Critical habitat is a habitat area essential to the conservation of a listed species, though the area need not actually be occupied by the species at the time it is designated. This is a specific term and designation within the U.S.Endangered Species Act-ESA. [1] Contrary to common belief, designating an area as critical habitat does not preclude that area from development. Rather, a critical habitat designation affects only federal agency actions. Such actions include federally funded activities or activities requiring a federal permit.
Critical habitat must be designated for all threatened species and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, with certain specified exceptions. Designations of critical habitats must be based on the best scientific information available and in an open public process within specific timeframes. Unless deemed necessary for the species' continued existence, critical habitat do not include the entire geographical area occupied by a species. Department of Defense (DOD) lands are also exempt from being designated as critical habitat. Both public and private land can be specified as critical habitat.
A critical habitat designation does not set up a preserve or refuge; it applies only when Federal funding, permits, or projects are involved. Under Section 7 of the ESA, all Federal agencies must ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species, or destroy or adversely modify its designated critical habitat.
Considerations
Before designating critical habitat, careful consideration must be given to the economic impacts, impacts on national security, and other relevant impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. An area may be excluded from critical habitat if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of designation, unless excluding the area will result in the extinction of the species concerned.[2]
Critical habitat requirements do not apply to citizens engaged in activities on private land that do not involve a Federal agency. However, if an activity on property property[clarification needed] requires an action by a Federal agency (such as a loan, increasing irrigation flows, permits from a federal agency, etc.), then the Federal agency must ensure that the action will not adversely modify the designated critical habitat.
^. National Marine Fisheries Service. Archived from the original on 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
January 07, 2023
critical, habitat, habitat, area, essential, conservation, listed, species, though, area, need, actually, occupied, species, time, designated, this, specific, term, designation, within, endangered, species, contrary, common, belief, designating, area, critical. Critical habitat is a habitat area essential to the conservation of a listed species though the area need not actually be occupied by the species at the time it is designated This is a specific term and designation within the U S Endangered Species Act ESA 1 Contrary to common belief designating an area as critical habitat does not preclude that area from development Rather a critical habitat designation affects only federal agency actions Such actions include federally funded activities or activities requiring a federal permit Contents 1 Designation process 2 Considerations 3 See also 4 References 4 1 FootnotesDesignation process EditCritical habitat must be designated for all threatened species and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act with certain specified exceptions Designations of critical habitats must be based on the best scientific information available and in an open public process within specific timeframes Unless deemed necessary for the species continued existence critical habitat do not include the entire geographical area occupied by a species Department of Defense DOD lands are also exempt from being designated as critical habitat Both public and private land can be specified as critical habitat A critical habitat designation does not set up a preserve or refuge it applies only when Federal funding permits or projects are involved Under Section 7 of the ESA all Federal agencies must ensure that any actions they authorize fund or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or destroy or adversely modify its designated critical habitat Considerations EditBefore designating critical habitat careful consideration must be given to the economic impacts impacts on national security and other relevant impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat An area may be excluded from critical habitat if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of designation unless excluding the area will result in the extinction of the species concerned 2 Critical habitat requirements do not apply to citizens engaged in activities on private land that do not involve a Federal agency However if an activity on property property clarification needed requires an action by a Federal agency such as a loan increasing irrigation flows permits from a federal agency etc then the Federal agency must ensure that the action will not adversely modify the designated critical habitat See also EditHabitat Conservation Plan Habitat conservation Habitat corridor Habitat destruction Habitat fragmentation Restoration ecologyReferences Edit This article incorporates public domain material from Jasper Womach Report for Congress Agriculture A Glossary of Terms Programs and Laws 2005 Edition PDF Congressional Research Service Footnotes Edit P L 93 205 ESA Critical Habitat National Marine Fisheries Service Archived from the original on 2009 06 22 Retrieved 2009 08 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Critical habitat amp oldid 986973286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
