NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. Historically, LCT occurred in what were considered networked populations or metapopulations (Ray et al. 2000; USFWS 1995), which refers to a collection of discrete local breeding populations. The potential for networked populations to persist despite local catastrophes has long been recognized (Xxxxxxxx 1958; Andrewartha and Birch 1954). Networked populations are those where individuals experience different environmental conditions at different locations but are capable of moving between these locations at sufficient rates to modulate population fluctuations that might otherwise lead to local extinction (Ray et al. 2000). The presence of several subpopulations increases the probability that at least one will survive through periods of disturbance and consequently protect the genetic variation available for adaptation to change. One of the recovery actions identified in the 1995 Recovery Plan and State Management Plan was securing at risk populations of LCT within the Northwest DPS. This objective was achieved by reintroducing LCT into several isolated streams within the DPS. These reintroductions accomplished several important recovery tasks: preserving unique LCT genetic material and decreasing risks to the original LCT populations from severe environmental perturbations (i.e. fire and drought). As LCT recovery continues, these isolated populations have become extremely important for providing source LCT to repopulate the networked populations. Research shows LCT population persistence is associated with the ability to maintain connectivity among populations, i.e., networked populations. A networked system is defined as an interconnected, stream and/or stream-lake system in which individuals can migrate from or disperse into areas from which fish have been extirpated (Ray et al. 2000). This ability to disperse and repopulate habitats allows populations to persist (Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxxx 2003; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 0000; Xxx et al. 2000; Xxxxxx et al. 1997). Periodic repopulation by upstream or downstream sources enabled LCT to survive extreme circumstances and provided for genetic exchange (Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxxx 2003). The conservation measures associated with this Agreement will contribute, directly and/or indirectly, to recovery of LCT. Private lands comprise only a small portion of the stream habitats within the recovery stream systems. However, LCT use private land areas to access many miles of publicly owned stream habitats for recovery activities that are curren...
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. The Permittee agrees to voluntarily manage the enrolled lands in a manner designed to provide a net conservation benefit to the covered species, by implementing the conservation measures described in this Agreement aimed at increasing species populations while enhancing, restoring, and maintaining suitable habitat. It is anticipated that the net conservation benefit will be sufficient to contribute, directly or indirectly, to recovery of the covered species, after taking into account the length of the Agreement and any off-setting adverse effects of authorized take. Although the activities stipulated in this Agreement may not permanently conserve or recover covered species populations or their habitats, it does provide important benefits to the covered species including, but not limited to the following: maintenance, restoration, and enhancement of suitable habitat; maintenance and increase of population numbers or distributions; increase in habitat connectivity; reduction of habitat fragmentation; insurance against catastrophic events; establishment of buffers for other protected areas; creation of areas for testing and implementing new conservation strategies; and public education concerning threatened and endangered species and ways to preserve them. The Parties anticipate that this Agreement will result in an increased number and/or distribution of the covered species; and/or an increase in the total area of occupied suitable habitat; and/or an increase in the amount of habitat suitable for foraging, roosting, and/or breeding, within the enrolled lands. The Agreement will also provide an example of a mutually beneficial relationship between government agencies for the benefit of endangered and threatened species, and may provide evidence that such species can coexist with current land-use practices. The Tres Xxxx habitat restoration project involved creating approximately 221 and 61 acres of wetlands and associated habitats for the covered species within the FRW and OBW facilities, respectively, and approximately 175 acres of in-channel desert river vegetation. The restoration efforts included many different types of native plant species. The following associations have been made based upon the identified species within this Agreement. The rail requires habitat along stream sides or marshlands associated with heavy riparian and wetland vegetation, especially cattail and bulrush. The flycatcher uses dense riparian environments, open water, and marshes...
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. In accordance with the Service’s Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR 32717), “net conservation benefit” means that management activities that are part of the Agreement are expected to provide an increase in the Covered Species’ population or distribution, and/or the enhancement, restoration, or maintenance of Covered Species habitat. The net conservation benefit will be sufficient to directly or indirectly contribute to recovery of the Covered Species. Implementation of activities to enhance and restore ponds and their associated aquatic, wetland, and adjacent upland habitats would be beneficial to California red-legged frogs and California tiger salamanders, and the creation of additional breeding ponds would be highly beneficial to these populations at the Park. Controlling non-native vegetation within the coastal terrace prairie grasslands and supporting an increase in number and distribution of native grasses and shrubs (i.e., seacliff buckwheat and coast buckwheat) would be beneficial to the Xxxxx'x blue butterfly. Maintaining and supporting the current population of Xxxxx’x piperia and its habitat at the Park, and increasing its numbers and distribution, would be beneficial to Xxxxx’x piperia. The District will carry out activities, as identified in Part 5 of this Agreement, to benefit the Covered Species and Xxxxx’x piperia within the Enrolled Property. The California tiger salamander population at the Park is not known to be hybridized with non- native tiger salamanders (Xxxxxx Xxxxx and Associates, Inc. 2008); an increasingly rare occurrence along the Central Coast. Developing and implementing activities that would enable the increase in number of California tiger salamanders and the opportunity to increase its distribution at the Park would be highly beneficial to the California tiger salamander along the Central Coast. The District has developed a management plan for the grasslands at the Enrolled Property (McGraw 2007). Under this plan, the grasslands within the Enrolled Property will be managed in a manner to benefit the Xxxxx'x blue butterfly, including the management of cattle grazing. Cattle grazing is an important component of grassland management to control non-native invasive vegetation, particularly non-native annual grasses. Reducing the threat of the reduction in suitable habitat for Xxxxx'x blue butterfly as a result of non-native invasive plants out- competing its host plants and other native grassland vegetation is beneficial to the Xxxxx'x ...
