Zoo Since 1996he has also served as the Program Coordinator
for the Wildlife Conservation Societys WildlifeSurvival Center on St Catherines IslandGeorgia Behler started his career with theWildlife Conservation Society as a New YorkState Council on the Arts curatorial trainee in1970
Behler assumed leadership positions in thedevelopment of captive breeding programs forendangered and threatened crocodilianstortoises and freshwater turtles Through hisefforts batagur turtles and false gharialssuccessfully bred in captivity for the first timeat the Bronx Zoo He received the AmericanZoo and Aquarium Associations (AZA)Edward H Bean Award in 1980 for mostsignificant reptile birth for his work withChinese alligators Behlers interests alsofocused on the ecology and behavior ofreptilians and reptilian diseases He had alsodone extensive field studies of the tortoises ofMadagascar and of North American spotted andbog turtles
Among his many conservation affiliationsBehler chaired the World Conservation UnionsTortoise and Freshwater Turtle SpecialistGroup and was a member of the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) Turtle Trade Working Group He wasa former coordinator of the AZAs CrocodilianAdvisory Group and was a member of theAZAs Chelonian and Lizard Taxon AdvisoryGroups Behler worked closely with the NewYork State Department of EnvironmentalConservations Endangered Species Unit andthe National Park Service He served on hiscommunitys Conservation Board and on theWestchester Co unt y Enviro nmenta lManagement Council
Behler received a Bachelors degree inZoologyBotany from the University of Miamiand a Masters degree in Biological Sciencesfrom East Stroudsburg University
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
A native of Pennsylvania Behler resided inAmawalk New York with his wife Heauthored more than 40 popular and scientificarticles and four guidebooks highlightingreptiles and amphibians
The following announcement was prepared bythe Wildlife Conservation Society
The Board of Trustees and Staff of theWildlife Conservation Society are profoundlysaddened by the death of our esteemedcolleague John L Behler As Curator ofHerpetology Behler began his WCS career in1970 in the Reptile Department as an internJohns knowledge and love of wildlife includedworking with WCS field staff on relatedprojects in Madagascar and Asia and is knownand appreciated world-wide His workexemplified the long history of WCS settingstandards for others to follow He assumed aleadership role among his peers ingroundbreaking captive breeding programs forendangered crocodilians tortoises andfreshwater turtles and also focused on theecology and behavior of reptilians
Johns quick wit charm and dedication allowedhim to share his lifes work with many Amonghis numerous affiliations John was a foundingmember of the American Zoo and AquariumsCrocodilian Advisory Group and workedclosely with the NYS Department ofEnvironmental Conservations EndangeredSpecies Unit Likewise Behler served hiscommunity on the Sommers ConservationBoard and Muscoot Farm Nature Center inWestchester County Park
Behler authored more than 40 popular scientificarticles five guidebooks highlighting reptiliansand amphibians and co-authored a book Frogs -A Chorus of Colors with his wife DeborahBehler
We are all saddened by the loss of our friend agreat scientist and conservationist Ourheartfelt sympathies go to Johns wife Debbiemother Mildred sister Judy Howells Johnschildren Cindy Sibilia and David Behler andhis five grandchildrenrdquo
David T SchiffChairman
Ed Note - John Behler was a featured speakerat several DTC Annual Symposia
The Current Board of Directors ofthe Desert Tortoise Council
Senior Co-Chair Pete WoodmanJunior Co-Chair Dan PearsonCo-Chair Elect Kristen MurphyRecording Secretary Lori RoseCorresponding Secretary Pat von HelfTreasurer Mike CoffeenProducts Manager Tom EganImmediate Past Co-Chair Doug DuncanBoard Member Tracy BaileyBoard Member Kristin BerryBoard Member Becky JonesBoard Member Cari RonningBoard Member Glenn StewartBoard Member Bob Turner
Newsletter EditorMembership Doug DuncanWebmaster Michael Connor
FUTURE ANNUAL SYMPOSIA
The symposia location for 2007 and beyond hasnot been set Suggestions or bids for futuresymposia locations and venues will begratefully accepted The Board of Directors isresearching several locations Las Vegas StGeorge and Laughlin
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
15th ANNUAL SURVEYINGMONITORING AND HANDLING
TECHNIQUES WORKSHOP
The 15th Annual Surveying Monitoring andHandling Techniques Workshop is scheduledfor November 4 and 5 2006 at the Carriage Innin Ridgecrest CA The workshop is full If you would like to be placed on the waitinglist please contact Tracy or Mike Bailey att racybaileymchsicom Regis t rat ioninformation will be sent out via e-mail in mid-August to those registered The cost of theworkshop is $25000
The DTC Tortoise Handling Workshops arerecognized by the USFWS and CDFG but acertificate of attendance and participation doesnot guarantee a USFWS or CDFG permitHowever completion of the Workshop shouldhelp with the permitting process
NEWSLETTERMEMBERSHIP
