The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct 5-year status reviews of 13 endangered species occurring in Florida all of which are plants.
This notice covers the following plant species federally listed as endangered: Brooksville bellflower, fragrant prickly-apple, pygmy fringe-tree, snakeroot, Cooley’s water-willow, scrub blazingstar, Britton’s beargrass, Key tree-cactus, Lewton’s polygala, wireweed, sandlace, Chapman’s rhododendron, and Florida torreya.
These 5-year reviews are conducted to ensure that listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are accurate. Any interested party is invited to provide information and comments pertaining to these species. Written comments and information related to these five-year reviews must be received on or before June 8, 2009.
Specifically, this review seeks information on: (1) species biology, including population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions, including amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented; (4) threat status and trends; and (5) other new information, data, or corrections, including taxonomic or nomenclatural changes; identification of erroneous information contained in the ESA list; and improved analytical methods. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection by appointment.
In addition to reviewing the classification of these species, a 5-year review presents an opportunity to track the species’ recovery progress. It may benefit species by providing valuable information to guide future conservation efforts. Information gathered during a review can assist in making funding decisions, conducting interagency consultations, making permitting decisions, and determining whether to update recovery plans, and other actions under the ESA.
The Federal Register notice announcing the status review of these 13 federally listed species is available on-line at http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E9-8078.html
Written comments and information on the Brooksville bellflower, Cooley’s waterwillow, and Britton’s beargrass may be emailed to Sandy_MacPherson@fws.gov, faxed to 904-731-3045, or sent via regular mail to Sandy MacPherson, Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, Florida 32256-7517. Written comments and information on the Sandlace, Snakeroot, Wireweed, Fragrant prickly-apple, Key tree cactus, Lewton’s polgala, Pygmy fringe-tree, and Scrub blazingstar may be emailed to Chris_Belden@fws.gov, faxed to 772-562-4288, or sent via regular mail to Chris Belden, South Florida Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960.
Written comments and information on Chapman’s rhododendron and the Florida torreya may be emailed to Janet_Mizzi@fws.gov, faxed to 850-763-2177, or sent via regular mail to Janet Mizzi, Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida, 32405.
Information received in response to this notice of review will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the same addresses.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit the Service’s websites at http://www.fws.gov or http://www.fws.gov/southeast