[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17498-17499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7180]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2012-N032; FXES11130400000C2]
Recovery Plan for the Endangered Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian
Pinkroot)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability
of the final recovery plan for Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian
pinkroot), a threatened species restricted to six locations within
three counties in the Florida Panhandle and two counties in Alabama.
The recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to
be met in order to reclassify this species from endangered to
threatened status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(Act).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by contacting the
Panama City Field Office (PCFO), by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1601 Balboa Ave, Panama City, FL 32405, or by telephone at
(850) 769-0552. Alternatively, you may visit the Fish and Wildlife
Service's recovery plan Web site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html or the PCFO Web site at http://www.fws.gov/panamacity/listedplants.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Vivian Negr[oacute]n-Ortiz, at the
above address, or by telephone at (850) 769-0552, ext. 231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
We listed Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian pinkroot) as an endangered
species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on November 26, 1990 (55
FR 49046). Spigelia gentianoides is a small herbaceous plant and has
two varieties: Var. gentianoides is restricted to five locations within
three counties in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama, and var.
alabamensis is limited to Bibb County, Alabama. The loss or alteration
of habitat is thought to be the primary reason for the species'
decline. The extant plants of var. gentianoides are located in fire-
dependent longleaf pine-wiregrass and pine-oak-hickory ecosystems. Much
of this habitat has been reduced in its range, converted to pine
plantation, and managed without fire. Variety alabamensis is a narrow
endemic, restricted to the Bibb County Glades (open, almost treeless
areas within woodlands). Some of the glades are owned and protected by
The Nature Conservancy. However, this variety is threatened by
potential development of privately owned glades.
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is
a primary goal of the endangered species program. To help guide the
recovery effort, we are preparing recovery plans
[[Page 17499]]
for most listed species. Recovery plans describe actions considered
necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for
downlisting or delisting, and estimate time and cost for implementing
recovery measures.
The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide a
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during
recovery plan development. We made the draft of this recovery plan
available for public comment from March 23 through May 23, 2011 (76 FR
16439). We considered information we received during this public
comment period and information from peer reviewers in our preparation
of this final recovery plan. Some sections of the recovery plan were
edited based on peer reviewer and public comments. However, no
substantial changes were made to the final plan.
Recovery Plan Criteria
The goal of this plan is to provide a framework to conserve and
recover S. gentianoides so it may be reclassified to threatened status.
Spigelia gentianoides will be considered for reclassification to
threatened status when:
Extant populations and newly discovered sites are
identified and mapped;
Inventories have been conducted across the species'
historic sites and/or on new locations;
Monitoring programs and management protocols on selected
populations are established for 15 years to track threats to the
species and its habitat;
Extant populations located on public land are stable;
The minimum viable population (MVP) size has been
determined for each variety;
Research on key aspects related to demography,
reproductive biology, and seed ecology is accomplished; and
Collect viable seeds from at least 50 percent of the
populations for each variety and store them ex situ (off site--that is,
in designated seed storage facilities).
In addition, the following specific actions must be completed for
each variety:
[cir] Var. gentianoides:
[ssquf] Sizes of populations 1 to 4 (out of 5)
are increased via prescribed burns until plant numbers are stabilized;
[ssquf] At least one new population is found; and
[ssquf] At least one population is re-established within the
historic range.
[cir] Var. alabamensis:
[ssquf] Fifty percent of the Bibb County glades known to support
the variety on private land are protected through conservation
agreements, easements, or land acquisition.
As reclassification criteria are met the status of the species will
be reviewed, and the species will be considered for reclassification to
threatened status.
Defining delisting criteria is not possible at this time, given the
current low numbers of populations and individuals, lack of information
about the species' biology, and the magnitude of current threats from
development. Reclassification criteria will be reevaluated and
delisting criteria will be created as new scientific data and
information become available and recovery actions are implemented.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: January 24, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-7180 Filed 3-23-12; 8:45 am]
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