Endangered Species Recovery Plans - Assignment Example

An analysis of endangered species recovery plans and Introduction There are a number of wildlife species whose population status and trends raises concerns for conservation. Such species are categorized under endangered species, and their probability of extinction is said to be high. Through the Endangered Species Act, these species are protected in the different states from harm and other factors that pose a threat to their existence. The Act was established with an aim of providing the means for protecting these species. It requires that the habitats upon which the species depend on be protected and conserved. The term "threatened" or "endangered" is used to refer to any living organism or population whose continued existence is in danger of getting extinct throughout a significant or wholesome portion of its assortment. It could also be taken to refer to any organism or species with a likelihood of becoming endangered within a given duration of the foreseeable future. This paper seeks to analyze the Karner blue butterfly to show the different plans for its recovery: when such steps as recovery of the canopy and inclusion of state regulations are keenly observed and followed, optimal results will be achieved. There is eminent desire for states to incorporate independent scientific instruction into conservation legislation to boost their effectiveness (Curtis & Martin, 2012). Without such considerations and failure by individuals to account for the interactions of endangered species, there is an escalated chance for extinction of the species to take course. Assigning a plan for recovery of the said species is eminent and should be a provision by all legislative laws governing wildlife conservancy. This paper seeks to analyze the different possible recovery plans and the different actions to be employed to escalate the recovery processes. The plans used for species recovery contain all the biological data available about a species and the standards for recovering the species. Such standards include the benchmarks, purposes and goals for taking on the exercise. When all these are achieved, there will be the formation of a basis for reclassification of the species from the endangered category to a lesser affected category, popularly known as down-listing. The Karner blue butterfly The Karner blue butterfly is a species that have for once been federally listed as an endangered sort range-wide (Charde & Martin, 2012). In its history, the species occurred in twelve different states and sites in Ontario Province. Currently, the blue butterfly has been reported to have gone extinct in seven of the states, and having massive occurrences in the western range. In the five states, the species has been considered extirpated. Reintroduction of the species to the said states could be achieved through translocation. Historically, the species is said to own or inhabit the savanna ecosystems. Due to the development, much of the ecosystems have been destroyed without replacement leading to lack of habitation for the organisms. This eventually led to decline in the locations and numbers of the Karner blue, marked by loss of large populations. This was especially evident in the eastern and central quotas of its range (Moores et al., 2012). The remaining savanna and barren habitats among other sites that support the habitat acts as a home for the Karner blue presently. These include such places as the military bases, rights-of-ways, silvicultural zones and airports. The bio network of the blue butterfly is closely related to the habitat in which they garner food and other sub habitats. In its larval stages, the species feed on a specific plant, the wild lupine without which the regeneration of the species cannot thrive. Conserving such plants within the habitats is highly recommended and should not be left in isolation while strategizing for recovery of the species. The adults on the other hand feast on nectar for survival and reproduction. As a result, to renew the existence of and persistence of the species, managing and revamping these habitats is eminent. The dynamics and distribution of the above habitats, therefore, forms the basis for setting recovery plans to establish a sustainable meta-population. Recovery Actions for the endangered species There exist more than a thousand different plans set to aid in the recovery of the endangered species. A requirement by the law for all the plans to have an "objective, measurable" criterion for delisting was a positive measure enacted through a constitutional amendment in the late 1980s. The size of the population for a species was taken as one of the criteria. Having targets for the population of a species is crucial as it allows the researcher to determine whether the efforts and means for conservation employed are effective, and whether further protection could be necessary to ensure that the endangered species are saved. This also could help in determining the sizes of harvests that can be allowed and the threats to be curbed first for the population of a species to be increased to a reasonable level. The listed species whose quantitative criteria for recovery were higher, for instance in population size, its status for recovery could be reported as having improved (Haines et al. 2013). The goals for recovery of listed species can therefore play a great role in the application of science in setting policy and in translation of these policies into action. The criterion for quantitative recovery does not essentially lead to increased populations (Primack, 2012). It could result from disconnections caused by political gravities of lower