ETWP; Proposed Rule to Remove the Tinian Monarch From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to remove the Tinian monarch (Monarcha takatsukasae) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The Tinian monarch is a bird endemic to the island of Tinian in the Mariana archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. It was listed as endangered on June 2, 1970, because its populations were thought to be critically low due to the destruction of native forests by pre-World War II (WW II) agricultural practices and military activities during WW II. Forest bird surveys conducted by the Service in 1982 resulted in a population estimate of 40,000 monarchs. Based on the results of this survey, we downlisted the monarch to threatened status on April 6, 1987. A study of monarch breeding biology in 1994 and 1995 suggested a rough population estimate of 52,904 birds. In 1996, a replication of the 1982 surveys yielded a population estimate of 55,721 birds, a significant increase from 1982 levels. The 1996 survey also found significantly denser forest habitat from 1982 levels, which may reflect an increase in monarch habitat quality. This proposed rule acknowledges the increase in population numbers and the likely improvement in habitat quality. If made final this rule would remove Federal protection provided by the Act for this species. Removal of Federal protection for the Tinian monarch does not nullify protections provided by the government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to the monarch as a protected wildlife species or its designation by CNMI as a threatened or endangered species. This proposal also constitutes a finding on a petition to delist this species.