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<br />.' <br /> <br />;,., <br /> <br />.' .....:.......... ,..:...., ~ <br /> <br />. . ._ ._ n. .. _ .~. . . ... .~.'. ..__, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />UJ2327 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />One serious impediment to the recovery of endangered species is the lack <br />of available resources. As mentioned previously. the Service faces a <br />mission that potentially could cost as much as $4.6 billion but has an <br />annual recovery budget of only $8.4 million. Therefore the Service needs <br />to communicate this situation to Congress and also consider less costly <br />alternatives. <br /> <br />As a first step, the Service needs to clarify the mission objectives of <br />the program. This involves a determination as to whether the prime goal <br />is recovery of an individual species to the point where it no longer <br />requires protection under the Act or prevention of the extinction of as <br />many species as possible. After such goals are defined, proper program <br />priorities with realistic funding can be established. Among the resource <br />considerations should be whether to focus the orientation of the program <br />on protecting ecosystems rather than individual species. This could <br />result in providing aid to "key species," which would then benefit a <br />large number of other species. Proposing that the scope of the Act be <br />limited to addressing the species level only is another alternative. <br />Eliciting greater state and local government participation in the <br />preservation of endangered species as discussed in Finding A is still <br />another option. <br /> <br />After better defining program goals and resource requirements, it is <br />likely that availability of resources may still be far less than that <br />needed for successful mission accomplishment. Therefore, we believe that <br />the Service should communicate this situation to Congress 50 that either <br />additional funding can be obtained or the scope of the Act can be revised <br />accordingly. <br /> <br />Recommendations <br /> <br />We recommend that the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: <br /> <br />1. Immediately determine and identify the number of listed species <br />for which there are no recovery plans. <br /> <br />2. Establish, on a national priority basis, a systematic approach <br />to developing recovery plans for all species that will benefit from such <br />plans. Also, a national system to track the status of recovery plan <br />implementation should be developed. <br /> <br />3. Develop listing and recovery priority systems which can more <br />cost effectively conserve the nation's animal and plant resources. <br /> <br />4. Fully inform the Congress of the current and prospective status <br />of the endangered species program and request Congressional cooperation <br />in reassessing the program in light of goals to be accomplished and <br />availability of resources. As part of informing Congress, consideration <br />should be given and proposals developed for less costly alternatives in <br />achieving program objectives. <br /> <br />13 <br />