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Madliger CL, Creighton MJA, Raby GD, Bennett JR, Birnie‐Gauvin K, Lennox RJ, Cooke SJ. Physiology as a tool for at‐risk animal recovery planning: An analysis of Canadian recovery strategies with global recommendations. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christine L. Madliger
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science Carleton University Ottawa ON Canada
- Integrative Biology Department University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | | | - Graham D. Raby
- Biology Department Trent University Peterborough ON Canada
| | | | - Kim Birnie‐Gauvin
- Section for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby Denmark
- University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Robert J. Lennox
- Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE) Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Bergen Norway
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science Carleton University Ottawa ON Canada
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Noss RF, Cartwright JM, Estes D, Witsell T, Elliott G, Adams D, Albrecht M, Boyles R, Comer P, Doffitt C, Faber‐Langendoen D, Hill J, Hunter WC, Knapp WM, Marshall ME, Singhurst J, Tracey C, Walck J, Weakley A. Improving species status assessments under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and implications for multispecies conservation challenges worldwide. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1715-1724. [PMID: 34057264 PMCID: PMC9292301 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite its successes, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) has proven challenging to implement due to funding limitations, workload backlog, and other problems. As threats to species survival intensify and as more species come under threat, the need for the ESA and similar conservation laws and policies in other countries to function efficiently has grown. Attempts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to streamline ESA decisions include multispecies recovery plans and habitat conservation plans. We address species status assessment (SSA), a USFWS process to inform ESA decisions from listing to recovery, within the context of multispecies and ecosystem planning. Although existing SSAs have a single-species focus, ecosystem-based research can efficiently inform multiple SSAs within a region and provide a foundation for transition to multispecies SSAs in the future. We considered at-risk grassland species and ecosystems within the southeastern United States, where a disproportionate number of rare and endemic species are associated with grasslands. To initiate our ecosystem-based approach, we used a combined literature-based and structured World Café workshop format to identify science needs for SSAs. Discussions concentrated on 5 categories of threats to grassland species and ecosystems, consistent with recommendations to make shared threats a focus of planning under the ESA: (1) habitat loss, fragmentation, and disruption of functional connectivity; (2) climate change; (3) altered disturbance regimes; (4) invasive species; and (5) localized impacts. For each threat, workshop participants identified science and information needs, including database availability, research priorities, and modeling and mapping needs. Grouping species by habitat and shared threats can make the SSA process and other planning processes for conservation of at-risk species worldwide more efficient and useful. We found a combination of literature review and structured discussion effective for identifying the scientific information and analysis needed to support the development of multiple SSAs. Article impact statement: Species status assessments can be improved by an ecosystem-based approach that groups imperiled species by shared habitats and threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed F. Noss
- Florida Institute for Conservation Science and Southeastern Grasslands InitiativeMelroseFloridaUSA
| | | | - Dwayne Estes
- Southeastern Grasslands InitiativeAustin Peay State UniversityClarksvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Theo Witsell
- Southeastern Grasslands InitiativeAustin Peay State UniversityClarksvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Gregg Elliott
- Southeastern Grasslands InitiativeAustin Peay State University, K Gregg ConsultingClarksvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Daniel Adams
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceCookevilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Matthew Albrecht
- Center for Conservation and Sustainable DevelopmentMissouri Botanical GardenSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Ryan Boyles
- U.S. Geological SurveySoutheast Climate Adaptation Science CenterRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Chris Doffitt
- Natural Areas RegistryLouisiana Department of Wildlife & FisheriesPinevilleLouisianaUSA
| | | | - JoVonn Hill
- Mississippi Entomological MuseumMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippiUSA
| | - William C. Hunter
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceNational Wildlife Refuge SystemAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Wesley M. Knapp
- North Carolina Natural Heritage ProgramAshevilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Jason Singhurst
- Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentNongame and Rare Species ProgramAustinTexasUSA
| | | | - Jeffrey Walck
- Department of BiologyMiddle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboroTennesseeUSA
| | - Alan Weakley
- North Carolina Botanical GardenUniversity of North Carolina, and Southeastern Grasslands InitiativeChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