For those receiving hard copy newsletters yourmembership expiration date will be in the upperright-hand corner of the label For thosereceiving their newsletter via e-mail we willresearch ways to include membershipexpiration dates if it is not to time-consumingIf we have your e-mail address we will notifyyou via e-mail when your membership hasexpired or is about to expire So when you joinor renew your membership please include acurrent e-mail address Member contactinformation is used solely for Council businessWe also use e-mail for the newsletters andrarely other special announcements Pleasesend change of mailing address or e-mailaddress to either the DTC address or themembership chair (fldhckycoxnet)
CONSERVATION NEWS
Federal Indictments filed for IllegalTrafficking of Protected Reptiles
A cooperative investigation led by US Fishand Wildlife Service Special Agents OregonState Police Arizona Game and FishDepartment wildlife investigators has resultedin federal indictments of nine people in theDistrict of Arizona The indictments stem fromviolations of the Lacey Act that involved theunlawful interstate sale and transport of reptilestaken in violation of state wildlife laws
Protected live reptiles including Gila monsterswere illegally collected then sold andtransported from Arizona to Oregon and otherstates Service agents and wildlife investigatorsserved several search warrants and conductednumerous interviews as part of theinvestigation To date indictments haveinvolved people from California OregonArizona Texas Nevada and New York
The Lacey Act prohibits the transportation andsale of wildlife in interstate commerce inviolation of state laws The Lacey Actprovides for felony violations maximumpenalties up to five years imprisonmentandor $250000 in fines
Gila monsters are protected by Arizona wildlifelaws One of only two venomous lizards in theworld the Gila monster can be found inportions of Arizona California Nevada UtahNew Mexico and Mexico Gila monsters arehighly sought after in the international blackmarket trade of live reptiles and can be valuedup to $3500 for each animal
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
Mojave Max the famous southern Nevadadesert tortoise who resides at the Red RockCanyon National Conservation Area officiallyemerged from his burrow at 1132 am April 32006
The tortoises debut is hailed by hundreds ofstudents in Nevada and California who havebeen studying Mojave Desert weathertemperatures and conditions to scientificallyestimate when Mojave Max would emerge fromhis burrow in 2006 They entered their guesseson line at wwwmojavemaxcom
The entries are being tabulated and the officialwinner will be announced soon Eligibility forprizes offered in southern California includedstudents in grades 1 to 12 enrolled in schools inImperial Inyo Kern Los Angeles OrangeRiverside San Bernardino and San DiegoCounties
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one ofseveral components of a desert wide tortoiseeducation program being developed by theDesert Managers Group (DMG) to helpstudents learn more about the desert tortoisesaid Anne Staley DMG desert tortoise outreachcoordinator
The DMG is a consortium of county statefederal and military agencies that work togetherto manage federal and state lands withinsouthern California and frequently deal withissues directly and indirectly related to deserttortoises their habitat and the management ofboth
Our goal is to get all students in southernCalifornia involved in the contest and oureducational program to learn more about thetortoise which was federally listed as athreatened species in 1990 added Staley
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is anexceptional teaching tool that provides a cleartie between the health of the environment andthe species that depend on it said Juan Palmafield manager for the Bureau of LandManagement Las Vegas Field Office
Like other desert tortoises Mojave Max entersa burrow to brumate (the reptilian form ofhibernation) every winter and emerges everyspring Warmer temperatures longer daylighthours and an internal clock are factors known tocontribute to his emergence every year
Bureau of Land ManagementGrazing Regulations
This issue has been covered in previousnewsletters First is the BLMrsquos news releaseand following that is a release from the Centerfor Biological Diversity Ed
BLM Issues Addendum to Final EISOn Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes
The Bureau of Land Management recentlyreleased an addendum to its finalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) onproposed regulations that will change theBLMs management of public lands grazingThe addendum and final EIS posted on theBLMrsquos Website conclude that the proposedregulations will produce long-term healthbenefits for public rangelands The proposednew grazing regulations collectively known asa ldquorulerdquo will be finalized in the near future andpublished in the Federal Register
In producing this addendum the BLMconsidered all comments made on the proposedchanges to our grazing regulations said BLMDirector Kathleen Clarke ldquoThe proposed newregulations when finalized and implementedwill enable the BLM to manage publicrangelands more effectively and efficiently
