The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today recognized the Pueblo of Santa Ana for their commitment to conservation at a ceremony on the banks of the Rio Grande. For the past year Santa Ana has been engaged in a cooperative conservation effort with the Service known as a Safe Harbor Agreement.
In a letter from Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, the Pueblo of Santa Ana was commended for their stewardship by being the first and only Native American tribe to enter into a Safe Harbor Agreement with the Service. "By supporting this innovative program, you are setting a nation-wide precedent for how the Federal government can work with partners to conserve endangered species," wrote Secretary Norton.
Through this 25 year agreement, the Pueblo has voluntarily undertaken management activities that enhance, restore, and maintain habitat for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow, the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher, and the threatened bald eagle. Further, these management activities lead to improved water quality and overall Bosque health.
Safe Harbor Agreements are voluntary arrangements between the Service and cooperating non-federal landowners. Because many endangered and threatened species occur on privately owned property, it is incumbent upon the Service to seek out new ways to cooperate with private landowners in the conservation and protection of endangered species. Entering into Safe Harbor Agreements results in the issuance of a federal enhancement of survival permit, that protects participating landowners with assurances that no additional restrictions will be imposed as a result of their conservation actions.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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