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Questions and Answers
What does the acronym "ESA" stand for?
What does the acronym "ESA" stand for?
Endangered Species Act
How many hectares of land are covered by the HCP program by the end of 2005?
How many hectares of land are covered by the HCP program by the end of 2005?
16 million
The HCP program is designed to prevent any type of development.
The HCP program is designed to prevent any type of development.
False
Which two agencies work together to oversee the HCP program?
Which two agencies work together to oversee the HCP program?
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What year was the ESA originally enacted?
What year was the ESA originally enacted?
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What specific section of the ESA allows for the issuance of permits for incidental take of listed species?
What specific section of the ESA allows for the issuance of permits for incidental take of listed species?
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The wildlife agencies strongly encourage the inclusion of state-listed species into HCPs.
The wildlife agencies strongly encourage the inclusion of state-listed species into HCPs.
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The wildlife agencies have established a set of detailed guidelines for the implementation of HCPs that are applicable in all situations.
The wildlife agencies have established a set of detailed guidelines for the implementation of HCPs that are applicable in all situations.
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What year were the flexible guidelines for HCP development published?
What year were the flexible guidelines for HCP development published?
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The authors of the article assert that MSHCPs always deliver on the promise of comprehensive coverage for multiple species.
The authors of the article assert that MSHCPs always deliver on the promise of comprehensive coverage for multiple species.
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According to the authors, what are the two primary goals of evaluating MSHCPs?
According to the authors, what are the two primary goals of evaluating MSHCPs?
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Which USFWS region is the focus of this study?
Which USFWS region is the focus of this study?
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What was the criteria for selecting the plans for this study?
What was the criteria for selecting the plans for this study?
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What percentage of the species covered in the plans in this study were confirmed to be present in the planning area?
What percentage of the species covered in the plans in this study were confirmed to be present in the planning area?
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Which of the following taxonomic groups had the highest percentage of unconfirmed species?
Which of the following taxonomic groups had the highest percentage of unconfirmed species?
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What is the main reason cited for the lack of confirmation of some species in the planning area?
What is the main reason cited for the lack of confirmation of some species in the planning area?
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The authors state that including species in a plan that are not confirmed to be present in the planning area presents no conservation issues.
The authors state that including species in a plan that are not confirmed to be present in the planning area presents no conservation issues.
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What percentage of the species in the study were confirmed in the planning area but lacked specific conservation measures?
What percentage of the species in the study were confirmed in the planning area but lacked specific conservation measures?
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The authors believe that the use of adaptive management can effectively address the lack of species-specific conservation measures in MSHCPs.
The authors believe that the use of adaptive management can effectively address the lack of species-specific conservation measures in MSHCPs.
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Which of the following is suggested as a solution to the lack of specific conservation measures in MSHCPs?
Which of the following is suggested as a solution to the lack of specific conservation measures in MSHCPs?
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The authors believe that MSHCPs are always an effective means of protecting species that exhibit spatially-specific patterns of habitat use and population dynamics.
The authors believe that MSHCPs are always an effective means of protecting species that exhibit spatially-specific patterns of habitat use and population dynamics.
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The authors believe that the inclusion of species in HCPs that are not confirmed to be present in the planning area can sometimes be justified due to their widespread occurrence.
The authors believe that the inclusion of species in HCPs that are not confirmed to be present in the planning area can sometimes be justified due to their widespread occurrence.
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The authors argue that monitoring of species in the planning area is essential to ensure their protection.
The authors argue that monitoring of species in the planning area is essential to ensure their protection.
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The federal courts have consistently ruled that the USFWS is not required to provide evidence that a listed species occurs in a particular area to establish 'take,'
The federal courts have consistently ruled that the USFWS is not required to provide evidence that a listed species occurs in a particular area to establish 'take,'
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The authors believe that the use of generalized habitat conservation measures in MSHCPs is sufficient to adequately protect all covered species.
The authors believe that the use of generalized habitat conservation measures in MSHCPs is sufficient to adequately protect all covered species.
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The authors suggest that the 'no surprises' rule in HCPs encourages adaptive management practices.
The authors suggest that the 'no surprises' rule in HCPs encourages adaptive management practices.