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorg
A native of Pennsylvania Behler resided inAmawalk New York with his wife Heauthored more than 40 popular and scientificarticles and four guidebooks highlightingreptiles and amphibians
The following announcement was prepared bythe Wildlife Conservation Society
The Board of Trustees and Staff of theWildlife Conservation Society are profoundlysaddened by the death of our esteemedcolleague John L Behler As Curator ofHerpetology Behler began his WCS career in1970 in the Reptile Department as an internJohns knowledge and love of wildlife includedworking with WCS field staff on relatedprojects in Madagascar and Asia and is knownand appreciated world-wide His workexemplified the long history of WCS settingstandards for others to follow He assumed aleadership role among his peers ingroundbreaking captive breeding programs forendangered crocodilians tortoises andfreshwater turtles and also focused on theecology and behavior of reptilians
Johns quick wit charm and dedication allowedhim to share his lifes work with many Amonghis numerous affiliations John was a foundingmember of the American Zoo and AquariumsCrocodilian Advisory Group and workedclosely with the NYS Department ofEnvironmental Conservations EndangeredSpecies Unit Likewise Behler served hiscommunity on the Sommers ConservationBoard and Muscoot Farm Nature Center inWestchester County Park
Behler authored more than 40 popular scientificarticles five guidebooks highlighting reptiliansand amphibians and co-authored a book Frogs -A Chorus of Colors with his wife DeborahBehler
We are all saddened by the loss of our friend agreat scientist and conservationist Ourheartfelt sympathies go to Johns wife Debbiemother Mildred sister Judy Howells Johnschildren Cindy Sibilia and David Behler andhis five grandchildrenrdquo
David T SchiffChairman
Ed Note - John Behler was a featured speakerat several DTC Annual Symposia
The Current Board of Directors ofthe Desert Tortoise Council
Senior Co-Chair Pete WoodmanJunior Co-Chair Dan PearsonCo-Chair Elect Kristen MurphyRecording Secretary Lori RoseCorresponding Secretary Pat von HelfTreasurer Mike CoffeenProducts Manager Tom EganImmediate Past Co-Chair Doug DuncanBoard Member Tracy BaileyBoard Member Kristin BerryBoard Member Becky JonesBoard Member Cari RonningBoard Member Glenn StewartBoard Member Bob Turner
Newsletter EditorMembership Doug DuncanWebmaster Michael Connor
FUTURE ANNUAL SYMPOSIA
The symposia location for 2007 and beyond hasnot been set Suggestions or bids for futuresymposia locations and venues will begratefully accepted The Board of Directors isresearching several locations Las Vegas StGeorge and Laughlin
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
15th ANNUAL SURVEYINGMONITORING AND HANDLING
TECHNIQUES WORKSHOP
The 15th Annual Surveying Monitoring andHandling Techniques Workshop is scheduledfor November 4 and 5 2006 at the Carriage Innin Ridgecrest CA The workshop is full If you would like to be placed on the waitinglist please contact Tracy or Mike Bailey att racybaileymchsicom Regis t rat ioninformation will be sent out via e-mail in mid-August to those registered The cost of theworkshop is $25000
The DTC Tortoise Handling Workshops arerecognized by the USFWS and CDFG but acertificate of attendance and participation doesnot guarantee a USFWS or CDFG permitHowever completion of the Workshop shouldhelp with the permitting process
NEWSLETTERMEMBERSHIP
For those receiving hard copy newsletters yourmembership expiration date will be in the upperright-hand corner of the label For thosereceiving their newsletter via e-mail we willresearch ways to include membershipexpiration dates if it is not to time-consumingIf we have your e-mail address we will notifyyou via e-mail when your membership hasexpired or is about to expire So when you joinor renew your membership please include acurrent e-mail address Member contactinformation is used solely for Council businessWe also use e-mail for the newsletters andrarely other special announcements Pleasesend change of mailing address or e-mailaddress to either the DTC address or themembership chair (fldhckycoxnet)
CONSERVATION NEWS
Federal Indictments filed for IllegalTrafficking of Protected Reptiles
A cooperative investigation led by US Fishand Wildlife Service Special Agents OregonState Police Arizona Game and FishDepartment wildlife investigators has resultedin federal indictments of nine people in theDistrict of Arizona The indictments stem fromviolations of the Lacey Act that involved theunlawful interstate sale and transport of reptilestaken in violation of state wildlife laws
Protected live reptiles including Gila monsterswere illegally collected then sold andtransported from Arizona to Oregon and otherstates Service agents and wildlife investigatorsserved several search warrants and conductednumerous interviews as part of theinvestigation To date indictments haveinvolved people from California OregonArizona Texas Nevada and New York
