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<br />0003J5 <br /> <br />COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE SPECIES CONSERVATION <br />Draft Species Management Plan <br /> <br />In the early spring of 1999 several groups concerned with their ability to effectively track and <br />manage the multitude of endangered species issues occurring in Colorado met to discuss the <br />then recently announced petition to list the Black Tailed Prairie Dog. Out of this meeting <br />more groups were invited to discuss a better way for industry groups, businesses and other <br />groups to track and manage ESA concerns. <br /> <br />These discussions have lead to a two-track course of action. While the primary desire of <br />most members of the coalition is to A) minimize the number of listings that occur in <br />Colorado and! or establish a state-wide conservation plan that provide sufficient information <br />on all possible ESA listings, there remains a need to B) address issues relating to individual <br />species management plans, listings, petitions etc. Until such time as endangered species <br />issues are handled in a larger block, it comes down to a species by species management <br />framework that the CRSC needs to address. <br /> <br />The advantages of working as a coalition on species management are: <br />· The ability to focus on species issue of significant impact to their industry! constituency. <br />· The impacted organizations are no longer working in isolation. <br />. Greater ability to address! follow all issues. <br />· Greater access to increased information. <br />· Assistance in commenting and participating in the process <br />. Increased effectiveness from larger "voice." <br />. CRSC becomes a clearinghouse for information. <br />· CRSC can assist in pooling resources to increase effectiveness of legal and scientific <br />resources. <br /> <br />The best method to accomplish these species related goals is for CRSC to form issue <br />management groups from those organization which have a vested interested for specific <br />species. That is, those organizations which see the species as a high priority, will report back <br />on the status of the process, status of the various commenting periods, share written <br />material as applicable, assist other groups in drafting comments <br /> <br />Currently, if an organization was to decide to be active in all ESA issues they would be <br />focusing attention on at least management plans for three fish on Western Slope, the state's <br />management plan for the lynx, the Preble's Meadow lumping Mouse listing, the Black Tailed <br />Prairie Dog petition, the Ute Ladies Orchid management plan, the threat of the emergency <br />petition on the pocket gopher, and the list could go on. However, the point is that no <br />organization, working alone, can cover all these bases. At the same time, to protect their <br />interests, and to keep a pulse on the working of the ESA in Colorado, each organization <br />needs to be aware of what is going on. Following the above outline will allow organizations <br />to meet these goals. <br />