[texbirds] USFWS News on Lesser Prairie Chicken

From: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <Texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 14:46:02 -0500
.
In response to the rapid and severe decline of the lesser prairie-chicken,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the final listing of the
species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as a
final special rule under section 4(d) of the ESA that will limit regulatory
impacts on landowners and businesses from this listing. Under the law, a
"threatened" listing means the species is likely to become in danger of
extinction within the foreseeable future; it is a step below "endangered"
under the ESA and allows for more flexibility in how the Act's protections
are implemented.


In recognition of the significant and ongoing efforts of states and
landowners to conserve the lesser prairie-chicken, this unprecedented use
of a special 4(d) rule will allow the five range states to continue to
manage conservation efforts for the species and avoid further regulation of
activities such as oil and gas development and utility line maintenance
that are covered under the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies' (WAFWA) range-wide conservation plan. This range-wide
conservation plan was developed by state wildlife agency experts in 2013
with input from a wide variety of stakeholders. The special rule also
establishes that conservation practices carried out through the USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service's Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative
and through ongoing normal agricultural practices on existing cultivated
land are all in compliance with the ESA and not subject to further
regulation.



"The lesser prairie-chicken is in dire straits," said U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. "Our determination that it warrants
listing as a threatened species with a special rule acknowledges the
unprecedented partnership efforts and leadership of the five range states
for management of the species. Working through the WAFWA range-wide
conservation plan, the states remain in the driver's seat for managing the
species - more than has ever been done before - and participating
landowners and developers are not impacted with additional regulatory
requirements."

**********************************************************************
Brush Freeman
503-551-5150 Cell
120 N. Red Bud Trail. Elgin, Tx. 78621
http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/
Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas


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[texbirds] USFWS News on Lesser Prairie Chicken

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