The Lacey Act prohibits the transportation andsale of wildlife in interstate commerce inviolation of state laws The Lacey Actprovides for felony violations maximumpenalties up to five years imprisonmentandor $250000 in fines
Gila monsters are protected by Arizona wildlifelaws One of only two venomous lizards in theworld the Gila monster can be found inportions of Arizona California Nevada UtahNew Mexico and Mexico Gila monsters arehighly sought after in the international blackmarket trade of live reptiles and can be valuedup to $3500 for each animal
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
Mojave Max the famous southern Nevadadesert tortoise who resides at the Red RockCanyon National Conservation Area officiallyemerged from his burrow at 1132 am April 32006
The tortoises debut is hailed by hundreds ofstudents in Nevada and California who havebeen studying Mojave Desert weathertemperatures and conditions to scientificallyestimate when Mojave Max would emerge fromhis burrow in 2006 They entered their guesseson line at wwwmojavemaxcom
The entries are being tabulated and the officialwinner will be announced soon Eligibility forprizes offered in southern California includedstudents in grades 1 to 12 enrolled in schools inImperial Inyo Kern Los Angeles OrangeRiverside San Bernardino and San DiegoCounties
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one ofseveral components of a desert wide tortoiseeducation program being developed by theDesert Managers Group (DMG) to helpstudents learn more about the desert tortoisesaid Anne Staley DMG desert tortoise outreachcoordinator
The DMG is a consortium of county statefederal and military agencies that work togetherto manage federal and state lands withinsouthern California and frequently deal withissues directly and indirectly related to deserttortoises their habitat and the management ofboth
Our goal is to get all students in southernCalifornia involved in the contest and oureducational program to learn more about thetortoise which was federally listed as athreatened species in 1990 added Staley
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is anexceptional teaching tool that provides a cleartie between the health of the environment andthe species that depend on it said Juan Palmafield manager for the Bureau of LandManagement Las Vegas Field Office
Like other desert tortoises Mojave Max entersa burrow to brumate (the reptilian form ofhibernation) every winter and emerges everyspring Warmer temperatures longer daylighthours and an internal clock are factors known tocontribute to his emergence every year
Bureau of Land ManagementGrazing Regulations
This issue has been covered in previousnewsletters First is the BLMrsquos news releaseand following that is a release from the Centerfor Biological Diversity Ed
BLM Issues Addendum to Final EISOn Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes
The Bureau of Land Management recentlyreleased an addendum to its finalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) onproposed regulations that will change theBLMs management of public lands grazingThe addendum and final EIS posted on theBLMrsquos Website conclude that the proposedregulations will produce long-term healthbenefits for public rangelands The proposednew grazing regulations collectively known asa ldquorulerdquo will be finalized in the near future andpublished in the Federal Register
In producing this addendum the BLMconsidered all comments made on the proposedchanges to our grazing regulations said BLMDirector Kathleen Clarke ldquoThe proposed newregulations when finalized and implementedwill enable the BLM to manage publicrangelands more effectively and efficiently
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
15th ANNUAL SURVEYINGMONITORING AND HANDLING
TECHNIQUES WORKSHOP
The 15th Annual Surveying Monitoring andHandling Techniques Workshop is scheduledfor November 4 and 5 2006 at the Carriage Innin Ridgecrest CA The workshop is full If you would like to be placed on the waitinglist please contact Tracy or Mike Bailey att racybaileymchsicom Regis t rat ioninformation will be sent out via e-mail in mid-August to those registered The cost of theworkshop is $25000
The DTC Tortoise Handling Workshops arerecognized by the USFWS and CDFG but acertificate of attendance and participation doesnot guarantee a USFWS or CDFG permitHowever completion of the Workshop shouldhelp with the permitting process
NEWSLETTERMEMBERSHIP
For those receiving hard copy newsletters yourmembership expiration date will be in the upperright-hand corner of the label For thosereceiving their newsletter via e-mail we willresearch ways to include membershipexpiration dates if it is not to time-consumingIf we have your e-mail address we will notifyyou via e-mail when your membership hasexpired or is about to expire So when you joinor renew your membership please include acurrent e-mail address Member contactinformation is used solely for Council businessWe also use e-mail for the newsletters andrarely other special announcements Pleasesend change of mailing address or e-mailaddress to either the DTC address or themembership chair (fldhckycoxnet)
