NEW TENNESSEE ENDANGERED SPECIES GUIDE AVAILABLE

A new field manual entitled "Threatened and Endangered Species in Forests of Tennessee: A Guide to Assist with Forestry Activities," has been produced to assist foresters, landowners, loggers, and others in identifying and conserving threatened and endangered species in Tennessee forests. The publication is a result of a cooperative venture between Champion International Corporation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Tennessee Conservation League.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Southeast Regional Director Sam Hamilton, most forestry-related activities do not negatively affect threatened or endangered species as long as users of the land adhere to recognized procedures known as "Best Management Practices." However, situations do arise, he said, where conflicts between land management activities, such as timber harvest, and the protection of these rare species occur. Hamilton notes that in most cases there are workable solutions that not only protect the species in question, but also allow the land to be used for other purposes, while protecting all parties from prosecution under federal law.

The manual does not include all of Tennessee's federally or State-listed species, but does include those most likely to be affected by logging and other forestry activities, said Dr. Lee Barclay, Supervisor of the Service's Ecological Services field office in Cookeville, Tennessee. There are individual species accounts for the majority of species covered in this manual, including a color photograph, a brief description of the species and its habitat, a list of counties where it is known to occur, and a range map showing the animal or plant's known distribution in Tennessee, he said. Forestry practices that may negatively affect these protected plants and animals are also identified, he said.

"When Champion first approached us with the idea of developing and publishing this manual, we were excited and eagerly agreed to partner with them on the project," Barclay said, adding that soon other agencies willingly signed on to provide either technical assistance or funding and that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation also came forward with a grant to help defer costs. All the project's partners are convinced that this new manual will be a useful tool in the identification and protection of rare species in Tennessee and will help to educate forestry personnel and the public about these special plants and animals that live in our forests, Barclay said.

Copies of the 134-page manual are available for purchase at a cost of $7.50, plus $l.50 postage, from the Tennessee Conservation League, 300 Orlando Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37209. Phone: 613/333-1133.

X X X X

Release #: R97-103

Go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Home Page