Developing Recovery Management Plans for conservation reliant species: Challenges and opportunities

Background/Question/Methods

Meeting the demographic goals of a threatened or endangered species often leads to an expectation that species can be delisted because conservation management of the species will no longer be necessary. The magnitude and pace of human impacts on the environment, however, make it unlikely that many species can be delisted unless the definition of "recovery" includes some form of continuing, species-specific management. We characterize such species as "conservation-reliant", and suggest that viewing "recovery" as a con­tinuum of states rather than as a simple "recovered/not recovered" dichotomy may enhance our ability to manage such species within the framework of the Endangered Species Act. With ongoing loss of habitat, dis­ruption of natural disturbance regimes, and the increasing impacts of non-native invasive species, it is prob­able that the number of conservation-reliant species will increase. 

Results/Conclusions

I will discuss the development of "recovery management agreements," legally and biologically defensible contracts that provide for continu­ing conservation management following delisting of a species.  The use of such formalized agreements spread authority, responsibility, and leadership for conservation of such species among other federal agencies, state wildlife agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as with private individuals and groups. These agreements also would allow the US Fish and Wildlife Service to transfer funds and manpower to management of other listed species.