CONSERVATION NEWS
Federal Indictments filed for IllegalTrafficking of Protected Reptiles
A cooperative investigation led by US Fishand Wildlife Service Special Agents OregonState Police Arizona Game and FishDepartment wildlife investigators has resultedin federal indictments of nine people in theDistrict of Arizona The indictments stem fromviolations of the Lacey Act that involved theunlawful interstate sale and transport of reptilestaken in violation of state wildlife laws
Protected live reptiles including Gila monsterswere illegally collected then sold andtransported from Arizona to Oregon and otherstates Service agents and wildlife investigatorsserved several search warrants and conductednumerous interviews as part of theinvestigation To date indictments haveinvolved people from California OregonArizona Texas Nevada and New York
The Lacey Act prohibits the transportation andsale of wildlife in interstate commerce inviolation of state laws The Lacey Actprovides for felony violations maximumpenalties up to five years imprisonmentandor $250000 in fines
Gila monsters are protected by Arizona wildlifelaws One of only two venomous lizards in theworld the Gila monster can be found inportions of Arizona California Nevada UtahNew Mexico and Mexico Gila monsters arehighly sought after in the international blackmarket trade of live reptiles and can be valuedup to $3500 for each animal
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
Mojave Max the famous southern Nevadadesert tortoise who resides at the Red RockCanyon National Conservation Area officiallyemerged from his burrow at 1132 am April 32006
The tortoises debut is hailed by hundreds ofstudents in Nevada and California who havebeen studying Mojave Desert weathertemperatures and conditions to scientificallyestimate when Mojave Max would emerge fromhis burrow in 2006 They entered their guesseson line at wwwmojavemaxcom
The entries are being tabulated and the officialwinner will be announced soon Eligibility forprizes offered in southern California includedstudents in grades 1 to 12 enrolled in schools inImperial Inyo Kern Los Angeles OrangeRiverside San Bernardino and San DiegoCounties
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one ofseveral components of a desert wide tortoiseeducation program being developed by theDesert Managers Group (DMG) to helpstudents learn more about the desert tortoisesaid Anne Staley DMG desert tortoise outreachcoordinator
The DMG is a consortium of county statefederal and military agencies that work togetherto manage federal and state lands withinsouthern California and frequently deal withissues directly and indirectly related to deserttortoises their habitat and the management ofboth
Our goal is to get all students in southernCalifornia involved in the contest and oureducational program to learn more about thetortoise which was federally listed as athreatened species in 1990 added Staley
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is anexceptional teaching tool that provides a cleartie between the health of the environment andthe species that depend on it said Juan Palmafield manager for the Bureau of LandManagement Las Vegas Field Office
Like other desert tortoises Mojave Max entersa burrow to brumate (the reptilian form ofhibernation) every winter and emerges everyspring Warmer temperatures longer daylighthours and an internal clock are factors known tocontribute to his emergence every year
Bureau of Land ManagementGrazing Regulations
This issue has been covered in previousnewsletters First is the BLMrsquos news releaseand following that is a release from the Centerfor Biological Diversity Ed
BLM Issues Addendum to Final EISOn Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes
The Bureau of Land Management recentlyreleased an addendum to its finalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) onproposed regulations that will change theBLMs management of public lands grazingThe addendum and final EIS posted on theBLMrsquos Website conclude that the proposedregulations will produce long-term healthbenefits for public rangelands The proposednew grazing regulations collectively known asa ldquorulerdquo will be finalized in the near future andpublished in the Federal Register
In producing this addendum the BLMconsidered all comments made on the proposedchanges to our grazing regulations said BLMDirector Kathleen Clarke ldquoThe proposed newregulations when finalized and implementedwill enable the BLM to manage publicrangelands more effectively and efficiently
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Mojave Max Makes Spring Debut
Mojave Max the famous southern Nevadadesert tortoise who resides at the Red RockCanyon National Conservation Area officiallyemerged from his burrow at 1132 am April 32006
The tortoises debut is hailed by hundreds ofstudents in Nevada and California who havebeen studying Mojave Desert weathertemperatures and conditions to scientificallyestimate when Mojave Max would emerge fromhis burrow in 2006 They entered their guesseson line at wwwmojavemaxcom