criterion for recovery in which consecutive generations of managers rely on the experiences they garnered while pursuing their careers rather than from experiences. This results to lower expectations for the objectives of recovery. How well could they deal with the stipulated recovery criteria? Estimates of the population size should include measures of error margins to ensure robustness of the stipulated criteria for recovery (Haines et al., 2005). This should be done through evaluation of the uncertainty and errors associated with the criteria. The United States Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) employ different tools of conservation in the recovery of the threatened and endangered species. This ensures that such species have a chance to survive solely in the world. The main tools as applied by the board includes acquisition and restoration of habitats, removal of invading species to such habitats, performance of monitoring based on individual species, conduction of recurrent surveys and breeding of the species in captivity and later releasing them into the habitats. To ensure success of the recovery process, having collaborative efforts is critical. This includes working with partners such as government institutions, business communities, local agencies, the state, conservation organizations and the citizens at large, especially those who own land. Through such efforts, most of the endangered species will be revamped within no time, and they will enjoy their natural existence in the wild. Species Recovery Program A recovery program is any process that seeks to halt the waning of any threatened or endangered species through reduction or removal of the threats. This ensures that the organisms enjoy longer survival terms in the wild. Using such strategies, the species will be recovered thereby eliminating the need for further measures. Recovery plans deliver the road map for individualized, state and federal cooperation in the conservation of listed species (Prismack, 2012). Recovery plans do not necessarily act as a regulation, but rather as a guide on the best strategies to employ when recovering the listed species. To achieve recovery, performing complaisant conservation with land owners is eminent (Hoores et al., 2013). A number of measures should be employed which includes offering flexibility in the management of the species, getting into agreements with private landowners to allow them participate in the conservation and recovery measures. Getting into agreements that act in favor of the private landowners is an incentive to ensure their full participation (Prismack, 2012). Other strategies for recovery include provision of grants to the states and landowners for different projects aimed at saving such endangered species. Relocation or reintroduction of a species into its traditional habitat helps in reestablishment and should be employed as an approach. Finally, through establishment of the Endangered Species Act, the species are protected from being "taken" federally by any person wherein such a case is subject to jurisdiction. "Take" is used to refer to any harming action or activity performed with an aim to harm or cause any form of harassment to any of the species listed as endangered. Different state regulations are established in an effort to implementing the Act. Conclusion The extirpation of the blue butterfly has been greatly attributed to such factors as closure of the canopies, alterations of their habitats by pine manors, natural disasters such as fire, human incursions leading to habitat damage and the drought that caused massive damage to the canopy. Employing collaborative recovery to involve the different parties as presented in this case. Where the law, private landowners and the general public are involved in the recovery efforts, the pace for achieving set targets will be escalated, and the endangered species left to enjoy their existence in the wild. Continued efforts to save and revamp the existence of a listed species. To ensure successful implementation of the strategies highlighted, legislation for environmental conservation should clearly outline the roles of different parties in implementing recovery actions. These can be achieved through collaborative participation and a desire by the general public to participate in the programs as alienated. Educating citizens on the importance of maintaining sustainable habitats for wild organisms will play a great role in the recovery and should be emphasized. Otherwise, some of the species might become extinct never to be in existence again. References Baker, J., Bain, D., Clarke, J., & French, K. (2012). Translocation of the Eastern Bristlebird 2: applying principles to two case studies. Ecological Management & Restoration, 13(2), 159-165. doi:10.1111/j.1442-8903.2012.00640.x Chadès, I., Curtis, J. R., & Martin, T. G. (2012). Setting Realistic Recovery Targets for Two Interacting Endangered Species, Sea Otter and Northern Abalone. Conservation Biology, 26(6), 1016-1025. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01951.x Haines, A. M., Zak, M., Hammond, K., Scott, J., Goble, D. D., & Rachlow, J. L. (2013). Uncertainty in Population Estimates for Endangered Animals and Improving the Recovery Process. Animals (2076-2615), 3(3), 745-753. doi:10.3390/ani3030745 Mooers, A. O., Doak, D. F., Findlay, C., Green, D. M., Grouios, C., Manne, L. L., & ... Whitton, J. (2010). Science, Policy, and Species at Risk in Canada. Bioscience, 60(10), 843-849. doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.10.11 Primack, R. B. (2012). A Primer of Conservation Biology, Fifth Edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Read More