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<br />.. -_..-_._..._---...................._--...;.~ <br /> <br />U023~2 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />status of species <br />determinations shall <br /> <br />in Section <br />be made by the <br /> <br />4. (b). (1) (A), <br />Secretary of the <br /> <br />which states <br />Interior <br /> <br />that <br /> <br />. . . solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial <br />data available to him after conducting a review of the status <br />of the species and after taking into account those efforts. if <br />any, being made by any State or foreign nation, to protect such <br />species, whether by predator control. protection of habitat and <br />food supply. or other conservation practices. within any area <br />under its jurisdiction, or on the high seas. <br /> <br />During our review. we noted that many species already officially listed <br />as endangered or threatened, as well as candidate species for such <br />listing, are endemic to particular states or smaller geographical areas, <br />Specifically. we found that about 60 percent of listed species and 70 <br />percent of candidate species are endemic to or located in a single <br />particular state. Moreover. according to Service personnel, many of <br />these species are listed or are candidates based solely on the fact that <br />they occur naturally in very limited numbers. As a result, these species <br />are considered threatened more from the fact that they could be <br />eliminated by a one-time catastrophe instead of a decline in their <br />populations from other factors. In our opinion. these factors indicate <br />that different protective treatment may be indicated, such as requesting <br />state or local governments to take responsibility for the preservation of <br />these species. For example, in cases where extremely small populations <br />exist in very limited geographical areas, different treatment could <br />involve acquiring habitat and maintaining such species under other <br />conservation programs without having to officially list them. These <br />alternative actions would thereby reduce the number of species currently <br />competing for limited funding resources under the Endangered Species Act. <br /> <br />Recommendations <br /> <br />We recommend that the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: <br /> <br />1. Take immediate action. after considering up. to-date species <br />information. to officially list as endangered or threatened all species <br />currently meriting protection under the Act. This action should be <br />completed en masse or by taking maximum advantage of multispecies <br />listings. <br /> <br />2. Develop a national plan to prioritize and survey all candidate <br />species on which conclusive knowledge is lacking. Species determined to <br />merit protection during this study period should also be listed <br />immediately following such determination. <br /> <br />3. Consider and pursue other less costly <br />listing endangered and threatened species, <br />cooperation of state and local governments to <br />the care and preservation of rare species that <br />geographical areas. <br /> <br />alternatives to officially <br />such as eliciting the <br />assume responsibility for <br />are endemic to particular <br /> <br />8 <br />