The entries are being tabulated and the officialwinner will be announced soon Eligibility forprizes offered in southern California includedstudents in grades 1 to 12 enrolled in schools inImperial Inyo Kern Los Angeles OrangeRiverside San Bernardino and San DiegoCounties
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one ofseveral components of a desert wide tortoiseeducation program being developed by theDesert Managers Group (DMG) to helpstudents learn more about the desert tortoisesaid Anne Staley DMG desert tortoise outreachcoordinator
The DMG is a consortium of county statefederal and military agencies that work togetherto manage federal and state lands withinsouthern California and frequently deal withissues directly and indirectly related to deserttortoises their habitat and the management ofboth
Our goal is to get all students in southernCalifornia involved in the contest and oureducational program to learn more about thetortoise which was federally listed as athreatened species in 1990 added Staley
The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is anexceptional teaching tool that provides a cleartie between the health of the environment andthe species that depend on it said Juan Palmafield manager for the Bureau of LandManagement Las Vegas Field Office
Like other desert tortoises Mojave Max entersa burrow to brumate (the reptilian form ofhibernation) every winter and emerges everyspring Warmer temperatures longer daylighthours and an internal clock are factors known tocontribute to his emergence every year
Bureau of Land ManagementGrazing Regulations
This issue has been covered in previousnewsletters First is the BLMrsquos news releaseand following that is a release from the Centerfor Biological Diversity Ed
BLM Issues Addendum to Final EISOn Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes
The Bureau of Land Management recentlyreleased an addendum to its finalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) onproposed regulations that will change theBLMs management of public lands grazingThe addendum and final EIS posted on theBLMrsquos Website conclude that the proposedregulations will produce long-term healthbenefits for public rangelands The proposednew grazing regulations collectively known asa ldquorulerdquo will be finalized in the near future andpublished in the Federal Register
In producing this addendum the BLMconsidered all comments made on the proposedchanges to our grazing regulations said BLMDirector Kathleen Clarke ldquoThe proposed newregulations when finalized and implementedwill enable the BLM to manage publicrangelands more effectively and efficiently
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
through among other things a better workingrelationship with public lands ranchers Wehave proposed these regulatory changes topromote the long-term health of publicrangelands which are vital to the economy andsocial fabric of Western rural communitiesrdquo
The BLM published its proposed grazing rulei n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3(httpwwwblmgovnhpnewsreleasespages2003pr031205_grazinghtm) The agencyfollowed up with a draft EIS and received morethan 18000 comments on those two documentsduring its public comment period The BLMpublished its final EIS in June 2005(httpwwwblmgovgrazing) after which theagency announced that it would prepare anadditional document to respond to commentsthat came in after the March 2 2004 commentdeadline
Interior Department Moves to CutConservation and Citizen Participation on
Western Public Lands
WASHINGTON DC ndash In another giveaway toindustry the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) is finalizing new rules that would limitpublic oversight of public lands grazing leasesacross millions of acres of the West Theserules are another administration attack on theinfluential National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) an important law which has protectedthe public interest and environment for morethan 36 years
Livestock grazing on arid western public landscan be a significant environmental threat towildlife habitat water quality and recreationBLM has proposed to categorically excludelivestock grazing permits from the NEPAanalysis in cases where allotments have beenevaluated and the allotments are determined tobe meeting land health standards Howeverthere is no requirement that thesedeterminations involve standard science-basedmonitoring data or any quantifiable rationaleand there will be no formal opportunity for thepublic to participate in helping to make those
determinations There will be no analysis ofcumulative effects harm to plants and wildlifeor impacts to imperiled species There is alsono limit to the number of these permits that canbe excluded in any given year which could leadto widespread use of the exclusion
ldquoBLMrsquos rules are a big threat to westernlandscapes and we will fight themrdquo said GretaAnderson Range Restoration Director with theCenter for Biological Diversity in TucsonArizona ldquoNEPA has provided a way toparticipate in public lands ranching decisionsBLM wants to cut out essential public interestinput and concernsrdquo
