The science of conservation planning Course objective: a free-ranging examination of some key scientific principles and research needs pertaining to conservation planning for species, species habitats, and communities. Course scheduling: We will meet once per week, from 8:30-11:00, in 2620 Ellison Hall. We may occasionally use the Thursday 9:30-10:45 slot for additional discussion. In general, this is time when student discussion leaders can meet with FD to plan readings, discussions, etc. Course requirements: 1) Critical reading of the materials, 2) active participation in discussion, 3) along with 1-2 of your classmates, responsibility for leading one of the discussions, 4) a page term paper on the topic of your choice (1 co-author is OK), pending FD’s review and approval.

Week 2/3 Background and principles Week 3 will be student led and will cover p of Noss et al.(1997). Week 4/5 Planning for single species vs. multiple species and communities: Week 6 Representativeness assessment Week 7 Developing alternative scenarios of environmental & social change Week 8 Measures of Success Week 9 Monitoring and adaptive management Week 10 Case study Week 11 Case study or reports

Conserving biological diversity # described species ~1.7 million # actual species million? ~50% of terrestrial species in humid tropics (7% of land surface) accelerating rate of extinction Extinction rate of mammals (broken line) and birds in 50 year intervals since 1600 AD

Human-caused extinctions habitat loss introduced species overharvest indirect harvest altered ecosystems climate change Modern extinction rates? Comparable to mass extinctions spp/hour Selective extinctions large specialized rare productive habitats

Conservation Goals Design and protect productive and sustainable land, freshwater and marine ecological systems; Conserve genetic and species diversity Preserve ecological communities in terms of composition, genetic variation, and dynamics

Conservation Approaches Reserves Captive breeding, gardens, germplasm banks Sustainable use of productive lands/waters

Habitat-based conservation Habitats vs. ecosystems? Actual vs. potential conditions Withdrawal vs. active management Area, location, replication

Conversion Reservation & Restoration Sustainable Use 100% 50

Management of Plant Communities Conversion –agriculture 13% –urban 5% Protection % L1/2 # types < 10% % % 44 >50% 31 total 194

Size distribution of aggregated Status 1 and Status 2 lands

Fig 4

Fig 6

Species-Based Conservation Terrestrial vs. aquatic (marine vs. riverine vs. lacustrine/palustrine) Fine-filter vs. coarse filter Species designations Species conservation ranks Information sources Ex situ vs. in situ conservation approaches

Endangered Species Act (1973) Designed to save species at risk of extinction and protect habitats upon which those species depend amended in 1982 to allow incidental take of listed species provided there were approved Habitat Conservation Plans to minimize and mitigate take

U.S. Endangered Species Program TOTAL U.S. ENDANGERED--934 (356 animals, 578 plants) TOTAL U.S. THREATENED--263 (125 animals, 138 plants) TOTAL U.S. SPECIES--1,197 (481 animals, 716 plants) ^

Distribution of federally and state listed endangered species in CA

Habitat Conservation Plans An HCP cannot be approved unless the: "the taking will be incidental", "the applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize and mitigate the impacts of such takings", and "the applicant will ensure that adequate funding of the plan will be provided", and "the taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild", and any additional measures required by the Secretary "will be met".

Habitat Conservation Plans ~208 approved HCPs covering 6.5 million acres ~250 incidental take permits

CA NCCP Act Fish and Game Code Section An NCCP “identifies and provides for the regional or areawide protection and perpetuation of natural wildlife diversity, while allowing compatible and appropriate development and growth.”

Basic issues Habitat-based vs. species-based conservation Habitat representation vs. habitat management Role of science

ESA Issues Direct vs. indirect taking Section 7 consultation process Private land incentives and HCPs safe harbors single-species vs multi-species plans listing/recovery/de-listing

ESA Issues (2) Scientific input and review Monitoring No surprises

Terminology conservation planning habitat habitat-based conservation plan community ecosystem landscape population metapopulation species rare species threatened species endangered species

Environmental Planning