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Pawluk KA, Fox CH, Service CN, Stredulinsky EH, Bryan HM. Raising the bar: Recovery ambition for species at risk in Canada and the US. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224021. [PMID: 31743340 PMCID: PMC6863564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Routinely crossing international borders and/or persisting in populations across multiple countries, species are commonly subject to a patchwork of endangered species legislation. Canada and the United States share numerous endangered species; their respective acts, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), require documents that outline requirements for species recovery. Although there are many priorities for improving endangered species legislation effectiveness, species recovery goals are a crucial component. We compared recovery goal quality, as measured by goal quantitativeness and ambition, for species listed under SARA and ESA. By comparing across ESA and SARA, the intent of the study was to identify differences and similarities that could support the development of stronger species' recovery goals under both legislations. Our results indicated that: (1) overall, only 38% of recovery goals were quantitative, 41% had high ambition, and 26% were both quantitative and with high ambition; (2) recovery goals had higher quantitativeness and ambition under ESA than SARA; (3) recovery goals for endangered species had higher ambition than threatened species under ESA and SARA, and; (4) no recovery goal aimed to restore populations to historic levels. Combined, these findings provide guidance to strengthen recovery goals and improve subsequent conservation outcomes. In particular, species at risk planners should seek to attain higher recovery goal ambition, particularly for SARA-listed species, and include quantitative recovery goals wherever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylee A. Pawluk
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Caroline H. Fox
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Christina N. Service
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eva H. Stredulinsky
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Heather M. Bryan
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, British Columbia, Canada
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Ferreira CC, Hossie TJ, Jenkins DA, Wehtje M, Austin CE, Boudreau MR, Chan K, Clement A, Hrynyk M, Longhi J, MacFarlane S, Majchrzak YN, Otis JA, Peers MJL, Rae J, Seguin JL, Walker S, Watt C, Murray DL. The Recovery Illusion: What Is Delaying the Rescue of Imperiled Species? Bioscience 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biz113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
With unprecedented losses in biodiversity, the need for stronger environmental policy has emerged as a conservation priority. Yet recovery planning for imperiled species remains a cumbersome, slow legislative process. In the present article, we examine features of recovery planning for species listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act to determine those influencing recovery planning duration. We found that the time to completion of recovery strategies increases with the number of jurisdictions concurrently listing the species, greater land tenure diversity, species population size, and road density. Species at risk in Canada with no listing status in the United States also suffered longer delays. To achieve a more efficient, timely, and defensible implementation of recovery planning, we recommend that governments prioritize recovery planning on the basis of risk level, promote transjurisdictional collaboration among listing agencies, anticipate and mitigate conservation challenges associated with multitenured and developed landscapes, and adopt procedures that enhance compliance with legislated timelines for recovery planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina C Ferreira
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ Department of Conservation Biology, in Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas J Hossie
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah A Jenkins
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Morgan Wehtje
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cayla E Austin
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie R Boudreau
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin Chan
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amy Clement
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Morgan Hrynyk
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Longhi
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shawn MacFarlane
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Josée-Anne Otis
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael J L Peers
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Rae
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacob L Seguin
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Spencer Walker
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cristen Watt
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dennis L Murray
- Department of Biology at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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Hoeppner JM, Hughes L. Climate readiness of recovery plans for threatened Australian species. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:534-542. [PMID: 30570177 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The rapidly changing climate is posing growing threats for all species, but particularly for those already considered threatened. We reviewed 100 recovery plans for Australian terrestrial threatened species (50 fauna and 50 flora plans) written from 1997 to 2017. We recorded the number of plans that acknowledged climate change as a threat and of these how many proposed specific actions to ameliorate the threat. We classified these actions along a continuum from passive or incremental to active or interventionist. Overall, just under 60% of the sampled recovery plans listed climate change as a current or potential threat to the threatened taxa, and the likelihood of this acknowledgment increased over time. A far smaller proportion of the plans, however, identified specific actions associated with ameliorating climate risk (22%) and even fewer (9%) recommended any interventionist action in response to a climate-change-associated threat. Our results point to a disconnect between the knowledge generated on climate-change-related risk and potential adaptation strategies and the extent to which this knowledge has been incorporated into an important instrument of conservation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne Malin Hoeppner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Lesley Hughes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W. Malcom
