An Analysis of Habitat Conseration Plans - Plum Creek HCP Case Study

Plum Creek Habitat Conservation Plan Analysis
BACKGROUND
Non-Federal landowners, such as private individuals, corporations, and local or state governments, who conduct activities on their land that could potentially harm an endangered species may apply for an “incidental take permit” under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The activity must be incidental to an otherwise lawful activity. Takings are defined under Section 9 of the ESA and include the killing, wounding, harassing, capturing, collection, or harm of animals. Modification of habitat and any other act that disrupts essential behavioral patters of wildlife are classified as takings as well. For plants, a taking is the removal or reduction of plant species on federal land. The takings permit, issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), allows the landowner incidental takings of listed species, provided an approved Habitat Conservation Plan (HPC)...