9669

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9669
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Policy and Guidelines for Planning and Coordinating Recovery of Endangered and Threatened Species.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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I. INTRODUCTION

A. Backaround and Context

Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1531 et. seq.), as amended, directs the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Commerce to develop and implement recovery plans for species
of animals and plants listed as endangered or threatened unless such plans
will not promote the conservation of the species. The Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) and the National Marine Fisheries Service have been
delegated'the responsibility of administering the Act. The National Marine
Fisheries Service is generally responsible for most marine species (except
birds), and the Service is generally responsible for birds and terrestrial
and freshwater species. Exceptions include the West Indian manatee, sea
turtles (on land), and sea otters, which are under the Service's
jurisdiction.

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The Director, Fish and Wildlife Service has delegated the responsibility
for preparing and implementing recovery plans to the Regional Directors.
Decisions involving species that cross Regional boundaries will be
coordinated among appropriate Regional Directors. Although developing
recovery plans is usually appropriate, it is not always needed. The
Regional Director has a choice to make.

These guidelines describe the procedures established by the Service to
implement and coordinate recovery programs for federally listed species
occurring in the United States. The objectives ~f these guidelines are to:
(1) provide guidance for implementing the Endangered Species Act Amendments
of 1988 and (2) improve the planning process so that substantial effort
can be spent on recovery actions. These guidelines are intended to be used
by Service managers and by prospective authors and reviewers of recovery
plans, whether or not they are employed by the Service or have had previous
exposure to recovery plans. .

Recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered or
threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats to its survival are
neutralized, so that its long-term survival in nature can be ensured. The
goal of this process is the maintenance of secure, self-sustaining wild
populations of species with the minimum necessary investment of resources.
A recovery plan delineates, justifies, and schedules the research and
management actions necessary to support recovery of a species, including
those that, if successfully undertaken, are likely to permit
reclassification or delisting of the species.

OS/25/90