The new rules also propose to excludeldquotemporary non-renewable grazing use permitsrdquofrom NEPA Unfortunately even short-termgrazing can have long-term impacts toecosystems and BLM should be taking a hardlook and analyzing all of the impacts of eventemporary use There are indications that long-lived species such as the desert tortoise arehighly dependent on a few good years in 100 tomaintain their populations Temporary usepermits are often geared to use additionalforage produced in good years Improperlivestock grazing on arid lands accelerateserosion pollutes waterways degrades wildlifehabitat and alters vegetation communities
Kolkata tortoise Clives petdies at 250 years
KOLKATA (Reuters) - A giant Aldabra tortoisethought to be around 250 years old has died inthe Kolkata zoo of liver failure authorities saidon Thursday
The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clivethe famous British military officer in colonialIndia around the middle of the 18th century alocal minister in West Bengal state said
Local authorities say the tortoise namedAddwaitya meaning the The One and Onlyin Bengali was the oldest tortoise in the world
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
but they have not presented scientific proof toback up their claim
Historical records show he was a pet of Britishgeneral Robert Clive of the East IndiaCompany and had spent several years in hissprawling estate before he was brought to thezoo about 130 years ago West Bengal ForestMinister Jogesh Barman said
We have documents to prove that he was morethan 150 years old but we have pieced togetherother evidence like statements from authenticsources and it seems that he is more than 250years old he said
The minister said details about Addwaityasearly life showed that British sailors hadbrought him from the Seychelles Islands andpresented him to Clive who was rising fast inthe East India Companys military hierarchy
On Thursday the tortoises enclosure wore adeserted look This is a sad day for us Wewill miss him very much a zoo keeper said
Wild Aldabra tortoises are found on AldabraIsland in the Indian Ocean Seychelles IslandsThey average about 120 kg It is believed thattortoises are the longest lived of all animalswith life spans often surpassing 100 years
Mojave Desert TortoiseMonitoring Report
The long-awaited monitoring report is nowavailable for review and comment It can bedownloaded as a PDF at
httpwwwfwsgovnevadadesert_tortoisedt_reportshtml
The report does not yet include results from the2005 season but these will be incorporated intothe final If you have comments on the reportplease send them to Roy Averill-Murray of theUSFWS Desert Tortoise Recovery Office byApril 29 2006
Fort Irwin Record of Decision (ROD) forthe Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (SFEIS) available
The Department of the Army announces theavailability of its ROD for the ProposedAddition of Maneuver Training Land at FortIrwin California On 20 January 2006 theArmy published a notice of availability of itsSFEIS The SFEIS reviewed theenvironmental cultural and socioeconomicimpacts of five action alternatives associatedwith the addition of maneuver training land atFort Irwin as well as a No Action (status quo)alternative
Based on the SFEIS the Army has chosen toimplement Alternative I the EastWestAlternative Under this alternative additionallands totaling about 150510 acres would beadded to the available training lands Thedecision includes training in new areas to theeast and west of the existing Fort Irwin and ina portion of southern Fort Irwin previously off-limits to training Expansion of the maneuverarea of the National Training Center (NTC)provides an extended battle space (land and air)for training Army brigade-sized units accordingto the Armyrsquos training and combat operations
Alternative I was chosen because it best meetsthe Armyrsquos need for additional training landThere are impacts to many natural resourcesexpected as part of the proposed actionespecially desert tortoise Mitigation has beenproposed to offset the impacts identified in theSFEIS Even taking into account thismitigation however there will still besignificant impacts to threatened andendangered species loss of vegetation coverloss and disruption of soil surfaces and loss ofwilderness characteristics to adjacentwilderness areas
The decision also restates the Armyrsquos statedcommitment to environmental stewardship byimplementing mitigation and monitoringmeasurers to offset potential adverseenvironmental impacts associated with the
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
preferred alternative as identified in the SFEISand the ROD
Sign-on A Letter from BiologistsConcerning Science
in the Endangered Species Act
Though the letter from the Union of ConcernedScientists has been delivered additional actionmay be needed The letter with 5738signatures was hand-delivered to each senatorrsquosoffice on Wednesday March 8 2006 Severalscientists were in Washington DC topersonally deliver the letter to key senators andtheir staff and to discuss the importance ofscience to species protection In more than adozen additional states scientistsrsquo personalizedcover letters accompanied the biologistsrsquo letterand signatures