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The authors argue that the use of MSHCPs is generally more beneficial than the use of dedicated plans for individual species.
The authors argue that the use of MSHCPs is generally more beneficial than the use of dedicated plans for individual species.
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According to the authors, why are species in MSHCPs more likely to experience population declines than species with dedicated plans?
According to the authors, why are species in MSHCPs more likely to experience population declines than species with dedicated plans?
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What are the three key shortcomings of MSHCPs that the authors identify?
What are the three key shortcomings of MSHCPs that the authors identify?
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The authors believe that the lack of species-specific conservation data hinders the ability to effectively assess the conservation value of MSHCPs.
The authors believe that the lack of species-specific conservation data hinders the ability to effectively assess the conservation value of MSHCPs.
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The authors suggest that relying on professional judgment in the absence of robust data for HCPs is a sound practice.
The authors suggest that relying on professional judgment in the absence of robust data for HCPs is a sound practice.
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The authors call for a shift towards a more quantitative, model-based decision-making approach in HCP planning.
The authors call for a shift towards a more quantitative, model-based decision-making approach in HCP planning.
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The authors believe that HCPs currently do a good job of identifying and addressing gaps in scientific information about covered species.
The authors believe that HCPs currently do a good job of identifying and addressing gaps in scientific information about covered species.
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Study Notes
Species Coverage in Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plans
- Habitat conservation plans (HCPs) permit incidental take of threatened/endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and NOAA Fisheries Service support multispecies HCPs, claiming advantages for conservation and development
- Benefits to individual covered species in multispecies plans may be overstated
- Study of 22 multispecies HCPs in USFWS Region 1 revealed conservation measures often unclear and species presence in planning area unconfirmed for 41% of covered species.
Key Findings
- HCP program, introduced in 1982, allows development compatible with conservation by mitigating effects on listed species
- By 2005, nearly 16 million hectares were covered by almost 450 approved HCPs.
- HCPs frequently cover multiple species, including federally listed and those not on the list. The study focuses on multispecies HCPs (MSHCPs)
- Wildlife agencies' lack of guidance on species selection for MSHCPs leaves decisions to the applicants
- Permits are required only for federally listed species. However, wildlife agencies encourage including state-listed, proposed, candidate and other species in the plan to increase plan's biological value and allow for increased certainty for permittees in case of future listings.
- HCP development relies on flexible guidelines, not rigid rules.
Reviewing Species Coverage in Multispecies Plans
- Analysis focused on USFWS Region 1 plans, covering approximately 85% of countrywide approved plans
- Study of 22 plans approved before December 31, 2004, reviewed:
- Plans included at least one federally listed species and one unlisted species
- Data confirmed species' presence in the planning area (presence) and existence of species-specific conservation measures were assessed
- Plans without explicit mention of species-specific measures to protect were identified.
Confirmation of Species in Planning Area
- On average, 41% of species in the plans were not confirmed in the planning area (Table 1)
- Plants represented the highest proportion of unconfirmed species
- Presence was confirmed based on recent surveys, reports, data sources, though species presence was assumed without site-specific data in some cases.
Species-Specific Measures
- Over two-thirds of unconfirmed species lacked dedicated conservation measures
- Overly broad plans, neglecting species-specific measures, may lead to inaccurate predictions of HCP's effectiveness in protecting individual species
Discussion
- Shortcomings in MSHCPs: overbreadth, lack of species-specific measures
- Uncertainty about species presence and distribution in the planning area, especially for unlisted species, limits the HCP's effectiveness.
- Need for data on species distribution to justify coverage. Periodic monitoring of species presence for which coverage is approved is critical to ensure the effectiveness of the HCP.
- Reliance on generalized habitat conservation measures without species-specific actions is questionable.
- Data quality and quantity are key to developing effective conservation plans, including HCPs
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Description
This quiz explores the effectiveness of multispecies habitat conservation plans (HCPs) in the United States under the Endangered Species Act. Key findings highlight the benefits and shortcomings of such plans, particularly regarding the clarity of conservation measures and the confirmation of species presence. Test your understanding of these complex environmental management strategies.
