Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

III.A. Recovery Objective and Delisting CriteriaThe objective of the recovery plan is delisting of the northern spotted owlthroughout its range. The major threats to the subspecies, identified in thelisting decision (55 FR 26114), were that suitable habitat was unprotected anddecreasing throughout the range. Evidence was presented that some owlpopulations already were declining as a result. Delisting should not be considereduntil adequate suitable habitat has been protected. In addition, evidenceshould be available that owl populations are stable or increasing and areunlikely to become threatened again in the foreseeable future.Four criteria are described here that must be met before delisting is considered.The criteria were designed to provide a basis for consideration of delisting,not for automatic delisting. The final decision about delisting should bemade only after thorough review of all relevant information by the FWS.Delisting should not be considered in any part of the range for a minimum of8 years. In most parts of the range, habitat and populations still are declining.Declines are expected to continue even after recovery recommendations areimplemented. Therefore, in most parts of the range delisting probably will notbe appropriate for substantially more than 8 years.The recovery plan provides numerous specific recommendations that theRecovery Team believes must be implemented to achieve the conditions underwhich delisting would be appropriate (section III.C.4.). The Recovery Teamrecognizes, however, that new information may become available permittingthe refinement and modification of these recommendations. The RecoveryTeam believes that the delisting criteria should not be modified (with thepossible exception of criterion no. 2) even if specific recommendations change.Delisting may be considered for all or part of the range. The borders of thearea being considered for delisting should follow the borders of the physiographicprovinces shown in Figure 2.2. "Area," in the delisting criteria descriptionsrefers to the area being considered for delisting.1. Owl populations and owl habitat in the area havebeen monitored with a scientifically credible monitoringplan for the preceding 8 or more consecutive years.A rangewide sampling plan should be instituted to monitor the progress ofrecovery. The plan should be designed using existing information, shouldprovide information to modify the recovery plan as appropriate, and shouldserve as the basis for delisting once populations have recovered. Appendix Adescribes such a plan and indicates that collecting the needed data can bedone at a reasonable cost. Appendix A also provides additional details aboutthe specific requirements the sampling plan should meet, contains technicalsuggestions for efficient sampling methods, and explains the basis for theRecovery Team's conclusion that data should be available for a minimum of 8years before delisting is considered.95