Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
Notice of document availability.
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the final recovery plan for
Copies of this recovery plan are available on the Internet at
Marelisa Rivera at the above address (telephone 787/851–7297, ext. 231).
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is a primary goal of our endangered species program. To help guide the recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most listed species. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery measures.
The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan development. A notice of availability of the technical agency draft recovery plan for
The objective of this recovery plan is to provide a framework for the recovery of
The information on the current number of individuals throughout the species' range, and the knowledge of biology, habitat requirements, and genetic information is limited. However, the Service has developed downlisting and delisting criteria for
Downlisting of the species from endangered to threatened status will be considered when: (1) The habitat known to support the two extant populations (St. Croix and Peñones de Melones) is enhanced and protected through landowner conservation agreements or easements; (2) extant populations are enhanced through the planting of additional propagated individuals to augment the number of adult individuals to at least 250; (3) at least one population within each of the following previously occupied habitat is found and/or established: Guánica Commonwealth Forest (PR), Susúa Commonwealth Forest (PR), Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe; and (4) research is conducted on key biological and genetic issues, including effective propagation techniques, and number of individuals within a population and number of populations needed for the establishment of self-sustaining populations and a viable overall population.
In an effort to meet the recovery criteria, the following recovery actions were identified. The Recovery Plan breaks these actions down further into specific tasks.
1. Protect existing populations (St. Croix and Cabo Rojo) from current and future threats and/or limiting factors through landowner agreements and other conservation mechanisms.
2. Determine the distribution and population status of
3. Evaluate techniques and develop a plant propagation program for
4. Enhance existing populations and establish new self-sustaining populations (number of which should be determined by viability analysis) within protected areas by introducing additional individuals developed through propagation. Introduction sites may include, but are not limited to, the Guánica Commonwealth Forest, Susúa Commonwealth Forest, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, and Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge.
5. Conduct additional scientific research on
6. Facilitate the recovery of
7. Provide technical assistance to Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe for the development of conservation measures for the species.
8. Refine recovery criteria.
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).