MOU to Boost Conservation of At-Risk Species and Habitats

Attwater's Prairie-Chicken. This endangered subspecies is confined to an extremely limited range and has a very small population size. Loss to natural predators is having a serious impact on its populations. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department image.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) have entered into an agreement to identify and create more opportunities to conserve at-risk plant and animal species and their habitats.

Under this memorandum of understanding (MOU), the agencies agree to work together to help preempt the need to list additional species under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA); foster the recovery of species already listed; and address similar needs for State species of conservation concern.

NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster, USFWS Director H. Dale Hall, and AFWA Executive Director Matt Hogan signed the agreement in February 2007.

Greater Sage Grouse. Degradation and destruction of sagebrush areas has greatly reduced its range. The major threat to the Greater Sage Grouse is the degradation and destruction of sagebrush habitats across the West.  U.S. Geological Survey image.

Through the MOU, the NRCS will:

-- Increase Section 7 consultation efficiencies and the availability of landowner assurances;

-- Emphasize use of NRCS State Technical Committees as a vehicle for coordinating efforts among the signing agencies to further the conservation of ESA-listed species and other species identified in State comprehensive wildlife action plans;

-- Enable more strategically focused and effective conservation efforts for species at-risk; and

-- Increase coordination among NRCS Farm Bill programs the FWS’ collaborative conservation programs, and State Wildlife Action Plans.

 

Links…
-- Memorandum of Understanding, NRCS, USFWS, and AFWA
-- Natural Resources Conservation Service
-- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
-- Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies