Service Manual Chapter FWS 735 FW 1 Voluntary Prelisting Conservation Actions

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Policy Regarding Voluntary Prelisting Conservation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Policy Regarding Voluntary
Prelisting Conservation
Citation735 FW 1
FWM NumberN/A
DateMay 31, 2018
SupersedesDirector's Order 218, 01/18/17
Originating OfficeDivision of Restoration and Recovery

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topics

Sections

OVERVIEW

1.1 What is the purpose of this chapter?
1.2 What is the scope of this chapter?
1.3 What is the overall policy?
1.4 What is the authority for this chapter and the associated
appendix?

RESPONSIBILITIES

1.5 Who is responsible for the policy regarding voluntary
prelisting conservation?

OVERVIEW
1.1 What is the purpose of this chapter?
A. This chapter presents the attached document (735 FW 1, Appendix 1) as the policy of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for voluntary prelisting conservation. It replaces
Director’s Order 218, which initially established the same policy.

https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/735fw1

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Policy Regarding Voluntary Prelisting Conservation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

B. The policy’s purpose is to lay the groundwork for working with our partners, particularly
state agencies, to establish another vehicle to encourage and reward voluntary actions to
conserve at-risk species (i.e., species not listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that
are or may be in decline) in the United States.
1.2 What is the scope of this chapter? This chapter applies to all Service employees.
1.3 What is the overall policy? The policy in Appendix 1 allows us to give states an
additional tool and incentive to engage landowners, government agencies, and others in
carrying out voluntary conservation actions for at-risk species.
A. It establishes that landowners participating in a qualifying state-administered species
conservation program can obtain conservation credits for efforts that benefit at-risk species.
They can use these credits later to offset or mitigate actions that are detrimental to a species
should it subsequently be listed under the ESA. The credits may also be traded or sold to a
third party.
B. We recognize these earned credits through section 7 consultation or through the section 10
incidental take permit process associated with a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).
1.4 What is the authority for this chapter and the associated appendix? The authority for
this chapter and Appendix 1 is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.).

RESPONSIBILITIES
1.5 Who is responsible for the policy regarding voluntary prelisting conservation?
Table 1-1: Responsibilities for Voluntary Prelisting Conservation Policy

These employees…

Are responsible for…

A. The Director

(1) Approving or declining to approve Servicewide policy, and
(2) Ensuring that our Ecological Services program has sound
policies in place to work effectively with our partners.

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Policy Regarding Voluntary Prelisting Conservation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

These employees…

Are responsible for…

B. The Assistant
Director – Ecological

Ensuring effective policies are in place for employees to work
with partners in ways that will encourage conservation of at-risk

Services

species.

C. Regional and Field
Ecological Services

(1) Reviewing programs that states may create related to the
policy in Appendix 1,

staff
(2) Reviewing or participating in the establishment of
conservation strategies for species covered by the policy, and
(3) Through section 7 consultations or HCPs developed due to
section 10 incidental take permit applications, reviewing actions
and credits earned and later used if a species is listed.

D. The Chief, Division
of Restoration and

(1) Keeping this policy up-to-date, and

Recovery in
Ecological Services

(2) Providing guidance to Regional and field offices about it.

(Headquarters)

https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/735fw1

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