Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

10.07.2015 Views

Management Guidelines for Federal ForestlandsOutside Designated Conservation AreasThe draft recovery plan recommends guidelines for the maintenance of sufficienthabitat conditions on federal lands outside DCAs to allow dispersal ofowls among DCAs. Movement among DCAs is necessary to maintain populationlevels and prevent genetic deterioration of the population. These guidelinesalso contain several recommendations for supplementing the DCA networkin specific parts of the owl's range where conditions currently do notallow full implementation of the DCA network guidelines. This would be doneby providing habitat for additional owl pairs and territorial single owls outsideDCAs. In some areas, the draft recovery plan recommends management ofthese areas to reduce the risk of fire and insect damage. In total, these matrixareas in combination with the DCAs will provide for approximately 1,300currently known pairs of owls on federal lands. This represents about 53percent of all pairs currently known to occur on federal lands.Suggestions for Management of Nonfederal ForestlandsThe draft recovery plan relies first on federal lands for recovery of northernspotted owls. However, it also recognizes the role of nonfederal lands inrecovery, particularly in areas where federal lands are not adequate to fullyachieve the recovery objective. The recovery plan recommends specific contributionsfrom nonfederal lands which will complement federal efforts. Theserecommendations reflect the varied conditions within individual provinces, theauthorities of the three states involved, and the potential for enhanced cooperationwith the private sector. They provide a framework for development andimplementation of creative efforts to help achieve recovery.Owl pairs2,500_Total known owlsrangewide2,000-_1,500 -Li r I1,000'_Total known owlsin DCAs 1 500_rangewide0- EEENonfederal landIFederal landFigure ES.2. Total known owl pairs rangewide and in DCAs.1 DCA = designated conservation area.\ - ~~~~~~~~xi

Monitoring and Research ProgramThe draft recovery plan is based on extensive scientific data on northernspotted owls. This information gives the Recovery Team reasonable assurancethat implementation of the draft plan will result in recovery of the species.However, increased knowledge of owls and their habitat will provide opportunitiesto refine and improve the plan. Consequently, the draft recovery planrecommends a comprehensive monitoring, research, and adaptive managementprogram. The program has two objectives:1) It will help produce information to assist in refining managementguidance and practices to promote recovery and, to the extentfeasible, achieve greater economic efficiency and effectiveness. Theprogram will include assessments of how implementation techniquesare applied and the results they achieve.2) It will provide documentation necessary to consider delisting the owlin part or all of its range.Information derived from the monitoring and research program eventually mayresult in significant changes in the Recovery Team's recommendations. TheRecovery Team has a long-term goal to move from a landscape composed ofprotected areas and matrix toward a landscape where conditions provide amore continuous distribution of owls. Results from monitoring and researchmay support such a change. In any case, the delisting criteria still would beappropriate even if specific recommendations changed.Implementation MechanismsRecovery plans are not self-implementing under the Endangered Species Act.Instead, they are used by federal agencies as a guide to refine managementplans, procedures, and strategies so that on-the-ground operations helpachieve recovery as it is defined in the draft recovery plan. Nonfederal partiesare not required explicitly to follow recovery plans. However, they must followapplicable Endangered Species Act provisions that are reflected in the recoveryplan. The draft recovery plan suggests an implementation schedule which, iffollowed, will expedite progress toward recovery and provide increased certaintyand stability in owl management. Also, in recognition that actions are recommendedwhich cover an extended time frame and involve federal andnonfederal parties, the draft recovery plan recommends establishment of acoordinating group to guide implementation efforts over the long term. Thegroup would provide advice and assistance on policies, plans, and otheraspects of management including monitoring and research.The Scientific Basis for the Recovery PlanThe draft recovery plan is based on field studies of the habitat conditions thatspotted owls prefer for nesting and breeding, on demographic studies, and onstudies of owl behavior. It also is based on biological principles that describethe interactions within and among subpopulations that depend on areas offavorable habitat separated by areas of less favorable conditions. The RecoveryTeam drew substantially on theories and models of population dynamics todetermine the desired size of population groups and the overall population.xiiThe draft recovery plan also is based on silvicultural studies of the growth offorests under natural conditions and human management. Silvicultural modelswere used to study the opportunities for promoting more rapid development ofsuitable habitat conditions by appropriate management in younger stands.

Management Guidelines <strong>for</strong> Federal ForestlandsOutside Designated Conservation AreasThe draft recovery plan recommends guidelines <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> maintenance of sufficienthabitat conditions on federal lands outside DCAs to allow dispersal ofowls among DCAs. Movement among DCAs is necessary to maintain populationlevels and prevent genetic deterioration of <strong>the</strong> population. These guidelinesalso contain several recommendations <strong>for</strong> supplementing <strong>the</strong> DCA networkin specific parts of <strong>the</strong> owl's range where conditions currently do notallow full implementation of <strong>the</strong> DCA network guidelines. This would be doneby providing habitat <strong>for</strong> additional owl pairs and territorial single owls outsideDCAs. In some areas, <strong>the</strong> draft recovery plan recommends management of<strong>the</strong>se areas to reduce <strong>the</strong> risk of fire and insect damage. In total, <strong>the</strong>se matrixareas in combination with <strong>the</strong> DCAs will provide <strong>for</strong> approximately 1,300currently known pairs of owls on federal lands. This represents about 53percent of all pairs currently known to occur on federal lands.Suggestions <strong>for</strong> Management of Nonfederal ForestlandsThe draft recovery plan relies first on federal lands <strong>for</strong> recovery of nor<strong>the</strong>rnspotted owls. However, it also recognizes <strong>the</strong> role of nonfederal lands inrecovery, particularly in areas where federal lands are not adequate to fullyachieve <strong>the</strong> recovery objective. The recovery plan recommends specific contributionsfrom nonfederal lands which will complement federal ef<strong>for</strong>ts. Theserecommendations reflect <strong>the</strong> varied conditions within individual provinces, <strong>the</strong>authorities of <strong>the</strong> three states involved, and <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>for</strong> enhanced cooperationwith <strong>the</strong> private sector. They provide a framework <strong>for</strong> development andimplementation of creative ef<strong>for</strong>ts to help achieve recovery.<strong>Owl</strong> pairs2,500_Total known owlsrangewide2,000-_1,500 -Li r I1,000'_Total known owlsin DCAs 1 500_rangewide0- EEENonfederal landIFederal landFigure ES.2. Total known owl pairs rangewide and in DCAs.1 DCA = designated conservation area.\ - ~~~~~~~~xi

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