Regional Strategies for Managing Threatened and Endangered Species Habitats: AConcept Plan and Status Report

摘要

The conservation and management of threatened and endangered species (TES) andtheir habitats are major concerns on Department of Defense (DoD) lands nationwide. Historically, most DoD efforts regarding TES have been conducted on a species-by-species basis on separate installations. However, there has been a recent policy shift within DoD toward ecosystem-based management methods that address multiple species rather than a single species. This report describes a plant community-based, multispecies approach to TES management as part of the DoD Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. This approach emphasizes (a) regional and community-based strategies, (b) methods that apply collectively to groups of species within a region, and (c) use of consistently reliable methods. The southeastern United States was selected for developing a prototype management plan because this region contains a large number of installations that have TES concerns. Plant community abstracts are being prepared for major plant communities occurring on southeastern installations. An example plant community abstract is provided that includes a description, impacts to the community, and detailed management information. To complement abstracts, 'Species Profiles' are being developed for selected animal TES occurring in these plant communities. A survey is also being conducted on potential impacts of military activities on plant communities. The prototype management plan will be used as a basis for developing additional management plans for other U.S. regions.