Forest Practices on Nonfederal Lands in Idaho
The FWS and NMFS are proposing to exempt Idaho's Forestry Program from take protections that are currently provided to species listed under the ESA. Rather than pursuing an HCP, the usual process for permits to incidentally take listed species, the State is attempting to circumvent that process using other provisions of the ESA that were designed to enhance species conservation, not encourage timber harvest.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are proposing to exempt Idaho's Forestry Program from take protections that are currently provided to species listed under the ESA. Rather than pursuing an HCP, the usual process for permits to incidentally take listed species, the State is attempting to circumvent that process using other provisions of the ESA that were designed to enhance species conservation, not encourage timber harvest.
Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act encourages cooperation with states to develop conservation programs for listed species. Idaho, however, wants to use this section to prevent take restrictions against those who harvest timber. Get more information from the Federal Register.
Read PRC's scoping comments on the proposal.
Read a letter PRC wrote in 2006 describing the problems with this proposal.