The efforts to protect science in the EndangeredSpecies Act continue and will likely extend intothe next session of Congress Although they donot currently have specific plans anopportunity may arise in the future to re-deliverthe letter with additional signatures If youwould like to add your name for considerationas a letter signer go this page
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringscience-in-the-endangeredhtml
The letter is open to biologists with or workingtowards an advanced degree In addition on acase-by-case basis we will consider those whohave extensive life experience working in thefield that gives them particular knowledge ofspecies and their habitats Read the letter at
httpwwwucsusaorgscientific_integrityrestoringbiologists-letter-onhtml
Recovery Plan RevisionThe First Step - Situation Assessment
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has securedthe independent assistance and impartialexpertise of the US Institute for EnvironmentalConflict Resolution (Institute) in engagingaffected and interested stakeholders in thecollaborative process to revise the RecoveryPlan for the Mojave Population of the DesertTortoise The Institute will assess thefeasibility of a collaborative approach torecovery planning using the structure ofRegional Working Groups and then ifappropriate designing convening andfacilitating a process aimed at reachingagreement on regional recovery action plansand achieving broad stakeholder support for ascientifically credible recovery plan Allworking group activities will be guided by theBasic Principles for Agency Engagement inEnvironmental Conflict Resolution andCollaborative Problem Solving
The Institute shall procure and manage theprovision of independent neutral services toinclude assessment process design conveningfacilitation meeting summaries mediation andpossibly other related neutral servicesassociated with conducting and documentingthe Regional Working Group process whichwill be focused on developing consensus-basedregional action plans The Institute willconduct the selection process with participationby interested stakeholders for choosing a teamof third-party neutral contractors to partner withand assist the Institute In addition the Institutewill provide ongoing advice on collaborativeproblem solving to FWS and Regional WorkingGroup participants along with projectmanagement and contractor oversight services
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
PATAGONIAS ENVIRONMENTALGRANTS PROGRAM
Patagonia (httpwwwpatagoniacom) theoutdoor clothing and gear company providessupport for environ mental work through grantsto nonprofit organizations
Patagonia funds only environmental work andis most interested in making grants toorganizations that identify and work on the rootcauses of problems and that approach issueswith a commitment to long-term change Thecompany funds work that is action-orientedbuilds public involvement and support isstrategic in its targeting and goals focuses onroot causes accomplishes specific goals andobjectives that can be effectively measured andtakes place in countries where Patagonia hasretail stores or an international office
The company does not fund organizationswithout 501(c)(3) status or a comparable fiscalsponsor general environ mental educationefforts land acquisition land trusts orconservation easements research (unless it is indirect support of a developed plan for specificaction to alleviate an environmental problem)environmental conferences endowment fundsor political campaigns
Most grants are in the range of $3000 to$8000 Patagonia accepts proposals forprograms that fit its grant guidelines during themonths of April or August Only one proposalfrom an organization will be considered peryear
Please note that organizations based in acommunity in which Patagonia has a retail storeor an international office should submit theirrequest to the store Retail store applicationsare accepted year-round
Visit the Patagonia Web site for completeprogram information and grant applicationprocedures
Deadline April 30 2006 and August 31 2006
Request for Proposal link
httpfconlinefdncenterorgpnd10001676patagonia
For additional RFPs in Environment visit
httpfdncenterorgpndrfpcat_environmentjhtml
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
wwwdeserttortoiseorgwwwdeserttortoiseorg
Desert Tortoise Councilco Doug DuncanPO Box 331Tucson AZ 85702
Check one MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONRENEWAL CHANGE OF ADDRESSDATE EMAIL ADDRESS NAME PHONE
(Please Print) (Include Area Code)ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE
Regular ($1500 per year) Organization ($5500 per year) Contributing ($5000 per year) Lifetime ($300 or more) Student ($1000 per year- Requires endorsement of studentrsquos advisor or Major Professor)
NEWSLETTER FORMAT Mailed paper copy Pdf file via e-mail E-mail notice for web page viewing
Make check or money order payable to the Desert Tortoise Counciland send with this application
to Desert Tortoise Council PO Box 3273Beaumont CA 92223
The Desert Tortoise Council does not release its membership list