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. Reintroduction efforts will increase the range and population above the baseline or existing condition and thus result in a clear conservation benefit to the covered species. Any adverse effects on these reintroduced populations from the effects of transporting covered species to reintroduction sites, land uses on the enrolled properties, and species and habitat monitoring are expected to be minor and short term, reducing the benefits provided by the reintroduction itself only slightly. This SHA/CCAA Agreement assumes that, in most instances, there will be a baseline population or existing population of zero for the covered species on each enrolled property; as a result, reintroduction will not result in an adverse effect on a local or regional population. All successful reintroduction efforts where there is no known existing population are reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the covered species. This SHA/CCAA Agreement also allows for the reintroduction of propagated individuals, or translocation of naturally born individuals, to a property with an existing small population (the purpose of translocations and reintroductions is to help restore or supplement populations where they have been lost or depleted). In these instances, there is potential for impacts on the native population as a result of genetic differences or intraspecies competition. As discussed in
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. Based on the results from similar releases on Kauai and in West Maui, the duration of this Agreement is considered sufficient to establish an additional nene population on Piiholo Ranch. After an initial release of 32 birds in 1995 in the Kalalau Valley on Kauai, that population grew to a population of 70 as of 2002, and following an initial release of 22 nene in Hana’ula in 1995 and supplemented with further releases, the population has also grown to just over 70 birds, therefore it expected that the population on Piiholo Ranch should reach 75 birds over the 10-year Agreement period It is hoped that all nene released under the Agreement, and their progeny, will survive upon expiration or termination of the Agreement. Adult birds may be able to seek out suitable habitat on their own outside the release area, while young birds may be available for translocation to other locations on Maui, if needed. The Parties reasonably expect this Agreement will result in an increase of the number of nene on Maui and an increase in the total area of suitable habitat on private lands utilized by nene. Without this cooperative government/private landowner effort, these lands would not otherwise be utilized by nene in the foreseeable future. It will also provide an example of a mutually beneficial relationship between government agencies and a private landowner to the benefit of an endangered species, and evidence that nene can coexist with current land use practices. Therefore, the cumulative impact of this Agreement and the activities it covers, which are facilitated by the allowable incidental take, will provide a net benefit to the species. By extending the term of the Incidental Take License and Enhancement of Survival Permit beyond the terms of the Agreement, the Ranch may defer returning the property/species to baseline conditions when the Agreement expires. Nene will therefore, continue to benefit from any ongoing or residual conservation advantages for an additional 40 years. Furthermore, it offers flexibility to the Ranch who may be pleased with the results of managing for nene on their property, have no immediate need to return to baseline, and will be, therefore, interested in having nene on the Ranch premises for a longer period of time. The Ranch will notify DLNR and the Service in advance of conducting any activities which it anticipates will adversely affect any nene and also report any dead, injured or diseased birds during the term of the license and permi...
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. In accordance with the Service’s Safe Harbor Agreement Policy (64 FR 32717), “net conservation benefit” means that the Management Activities that are a part of the Agreement are expected to provide an increase in the Covered Species’ population or distribution, and/or the enhancement, restoration, or maintenance of the Covered Species’ habitat. The net conservation benefit will be sufficient to directly or indirectly contribute to recovery of the Covered Species. The re-establishment of Amargosa vole populations within their historical range is identified in the downlisting and delisting criteria in the recovery plan amendment for the Amargosa vole (Service 2019). Additional activities in the Agreement have been developed to support recovery actions for the Amargosa vole by restoring and protecting suitable habitat and by implementing habitat management plans. The Service anticipates that implementation of these activities will produce the following net conservation benefits to the Amargosa vole: ● Re-establish Amargosa vole populations at the northern extent of the subspecies’ range, in its historical type locality; ● Provide areas where suitable habitat for the Amargosa vole will be maintained, protected, and remain relatively undisturbed; ● Increase population redundancy within the subspecies’ range; and ● Reduce the potential for local extirpation and extinction due to stochastic events (e.g., wildfire, disease) within the subspecies’ limited existing occupied habitat. Therefore, Management Activities associated with this Agreement would benefit the Amargosa vole by contributing to the conservation and recovery of the subspecies. Restoration activities by the Landowner have and will continue to stabilize spring flows, water availability, and bulrush cover in the Core Area. Re-introduction of Amargosa voles to the Core Area will contribute toward recovery of the species by establishing a population in critical historical habitat. The net conservation benefit to the Amargosa vole from this Agreement, and thus contribution to recovery, will continue for at least 30 years, as identified here and in Section 9 of this Agreement. As described earlier, we anticipate that the Core Area will provide high quality habitat for the establishment and persistence of a self-sustaining population of Amargosa voles throughout the duration of this Agreement and possibly longer.
