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. The private property within the covered area has already been or is in the process of having conservation easements placed over the developable lands; and are thus protected from residential subdivisions. This will eliminate future downstream impacts of residential development on Xxxxxx Canyon NWR and the species it was created to recover. This Agreement through re-establishment of the Covered Species on non-Federal lands and providing regulatory assurances so permittees may undertake watershed improvement activities that are expected to improve the watershed above Xxxxxx Canyon NWR. The Agreement is reasonably expected to result in the following net conservation benefits to the covered species: • Increased population sizes of Chiricahua leopard frogs, Yaqui topminnow, Yaqui chub, Yaqui catfish, beautiful shiner, and Huachuca water-xxxxx both locally and in the general area. • Eliminate the need to use Mosquito fish (Gambusia spp.) for mosquito control in all ranch waters and allow for greater control of non-native predators and competitors that threaten the covered species in the watershed. • Insurance against the loss of the covered species in the general area because of the extirpation of localized populations. • An increased connectivity of populations in the general area. • Restoration of the water table, allowing for more stable discharge rates in Xxxxxx Canyon NWR. • Increased overall quality and quantity of water, by lessening the potential for erosive scouring of wetlands during extreme floods. • Increased overall volume of perennial wetland habitats for the covered species downstream from the ranches on the LCNWR. • Improved watershed stability and hydrologic function by implementing prescribed xxxxx to improve grass and herbaceous plant cover. The FWS has determined that the Parties’ conservation measures, as described in this Agreement, are reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit to all the covered species as described above. All of the species' listing rules cite the destruction and degradation of wetland habitats, and the conservation measures above will reduce and reverse the negative trend of wetlands in the area. Given the probable species response time to the planned conservation measures, the FWS estimates it may take at least five years of implementing the Agreement to fully reach a net conservation benefit for the species’ habitat, although some level of benefits will likely occur within a shorter time period. If thes...
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 Hanaula in 1995 and supplemented with further releases, the population has also grown to just over 70 birds (DOFAW, unpublished data, 2003), therefore it expected that the population on Piiholo Ranch should reach 75 birds over the 10-year Agreement period It is expected that some percentage of the nene released under the Agreement, and their progeny, will survive upon expiration or termination of the Agreement and that a percentage of nene will remain on the property for the permit term and beyond. 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 in 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 wh...
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. The management activities described in Part 5 of this Agreement have been developed to support the conservation and recovery of the Covered Species. These activities include recovery actions for the Covered Species, as identified in the recovery plan for the California red-legged frog (Service 2002), such as the removal of non-native species, the maintenance of suitable habitat, and the restoration and enhancement of habitat. Additionally, the Service recognizes that education and outreach activities promote the recovery and conservation of listed species. Furthermore, the Landowner will manage the pond and grazing in a manner that is beneficial to the California red-legged frog by incorporating elements of Appendix D of the recovery plan for the California red-legged frog (Service 2002). Therefore, management activities associated with this Agreement would benefit the Covered Species by contributing to Covered Species conservation and recovery. The Service anticipates that implementation of these management activities will produce a net conservation benefit to the Covered Species by: Providing areas where existing suitable habitat for the Covered Species will be maintained or increased in quantity. Providing areas where suitable habitat for the Covered Species will remain relatively undisturbed. Providing habitat for the Covered Species to increase in population numbers or distribution. These activities will result in habitat protection and insurance against the loss of the Covered Species on the Enrolled Property. The Landowner will manage the Enrolled Property in a manner that is beneficial to Covered Species while conducting ranching and other activities. The net conservation benefit to Covered Species from this Agreement, and thus contribution to recovery, will remain in place for at least 30 years.
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. The biological goal of this Agreement is to aid in the conservation and recovery of razorback sucker and bonytail within their native range in the Colorado River and its tributaries by providing reared adult and sub-adult fish for use in establishing and augmenting wild populations and maintaining persistent adult populations in long-term refuge environments. This will assist in achieving the objectives of the species= recovery plans, supplemental recovery goals, and recovery tasks identified by the Team and the SWG. The Parties reasonably expect this Agreement will result in the availability of a minimum of five (5) and up to ten (10) or more additional sites for the rearing of razorback sucker and bonytail or the refuge maintenance of adult individuals of those species, and the annual average availability of a minimum of 500 additional razorback sucker and bonytail from each enrolled property that is utilized as a rearing site for use in recovery program activities over the terms of individual Cooperative Agreements. Because of differences in sizes and productivity of aquatic habitats on individual enrolled properties, and other environmental variables, the production of reared sub-adult razorback sucker and bonytail may be less or greater than that estimate from any individual property in any specific year. However, for as long as management activities are carried out and created rearing and refuge habitats persist, enrolled lands will benefit the conservation of razorback sucker and bonytail. The Parties anticipate 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, within the enrolled lands. Without this cooperative government/private effort, the Cooperators= enrolled properties would not provide suitable razorback sucker and bonytail refugia and rearing habitat or support the rearing and production of sub-adult razorback sucker and bonytail. The Agreement will also provide an example of a mutually beneficial relationship between government agencies and a private landowner to benefit endangered and threatened species, and evidence that such species can coexist with current land-use practices. Therefore, the cumulative impact of this Agreement and the activities it covers, which are facilitated by the authorized take, will provide a net conservation benefit to razorback sucker and bonytail. Cooperators will voluntarily manage the enrolled lands ...
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. The Enrolled Properties contribute to the conservation and recovery of the Oregon chub by enhancing the quantity and/or quality of suitable habitat for existing natural populations or for new populations at refugia sites. Certain Enrolled Properties will increase the distribution of the Oregon chub within its historic range through the establishment of new, self-sustaining populations or through habitat improvements and flow management that promote natural movement of existing populations into previously inaccessible or unsuitable habitats. Management actions undertaken on the Enrolled Properties by the ODFW and Cooperators and described in this Agreement are beneficial to the Oregon chub and are consistent with the goals of recovery and long-term survival.
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. In accordance with the Service’s Safe Harbor Policy, “net conservation benefit” means that the management activities that are part of the safe harbor 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 must be sufficient to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the recovery of the Covered Species. After analyzing the cumulative effects of the safe harbor agreement, by taking into account the length of the agreement (e.g., 10, 20, 30 years), any off-setting adverse effects, the potential return to Baseline conditions, and the anticipated beneficial effects, the implementation of the safe harbor agreement must be anticipated to provide a net conservation benefit to the Covered Species in order for the agreement to become finalized and for the enhancement of survival permit to be issued. Safe Harbor Agreement Net Conservation Benefit Conservation benefits could include: • Reduced habitat fragmentation; • The maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of habitat; • Increases in habitat connectivity; • The stabilization or increase in listed species population numbers or distribution; • The creation of buffers for protected areas; and • Opportunities to test and develop new habitat management techniques. Safe Harbor Agreement Assurances
