Transcript Section 7(a)

A Tool for Landscape-level
Conservation
Allows protection for all species
•
Protects habitats as well as
species
Desert tortoise habitat
USFWS photo
American alligator
USFWS photo
Aleutian Canada goose
•
USFWS photo
1973 Endangered Species Act
Purpose of the ESA
To conserve listed species and the
ecosystems upon which they depend such
that their protection under the Act is no
longer needed to ensure their continued
survival.
Section 7
“INTERAGENCY
COOPERATION”
Interagency Cooperation:
Section 7(a)(1)
• Section 7(a)(1) directs all Federal agencies to utilize their
authorities to further the purposes of the ESA by carrying
out conservation programs to benefit listed species
Polar Bears - USFWS photo
• The “planning” portion of section 7
Black-footed Ferret
Whooping Cranes - USFWS photo
USFWS photo
Interagency Cooperation:
Section 7(a)(2)
• Section 7(a)(2) requires each Federal agency to insure that
any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to
jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat
• The consultation portion of section 7
Piping Plover - USFWS photo
Consultation
Consultation works best when:
– Collaborative process
– Good working relationships
Consultations
More than 70,000 Federal actions are
reviewed annually just under section 7
Identified Project Proponent
Needs
• Early access to listed species information
• Meaningful conservation measures
• Transparency
• Landscape-level approach
IPaC
Information, Planning, and Conservation
 Streamlines environmental reviews
 Encourages landscape-level
planning and conservation
 Integrates Service programs and
activities
 Coordinates Service and external
partner activities
http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/
5 Factors:
Species-level
• present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range;
• overutilization for commercial,
recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes;
• disease or predation;
• inadequacy of existing regulatory
mechanisms; and
• other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence
Natural
Habitat Loss
Threat
Timber Harvest
Threat
Project Type
Evaluation adds to or
Subtracts from
CMs
Reduction of
Population
Exposure
Mitigation
Reproductive
Failure
Source:
Avoidance
&
Minimization
Displacement
Sediment
response
stressor
response
stressor
Individuals
Activity
Activity
Stream
Crossing
Activity
4. Create Effects Pathways
Create effects pathways and enter consequence sequence (FO
Biologist)
Source: PAC Chain
Project
Type
Activity
Component
Exposure Path
Stressor
Resource
Stressor
Resource
Stressor
Resource
Consequence Sequence #1
Cons.
Need
Organism
Life Stage
Resource Needs
Organism
Response
Organism
Effect
Population
Effect
5 Factors:
Species-level
• present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range;
• overutilization for commercial,
recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes;
• disease or predation;
• inadequacy of existing regulatory
mechanisms; and
• other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence
Natural
Habitat Loss
Threat
Timber Harvest
Threat
Project Type
Evaluation adds to or
Subtracts from
CMs
Reduction of
Population
Exposure
Mitigation
Reproductive
Failure
Source:
Avoidance
&
Minimization
Displacement
Sediment
response
stressor
response
stressor
Individuals
Activity
Activity
Stream
Crossing
Activity
Project and Document
Development and Management
(Expert System)
Document Builder
BA, BO, NEPA, Permit Applications, etc.
and
Systems Integration
This is an example vulnerability assessment
based on 419 existing wind energy locations
in SW Wyoming – red indicates more
sensitive areas
The project proponent can zoom in and see
what areas may be less of a regulatory
headache, based on the FO’s Assessment
CMs
Source: PAC Chain
Project
Type
Activity
Component
Exposure Path
Stressor
Resource
Stressor
Resource
Stressor
Resource
Consequence Sequence #1
Cons.
Need
Organism
Life Stage
Resource Needs
Organism
Response
Organism
Effect
Population
Effect
Conservation Measures
(Design Recommendations)
Conservation Measures developed
with the input of those that will be
implementing them
Landscape-level Conservation Needs
Conservation
Design
Monitoring
and Research
Biological
Planning
Conservation
Delivery
Reporting and Monitoring
Reporting Module
• Customized for each individual project
• “Self reporting”
• Quick and Easy
• Provide feedback for adaptive management
IPaC: Phase I Functionality
 Obtain trust resource lists
 Obtain trust resource information
 Obtain project design recommendations
IPaC: Phase II Functionality
 Project Builder
Document Builder
 Reporting and Monitoring Module
IPaC: Phase III Functionality
Geospatial decision support system
providing the ability to assess threats
 Coordination with State Agencies
http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/
or
Google: FWS IPaC