The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has selected an internationally recognized science group to address scientific issues raised in peer reviews of the draft recovery plan for the northern spotted owl.
Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) of Portland , Oregon , will convene a panel of independent scientists to evaluate what constitutes the best available science concerning the ecology of the northern spotted owl. The SEI panel will consider issues raised in peer reviews, including competition from barred owls, fire impacts and habitat relationships, and will evaluate all science relevant to these issues. In January, the SEI panel will host a two-day meeting where additional material will be presented and discussed. This scientific discussion will be open to the public for observation.
"We are committed to using an open, transparent process to address the questions and criticisms raised in the peer reviews and other scientific comments we received on the draft plan," said Dr. Ren Lohoefener, Director of the Services Pacific Region. "This is a good faith effort to establish an independent record of the best available science. We want the best possible recovery plan for the northern spotted owl."
SEI was selected to conduct the scientific review on the basis of its expertise on the northern spotted owl and its reputation for scientific integrity and fairness, Regional Director Lohoefener said. In 2004, the firm was contracted by the Service to conduct an extensive review of the status of the owl. Following this review, the Service determined that the best available science supported continued Endangered Species Act protection of the northern spotted owl as a threatened species.
"High quality scientific information is essential," said Dr. Steven Courtney , Vice-President of SEI. "Our role is to ensure that the Service and all interested parties have a clear and impartial assessment of what the science says."
The draft recovery plan for the northern spotted owl was released in April 2007 and the Service intends to finalize the plan by April 2008. In addition to SEIs report, the Service will rely on members of the Interagency Support Team (IST) to help develop a final plan. The IST consists of scientists from the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
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 547 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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