Critical habitat

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Critical habitat is a

Endangered Species Act-ESA. [1] Contrary to common belief, designating an area as critical habitat does not preclude that area from development. Rather, a critical habitat designation affects only federal agency actions. Such actions include federally funded activities or activities requiring a federal permit that may negatively affect the quality of habitat for a listed species. This law also defines that there may be no "take
" of a listed species.

Designation process

Critical habitat must be designated for all threatened species and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, with certain specified exceptions. Designations of critical habitats must be based on the best scientific information available. Areas under consideration must contain biological or physical features necessary to the target species survival. These factors may include things such as food, shelter and breeding sites. Before adoption these areas must include a review that is open to public input from all stakeholders within specific timeframes. Unless deemed necessary for the species' continued existence, critical habitat does not include the entire geographical area occupied by a species. Department of Defense (DOD) lands are also exempt from being designated as critical habitat. Both public and private land can be specified as critical habitat.

A critical habitat designation does not set up a preserve or refuge; it applies only when Federal funding, permits, or projects are involved. Under Section 7 of the ESA, all Federal agencies must ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species, or destroy or adversely modify its designated critical habitat.

Considerations

Before designating critical habitat, careful consideration must be given to the economic impacts, impacts on national security, and other relevant impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. An area may be excluded from critical habitat if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of designation, unless excluding the area will result in the extinction of the species concerned.[2]

Critical habitat requirements do not apply to citizens engaged in activities on private land that do not involve a Federal agency. However, if an activity on property property[clarification needed] requires an action by a Federal agency (such as a loan, increasing irrigation flows, permits from a federal agency, etc.), then the Federal agency must ensure that the action will not adversely modify the designated critical habitat.

See also

References

  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Jasper Womach. Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition (PDF). Congressional Research Service.
  • Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. (1973, December 21). 87 Stat. 884 - Endangered Species Conservation Act. [Government]. U.S. Government Printing Office. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/STATUTE-87/STATUTE-87-Pg884

Footnotes

  1. ^ (P.L. 93-205)
  2. ^ "ESA Critical Habitat". National Marine Fisheries Service. Archived from the original on 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-08-12.