Two internationally recognized scientific consulting firms will help conduct reviews of the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet to see how they have fared since being listed for protection more than a decade ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. Both species are listed as threatened and are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To view Q&As click here.
The Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) of Portland will review and evaluate information about the northern spotted owl, while EDAW of Seattle will review and evaluate marbled murrelet information. Both contractors were selected on the basis of their proposals to assemble panels of scientific experts and their past performance in contracts for the Service and many other government agencies. The Service must complete the reviews by April 30, 2004.
"These two firms will bring together some of the best scientific minds available to compile and analyze the immense amount of information that exists on these two species," said Dave Allen, Regional Director of the Service
