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Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
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Published on: July 24, 2016

A biological framework for evaluating whether a species is threatened or endangered in a significant portion of its

Robin S Waples1, Peter B Adams, James Bohnsack

  • 1Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA. robin.waples@noaa.gov

Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology
|July 26, 2007
PubMed
Summary

A new test clarifies when a species’ range is significant for Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection. If losing populations in at-risk areas would endanger the entire species, those areas are significant. This aids conservation for broadly distributed species.

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Area of Science:

  • Conservation Biology
  • Endangered Species Act (ESA) Implementation
  • Wildlife Management

Background:

  • The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects species at risk in "all or a significant portion of its range," but lacks clear interpretation guidelines.
  • Determining a "significant portion of its range" is crucial for effective ESA listing and recovery planning.
  • Existing interpretations can be subjective and may not adequately address cumulative risks for broadly distributed species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a biologically-based, objective test for defining a "significant portion of a species' range" under the ESA.
  • To establish a framework that prioritizes biological risk factors over human-centric importance.
  • To provide a method for identifying when cumulative risks warrant ESA protection before a species is threatened or endangered overall.

Main Methods:

  • Proposed a simple test: If extirpation from current at-risk areas would jeopardize the entire species, those areas constitute a significant portion of its range.
  • Emphasized using the species' own viability and risk as the reference point for significance.
  • Incorporated the concept of a "historical template" to define a fixed reference for species viability and range.

Main Results:

  • The proposed test offers a clear, biologically-grounded method for interpreting "significant portion of its range."
  • This framework can lead to earlier ESA protection for broadly distributed species facing cumulative threats.
  • Empirical examples with Pacific salmon and Canadian lynx demonstrate the application of this test in ESA listing decisions.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed test provides a more objective and biologically relevant approach to ESA range significance.
  • This framework supports the long-term persistence of species by considering cumulative risks across their entire range.
  • Defining significance based on species' biological risk is essential for effective conservation under the ESA.