9415 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between TJE,E STATE OF COLORADO and TEE DEPARTIIffiNT OF THE INTERIOR CONCERNING PROGRAMS TO MANAGE COLORADO'S DECLINING NATIVE SPECIES 1. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The State of Colorado's fish and wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend represent a unique and valuable part of the state's and the nation's natural and cultural heritage. The State of Colorado (State), through the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and its Division of Wildlife and many other state agencies whose actions affect fish and wildlife, and the Department of the Interior (Department), through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies within the Department whose actions affect fish and wildlife, are committed to the management and conservation of Colorado's wildlife species, particularly as these species come under increased pressure from habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation resulting from Colorado's rapid growth and development. 'This Agreement between the State and the Department is intended to facilitate and promote collaboration and cooperation in managing and conserving fish and wildlife species and habitat within Colorado in a manner that is consistent with the present direction of Colorado's Smart Growth Initiative as well as state and federal laws. The State and the Department are committed to taldng an approach to fish and wildlife conservation that uses the iexibility inherent in state and federal laws and regulations and emphasizes voluntary participation of a broad spectrum of partners to achieve long-tmm conservation and development solutions. These partners include landowners, water right holders, anglers, hunters, conservationists, the public, Native American tribal governments, local governments and state and federal agencies. Ibis Agreement is further intended as a vehicle to demonstrate that the Departments's flexibility in its implementation of the Endangered Species Act (Act) can be used to find practical solutions that will reduce the need to list species, to consider social and economic issues, and to implement a habitat and community approach to conservation. Finally this Agreement is intended to provide a framework to encourage the voluntary participation of non-governmental parties in the conservation of sensitive fish, wildlife, and habitats. As such, this agreement is intended to complement the many other state and federal programs set up to work with non governmental parties. II. AUTHORtI'IFS AND RESPONSIBILTrms A• The Department of Natural Resources has responsibility, through its divisions, to promote the proper use and conservation of the State's land, water, wildlife, 1 of 9