Common use of Local Level Conservation Clause in Contracts

Local Level Conservation. This section describes general conservation efforts that all Parties agree to implement at the local, installation or property level, consistent with their respective authorities and in accordance with their individual missions. These common and site-specific efforts and actions include: • Considering the effects of actions on gopher tortoise during the planning process and avoiding or minimizing impacts on habitat where practical. • Identifying presence/absence of gopher tortoises in proposed action areas where the action will disturb soils in suitable habitat. • Avoiding when practical or otherwise minimizing adverse effects on gopher tortoise habitat during land management activities. • Considering translocation of gopher tortoises for projects that will adversely and permanently degrade/fragment/destroy occupied habitat and where all other management options have been exhausted. If translocation is selected as an action, developing a translocation plan that includes 9-12 months of temporarily enclosing tortoises to acclimate and increase their fidelity to the recipient site (soft release). • Avoiding where practical or otherwise minimizing adverse effects of actions that isolate existing gopher tortoise populations.