Thursday, June 18, 2009
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"Florida is on the edge of leadership in the management of imperiled species," said Kenneth Wright, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) commissioner at the Commission meeting in Crystal River on Wednesday after hearing an update from staff. "This proposal for revising the process puts the focus on management without getting wrapped around terminology."
Dr. Elsa Haubold, leader of the FWC's imperiled species team, presented the update. The update included a proposal for an improved listing process, species protections, management plans and coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to streamline permitting functions between the regulatory agencies.
Six speakers from various stakeholder groups, including the Ocean Conservancy, Audubon of Florida, Save the Manatee Club, the Humane Society of the United States and Defenders of Wildlife, expressed concerns about what imperiled species will be called if the FWC doesn't use the term "endangered." However, all of the stakeholders stressed they are looking forward to working with the FWC as the imperiled species team moves forward with the revision process.
After discussion, the Commission directed staff to bring back a draft rule at the September 2009 meeting to revise the imperiled species listing process and other tools for managing imperiled species.
"We ask staff to continue working with the stakeholders as they draft the new rule," said Rodney Barreto, FWC chairman. "It's all about protecting species."
The imperiled species team has been working on improving the management system and listing process for Florida's imperiled species after the Commission directed them in December 2007 to evaluate the current practice. The team concentrated on developing a process that includes a comprehensive and cohesive approach to managing species so they will thrive, rather than become extinct.
For more than a decade, the FWC focused its attention for imperiled species just on the listing process because of concerns and a lack of understanding of the current imperiled species listing process.
Confusion also occurred in understanding the difference between the federal list for endangered and threatened species and Florida's own imperiled species list, which contained some federal species, but not all, and not always in the same listing category. The FWC team is developing a listing process with a goal that it be understood and supported by the public, which will enable staff to focus on conserving imperiled species rather than focusing on the listing designation of a particular species.
"We will be creating a management system for imperiled species, which will require a revision of the current listing process and the way we manage imperiled species," Haubold said. "As the team evaluates how we list imperiled species in Florida, we are focusing on how we manage the species to reduce and hopefully eliminate the risk of extinction for these rare species."
The team's proposal for the listing process suggests that Florida use one imperiled species list, which would include two designations for imperiled species in Florida. The first designation would contain those species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Federally listed species include animals such as the Florida manatee, red-cockaded woodpecker, Florida panther, American crocodile, all five species of sea turtles, several beach mice and coral species, Florida scrub jays, key deer, North Atlantic right whale and sturgeon. The second designation would include Florida species that are at risk of extinction, but are not listed federally, such as the gopher tortoise, key blenny, Eustis pupfish, short-tailed snake, Homosassa shrew and white-crowned pigeon. The Florida designated species would be a single category.
The FWC will conduct public and stakeholder meetings to solicit input on the new imperiled species listing process proposal prior to presenting a draft rule at the September meeting in Howey-in-the-Hills.
Dr. Elsa Haubold, leader of the FWC's imperiled species team, presented the update. The update included a proposal for an improved listing process, species protections, management plans and coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to streamline permitting functions between the regulatory agencies.
Six speakers from various stakeholder groups, including the Ocean Conservancy, Audubon of Florida, Save the Manatee Club, the Humane Society of the United States and Defenders of Wildlife, expressed concerns about what imperiled species will be called if the FWC doesn't use the term "endangered." However, all of the stakeholders stressed they are looking forward to working with the FWC as the imperiled species team moves forward with the revision process.
After discussion, the Commission directed staff to bring back a draft rule at the September 2009 meeting to revise the imperiled species listing process and other tools for managing imperiled species.
"We ask staff to continue working with the stakeholders as they draft the new rule," said Rodney Barreto, FWC chairman. "It's all about protecting species."
The imperiled species team has been working on improving the management system and listing process for Florida's imperiled species after the Commission directed them in December 2007 to evaluate the current practice. The team concentrated on developing a process that includes a comprehensive and cohesive approach to managing species so they will thrive, rather than become extinct.
For more than a decade, the FWC focused its attention for imperiled species just on the listing process because of concerns and a lack of understanding of the current imperiled species listing process.
Confusion also occurred in understanding the difference between the federal list for endangered and threatened species and Florida's own imperiled species list, which contained some federal species, but not all, and not always in the same listing category. The FWC team is developing a listing process with a goal that it be understood and supported by the public, which will enable staff to focus on conserving imperiled species rather than focusing on the listing designation of a particular species.
"We will be creating a management system for imperiled species, which will require a revision of the current listing process and the way we manage imperiled species," Haubold said. "As the team evaluates how we list imperiled species in Florida, we are focusing on how we manage the species to reduce and hopefully eliminate the risk of extinction for these rare species."
The team's proposal for the listing process suggests that Florida use one imperiled species list, which would include two designations for imperiled species in Florida. The first designation would contain those species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Federally listed species include animals such as the Florida manatee, red-cockaded woodpecker, Florida panther, American crocodile, all five species of sea turtles, several beach mice and coral species, Florida scrub jays, key deer, North Atlantic right whale and sturgeon. The second designation would include Florida species that are at risk of extinction, but are not listed federally, such as the gopher tortoise, key blenny, Eustis pupfish, short-tailed snake, Homosassa shrew and white-crowned pigeon. The Florida designated species would be a single category.
The FWC will conduct public and stakeholder meetings to solicit input on the new imperiled species listing process proposal prior to presenting a draft rule at the September meeting in Howey-in-the-Hills.
Contact:
Patricia Behnke (850) 251-2130
Patricia Behnke (850) 251-2130
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