Endangered Species Recovery Planning and Implementation

Target Audience:

Biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service who are responsible for writing and/or implementing a recovery plan for species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This course is appropriate for anyone who is new to the recovery program, has been drafting plans and/or implementing actions for a few years, and has not been actively involved in the program for a few years.

Summary and Objectives:

Instruction covers the technical, policy, and practical aspects of recovery planning and implementation for threatened and endangered species. This course will enhance participants' ability to plan for and effectively implement conservation actions for listed trust species and their habitats. Topics covered include: statutory framework, purpose and steps of recovery plan development, how and why to involve stakeholders, working with recovery teams and partners, policies and guidance relevant to recovery, the relationship of recovery to all parts of the Endangered Species Act, 5-year reviews, the application of conservation tools such as decision analysis and adaptive management to recovery efforts, recognizing recovery and preparing for delisting, and monitoring. Case studies and exercises are included to reinforce lecture sessions.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the statutory requirements and administrative policies relevant to recovery.
• Identify various means to involve stakeholders and attributes of effective recovery teams.
• Think critically about population viability of species; * Conduct a systematic threats assessment.
• Discuss the role of a recovery plan in effective implementation of recovery actions.
• Identify and employ techniques for successful management of individual recovery projects.
• Discuss how recovery overlaps with other agency programs (e.g., Section 7 Section 7
  Section 7 Consultation The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.
  
  Learn more about Section 7 , Fisheries, Refuges).
• Conduct and prepare 5-year reviews.
• Navigate the various databases for tracking recovery implementation and species status.
• Describe the process for delisting recovered species.

Competency Addressed:

Conservation Biology - Basic, Ecology - Basic, Planning and Evaluating - Basic, Restoration Ecology - Basic, Environmental Compliance - Basic