- Center for Conservation InnovationDefenders of Wildlife Washington DC 20036
| | - Ya‐Wei Li
- Center for Conservation InnovationDefenders of Wildlife Washington DC 20036
- Environmental Policy Innovation Center Washington DC 20005
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Woinarski JCZ, Garnett ST, Legge SM, Lindenmayer DB. The contribution of policy, law, management, research, and advocacy failings to the recent extinctions of three Australian vertebrate species. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:13-23. [PMID: 27704619 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Extinctions typically have ecological drivers, such as habitat loss. However, extinction events are also influenced by policy and management settings that may be antithetical to biodiversity conservation, inadequate to prevent extinction, insufficiently resourced, or poorly implemented. Three endemic Australian vertebrate species-the Christmas Island pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi), Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola), and Christmas Island forest skink (Emoia nativitatis)-became extinct from 2009 to 2014. All 3 extinctions were predictable and probably preventable. We sought to identify the policy, management, research, and other shortcomings that contributed to their extinctions or failed to prevent them. These included a lack within national environmental legislation and policy of explicit commitment to the prevention of avoidable extinctions, lack of explicit accountability, inadequate resources for conservation (particularly for species not considered charismatic or not of high taxonomic distinctiveness), inadequate biosecurity, a slow and inadequate process for listing species as threatened, recovery planning that failed to consider the need for emergency response, inability of researchers to identify major threatening factors, lack of public engagement and involvement in conservation decisions, and limited advocacy. From these 3 cases, we recommend: environmental policy explicitly seeks to prevent extinction of any species and provides a clear chain of accountability and an explicit requirement for public inquiry following any extinction; implementation of a timely and comprehensive process for listing species as threatened and for recovery planning; reservation alone not be assumed sufficient to maintain species; enhancement of biosecurity measures; allocation of sufficient resources to undertake actions necessary to prevent extinction; monitoring be considered a pivotal component of the conservation response; research provides timely identification of factors responsible for decline and of the risk of extinction; effective dissemination of research results; advocacy by an informed public for the recovery of threatened species; and public involvement in governance of the recovery process. These recommendations should be applicable broadly to reduce the likelihood and incidence of extinctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Z Woinarski
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Stephen T Garnett
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Sarah M Legge
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Abstract
Listing endangered and threatened species under the US Endangered Species Act is presumed to offer a defense against extinction and a solution to achieve recovery of imperiled populations, but only if effective conservation action ensues after listing occurs. The amount of government funding available for species protection and recovery is one of the best predictors of successful recovery; however, government spending is both insufficient and highly disproportionate among groups of species, and there is significant discrepancy between proposed and actualized budgets across species. In light of an increasing list of imperiled species requiring evaluation and protection, an explicit approach to allocating recovery funds is urgently needed. Here I provide a formal decision-theoretic approach focusing on return on investment as an objective and a transparent mechanism to achieve the desired recovery goals. I found that less than 25% of the $1.21 billion/year needed for implementing recovery plans for 1,125 species is actually allocated to recovery. Spending in excess of the recommended recovery budget does not necessarily translate into better conservation outcomes. Rather, elimination of only the budget surplus for "costly yet futile" recovery plans can provide sufficient funding to erase funding deficits for more than 180 species. Triage by budget compression provides better funding for a larger sample of species, and a larger sample of adequately funded recovery plans should produce better outcomes even if by chance. Sharpening our focus on deliberate decision making offers the potential to achieve desired outcomes in avoiding extinction for Endangered Species Act-listed species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah R Gerber
- Center for Biodiversity Outcomes and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
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