ROTA HOMESTEAD DISTRIBUTION Fed restriction not cause of delay

Federal restrictions on the habitat of endangered Mariana crow have not caused a delay in the release of 184 agriculture homestead lots on Rota to their recipients, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Paul Henson, field supervisor for Ecological Services of the agency’s Pacific Islands Ecoregion office, said the federal government has nothing to do with the obstacles the prevent final distribution of the lots to Rota residents contrary to earlier reports.

The Fish and Wildlife Service in August 1998 cleared several parcels of public lands in the island municipality as site for homestead development without violating the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.

The Mariana crow (Corvus kubaryi ) has been classified as an endangered species subject to federal protections, including its habitat which can be found on Rota and Guam.

But Mr. Henson said he was “surprised and concern” to learn that people on Rota believe that the delay in the release of homestead lots is due to this endangered species.

In a letter to Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona, he asked the local official to clarify this misinformation and to appeal to the CNMI government in order to make these lots available to the people.

“I am concerned that this mistaken impression on the holdup of the homestead program may generate negative sentiment towards the Mariana crow and jeopardize ongoing conservation and ecotourism efforts for the natural resources on Rota,” Mr. Henson wrote.

The letter dated July 20 followed a meeting between Mr. Manglona and the Fish and Wildlife Service officials in Hawaii which discussed the problems besetting the homestead program in relation to the federal restrictions.

According to Mr. Henson, he was told that part of the holdup lies within the CNMI government’s permitting process which is no longer within the scope of the federal agency.

“It is our understanding the CNMI’s Division of Public Lands has final approval on the release of the homestead lots to the residents of Rota following CNMI agency review and approval of a Coastal Resources Management permit and environmental impact study,” he said.
While CRM issued the permit in September 1998 for the release of 173 agricultural homestead lots, Mr. Henson wants to know what is delaying the release of these lands.

“I also seek your assistance in providing our office and the people of Rota with a status update on the Rota homestead program after you have had more time to investigate this matter,” he told Mr. Manglona.