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. The Service has determined that the management activities and conservation measures outlined in this Agreement are reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit for larks. The basis for this determination is as follows: Streaked horned larks require open space and bare ground for nesting. However throughout their historical range in the Willamette Valley, they are at a high risk of extirpation, in part due to a loss of habitat due to activities (such as from increased wildfire control, urbanization, reduced seasonal flooding, etc.) that have interfered with processes that used to create and maintain bare ground naturally. Restoring processes that create and maintain grass-dominated habitats is paramount in importance for lark conservation and require intentional disturbances such as prescribed xxxxx, targeted grazing, herbicide applications, mowing, and/or managed flooding (Fish and Wildlife Service 2016, entire). Seeding and establishing native plant species is also important to control undesirable vegetation that degrades habitat quality for larks.
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. The Enrolled Property could be substantially improved for use by the Covered Species by prohibiting development therein and through the active management and conservation efforts by TNC and Cooperators, including habitat restoration and preservation described herein.
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. KS agrees to manage the Enrolled Property to produce a cumulative “net conservation benefit” (the term used by USFWS in its Safe Harbor Policy) and “net environmental benefits” (the term used in HRS chapter 195D) to the Covered Species. Chapter 195D also requires that the SHA “be designed to result in an overall net gain in the recovery of Hawaii’s threatened and endangered species” (HRS § 195D-30) and “increases the likelihood that the endangered or threatened species for which a take is authorized will recover” (HRS § 195D-22). This Agreement will enhance, create, and conserve habitat for the long term recovery of the Covered Species. Through this Agreement, KS will provide a large expanse of suitable habitat for multiple animal and plant species to increase their range and populations. The 50-year Agreement duration (see Section 10 below) is considered to be sufficient to establish and maintain these goals. Forest restoration activities will provide educational outreach and volunteer participation which contributes to the overall awareness of and support for conservation in Hawaiʻi and species recovery. The cumulative management activities which will be implemented pursuant to this Agreement directly support recovery actions and conservation objectives outlined in conservation and recovery plans for the Covered Species (USFWS 1984a, XXXXX 0000x, XXXXX 0000, XXXXX 1998a, XXXXX 0000x, XXXXX 1998c, USFWS 2004, USFWS 2006, XXXXX 0000, Xxxxx‘i DLNR 2015, and Fraiola and Xxxxxxxxxx 2007) including: protection, management, restoration, and conservation of suitable and known habitat, ungulate control, alien species control, and reestablishing connectivity of current fragmented habitats. Through the Covered Activities described in Section 6, baseline conditions will be enhanced for the benefit of Covered Species in Forest Bird Stratum 1, resulting in a net benefit. Outside Forest Bird Stratum 1, at a minimum, baseline conditions will be maintained over the life of the Agreement. Based on the described practices, this Agreement will result in the following net conservation benefits to the Covered Species:
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. The items listed below are specific “tasks” in the recovery plans intended to lead to recovery and eventual downlisting of Gila topminnow and desert pupfish (USFWS 1993, Xxxxxxx 1998). Level 1 (Tier 1) populations are natural populations occupying historic habitat “and which were not know to have been placed in those habitats by humans” (USFWS 1993). Level 2 and Level 3 populations have been reintroduced by humans into habitat within historic range. Level 2 populations occur in natural habitats and should receive a high degree of protection and only require minor management to persist. Level 3 populations occur in highly modified or man- made habitats, and may require extensive management to maintain them (USFWS 1993, Xxxxxxx 1998). Implementation of this Agreement will contribute to recovery of Gila topminnow and desert pupfish in the following ways: • Provide a refugium or Xxxxx 0 populations of Gila topminnow and desert pupfish which could act as a source of fish for reintroduction efforts; • Provide sources of Level 3 topminnow and pupfish for use in genetic exchanges between Level 2 (topminnow only) or Level 3 (for both species) populations; • Provide study sites for research related to life-history, genetics, ecology, habitat requirements, and interactions with non-native aquatic species; and, • Provide convenient sites for education and public relations related to endangered species recovery, conservation of limited resources, and ecology in general.
