Rota bird conservation to cost $806K to $4.4M

Conservation efforts for the Rota bridled white-eye on Rota and its proposed critical habitat are estimated to cost between $806,000 and nearly $4.5 million over the next 20 years, according to a federal analysis.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its analysis yesterday, and also reopened the public comment period on a proposal of critical habitat for this bird species. The Service will accept public comments until June 5.

The Rota bridled white-eye, a small yellowish bird of the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as an endangered species.

On Sept. 14, 2005, the Service published in the Federal Register its proposal to designate 3,958 acres of critical habitat for the species.

Critical habitat is a term in the ESA. It identifies specific geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and which may require special management considerations. The designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other special conservation area. It does not allow government or public access to private lands.

However, federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.

Areas proposed as critical habitat for the Rota bridled white-eye consist of native limestone forest and nonnative forest. The proposed designation consists of 3,700 acres (94 percent) of government land under the jurisdiction of the CNMI and 258 acres (6 percent) of private land. Of this, approximately 1,225 acres overlap with existing critical habitat designated for the Mariana crow in 2004.

When specifying an area as critical habitat, the ESA requires the Service to consider economic and other relevant impacts of the designation. If the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of including it, the Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat, unless this would result in the extinction of a threatened or endangered species.

Estimated total costs for the designation range from $806,000 to $4,465,000 or an annual value of $76,000 to $421,000. Approximately 15 percent of these costs are associated with public land management activities, such as species and habitat research and habitat conservation plan development costs. The remaining 85 percent is the economic value of forgone future development of agricultural homesteads in the designation.

In 30 years of implementing the ESA, the Service has found the designation of critical habitat provides little additional protection for most listed species, while preventing the agency from using scarce conservation resources for activities with greater conservation benefits.

In almost all cases, recovery of listed species will come through voluntary cooperative partnerships, not regulatory measures such as critical habitat. Habitat is also protected through cooperative measures under the ESA, including Habitat Conservation Plans, Safe Harbor Agreements, Candidate Conservation Agreements and state programs. In addition, voluntary partnership programs such as the Service’s Private Stewardship Grants and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program also restore habitat. Habitat for listed species is provided on many of the Service’s National Wildlife Refuges, and state wildlife management areas.

The Rota bridled white-eye is a small (approximately 4 inches in size) yellowish bird with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. Average weight of the bird is about one-third of an ounce. The species feeds primarily on insects and often is found in small flocks of five to seven birds.

Related species include the Guam bridled white-eye, which is believed to be extinct, and the Saipan bridled white-eye, which is relatively abundant on Saipan, Tinian, and Aguigan.

The notice of availability of the draft economic analysis was published in yesterday’s Federal Register. The complete report and the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Rota bridled white-eye are available at http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/. Copies may also be obtained by calling the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Honolulu office at 808 792 9400.

The Service will consider comments from all interested parties received by June 5, 2006. Comments may be sent via the Internet to RBWE_CritHab@fws.gov. Include “Attn: RIN 1018-AU32” in your subject header and your name and return address in the body of the message.

Comments and information may also be mailed or faxed to Patrick Leonard, Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (Fax 808 792 9581). (PR)