U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Wenatchee Mountains Checker-mallow: Facts, Questions and Answers
Q. Why is the Service listing the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow as endangered? What are the primary threats to its survival? A. The Service uses five factors to determine if any species qualifies as endangered or threatened. They are: 1) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species' habitat or range; 2) overutilization for commercial, scientific, or educational purposes; 3) disease or predation; 4) inadequate existing regulatory mechanisms; and 5) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. All five factors apply to the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow. The primary threats to this plant include changes in hydrology, rural residential development, and competition from other plants, both native and non-native, timber harvest and fire suppression activities. Q. Will the public have an opportunity to comment on the final listing of the species? A. No. Comments were accepted for a 60-day period at the time of the proposed rule in August 1997. These comments were compiled and addressed in the Service's final determination to list the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow as endangered. Q. What protections does a listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act (Act) offer the species? A. When a final rule has been approved and published, a variety of conservation measures under the Act go into affect. These include public awareness and recognition of the species, development of a recovery plan, requirements for Federal protection, and prohibition against certain activities. Collectively, these measures are used to secure the survival and recovery of the species. Q. What is the history of conservation for the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow? A. Specimens of Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow were first collected in Chelan County in 1893. The taxon was first recognized as a distinct variety by Hitchcock and Kruckeberg in 1957. Because areas of Chelan County are being developed and converted to orchards or other agricultural uses, the species was thought to be extirpated from this area. Federal action began as a result of section 12 of the Act of 1973. The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution prepared a report on those plants considered to be endangered, threatened, or extinct in the United States. This report, and subsequent proposals to list vascular plant taxa as an endangered species, included the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow. The species was a category 1 species from 1975 through 1985, when it was designated as a category 2 candidate. After further status review the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow was upgraded to a category 1 candidate species in 1990 and 1993. In February, 1996, category designations were dropped by the Service, but the species retained its status as a candidate. The proposal to list the species as endangered was published on August 1, 1997. Q. Does the Endangered Species Act protect plants differently than it does animals? A. Yes, in some ways it does. While the Act prohibits "take" of listed animals wherever they occur, it prohibits "take" of listed plants only under certain circumstances. The Act prohibits destruction of listed plants on Federal land, but provides little protection from activities on private lands unless the activity is federally administered, authorized or funded, or is in violation of any State law. In those cases where an activity that may affect a listed species is federally administered, authorized, or funded, the Federal agency must consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the activity does not jeopardize the species. The Act requires all Federal agencies to help recover both listed plants and wildlife, and prohibits them from jeopardizing the continued existence of either listed species by any action they authorize or fund. The provisions for recovery planning and partnerships with the State also are the same for plants and animals. Q. What happens if the plant is found on private property? A. If the plant was to be found on private property, the Act prohibits anyone from removing, cutting, digging up, damaging or destroying any listed plant if it is done in knowing violation of a State criminal trespass law. With permission from the landowner, there is no prohibition against take for plants. In essence, activities on private land that do not violate State trespass or other laws, are not prohibited by the Act. The Act strives to place the primary responsibility for protecting listed plants on Federal agencies. Q. What recovery activities will the Service undertake for this plant? A. Recovery planning is started soon after the listing of a species. A recovery plan, developed by a team of experts, describes site-specific management actions that contribute to the conservation of the species. In addition, such plans include objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would allow for the delisting of the species. Recovery plans also include estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures needed to delist and to achieve immediate steps toward that goal. The Recovery team for the Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow will be made up of scientists from the Wenatchee National Forest, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, possibly the Plant Population Ecologist from the Nature Conservancy and the Service. Recovery teams typically work with Tribes, other State and Federal agencies, private citizens and other technical experts to seek information on recovery goals, objectives and other components of a recovery plan. The Service will seek participation of all affected parties to ensure that the plan is biologically sound and can be implemented by all of the partners who will coordinate recovery activities for the species. The Service will use the best scientific information available in planning for the recovery of this species. Q. The Service has often established partnerships with other agencies and private parties to protect declining species. Is there potential to develop partnerships for this species? A. Yes. The Service actively encourages partnerships with landowners, involved agencies, industry and conservation groups, and other interested parties. These partners might include the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program, Washington Native Plant Society, The Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society Wenatchee Chapter and State office, and Chelan County Commissioner's Office, to name a few. Many opportunities exist to help conserve and recover this species, leading to its eventual removal from the endangered species list. Parties interested in playing a role in the recovery of this plant should contact the Service. Q. Will the Service designate critical habitat for this plant?
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