Ready For Comment: FWS Proposal Encourages Voluntary Conservation Measures For At-Risk Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently proposed a new policy – the Policy Regarding Voluntary Prelisting Conservation Actions – that would give landowners credit for undertaking voluntary conservation measures for imperiled species prior to their listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed policy was published in the Federal Register on July 22, 2014. Interested parties may provide comments to the FWS during the 60-day comment period which ends September 22, 2014.

Why does this matter? The ESA has a wide and growing reach. The FWS has a long list of species that it is considering for ESA protection. As the agency lists and designates critical habitat for more species, the potential restrictions on landowners will increase.