Endangered Species Act Decision Making

Full Title

Developing decision tools to facilitate recovery planning under the Endangered Species Act

Abstract

Protection of species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a challenging and often controversial task that requires input from a variety of environmental, economic, social, and political interests. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), responsible for recovery of most listed species, is faced with an increasing workload and decreasing resources. Additionally, the FWS lacks a means to prioritize conservation across recovery plans, species, and regions. In light of an increasing list of imperiled species requiring evaluation and protection, the FWS is exploring new ways to address this significant management challenge. In collaboration with agency scientists and managers, we propose to co-develop a general decision framework to facilitate recovery and spending decisions. Our proposed Venture will synthesize theory and models from multiple disciplines with FWS data to address two fundamental aspects of recovery: setting recovery priorities and allocating recovery funds. We will draw on successful models of formal decision making in recovery planning from Australia and New Zealand to optimize resource allocation and maximize the benefits of recovery action. We will actively engage agency scientists in developing the techniques, and will also establish a consumer group of agency staff with whom we will work for field testing. Close interaction with the FWS will ensure the Venture has immediate practical relevance in that the analytical techniques we develop will be embraced by field and regional offices nationwide. 

Project Type
Team Synthesis Project
Date
2015
Principal Investigators
Leah Gerber, Arizona State University
Michael Runge, USGS
Participants
Stephanie Avery-Gomm, University of Queensland
Caiti Troyer Busch, Stanford University Law School
Deborah Crouse, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
C. Ashton Drew, KDV Decision Analysis
Lisa Ellis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Rebecca Epanchin-Niell, Resources for the Future; University of Maryland
Daniel Evans, USAID
Sarah Geren, Arizona State University
Sarah Hall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gwen Iacona, University of Queensland
Lynn Maguire, Duke University
Timothy Male, White House Center on Environmental Quality
Richard Maloney, New Zealand Department of Conservation
Don Morgan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Marjorie Nelson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Jeff Newman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Elizabeth Rumpff, University of Melbourne
Katherine C.B. Weiss
Robyn Wilson, The Ohio State University
Marilet Zablan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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