On May 9, 1994, the Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition from the Greater Gila Biodiversity Project of Silver City, New Mexico, and nine competitors, requesting listing of the Queen Charlotte goshawk The Services initial finding on the petition concluded that a review of the goshawks status was appropriate. However, after seeking public comment and reviewing all available information on the goshawk, the Service finds that protection under the Endangered Species Act is not warranted.
As in its recent decision not to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf, the Fish and Wildlife Service based this decision on insufficient scientific and commercial information to warrant listing. The commitment of the U.S. Forest Service to revise its Tongrass Land Management Plan to adequately protect the habitat for the Queen Charlotte goshawk and other species associated with old-growth forest was also an important element in the Directors decision.
The Forest Service, responsible for management of the Tongrass National Forest that comprises much of southeast Alaska, and the Fish and Wildlife Service are discussing strategies that may be implemented to reduce adverse effects of logging in southeast Alaska. The Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game have already signed an agreement to conserve species of concern. These three agencies will work cooperatively in several areas, including: Joint funding of data collection and genetic studies of the Queen Charlotte goshawk, Alexander Archipelago wolf and other species; increased involvement of Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists in the management planning and implementation process, such as the Tongrass Land Management Plan and timber harvest plans; design and implementation of conservation agreements that would, among other methods, employ an ecosystem approach to conserving habitat and insure viable populations of the Queen Charlotte goshawk. The goal of these efforts would be several: to manage the forest economically and in an environmentally sustainable manner; to provide for viable populations of fish and wildlife and to take appropriate actions in time to prevent the need to list species as threatened or endangered.
Background: The Queen Charlotte goshawk is one of three goshawk subspecies occurring in North America. Goshawks typically live in mature forest, preying on birds and mammals, such as grouse, jays, squirrels, and rabbits. The goshawks subspecies occurring in the eastern United States was extirpated from many areas of the country because of extensive logging by settlers. With the regrowth of many of these areas in the past 100 years, goshawks are returning.
The Queen Charlotte goshawk has darker plumage than other North American goshawks. The top of the head and back are often black to dark grey. They are particularly adept at sitting on a perch in wait, then flying swiftly through the understory of large tree forests to seize their prey. There is currently no reliable estimate of how many Queen Charlotte goshawks exist. Most biologists believe they are not abundant and their numbers may be decreasing.
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