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New England Cottontail Conservation Efforts Anthony Tur US Fish and Wildlife Service New England Field Office Concord, New Hampshire

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Obligate users RELATIVE USE 0 1.0 102030405060708090100 AGE OF STAND New England cottontails 0.5

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Habitat loss is the primary threat. Hawthorne Drive 1998 Hawthorne Drive 2008 I- 293 Everett Turnpike Route 3

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Summary of Findings 86% Contraction in Range Since 1960. NEC in 150 of 2,300 patches searched. ~ 60% patches are considered habitat sinks. EC is 5x more abundant. Primary threat is habitat loss and fragmentation

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Candidate Designation 2006

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State Wildlife Agencies have expressed a desire to preclude the need to list the NEC.

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Candidate Conservation in the USFWS Assess species status and assist in the development and facilitation of voluntary conservation tools, so that those species do not need the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

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Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act states that the Service will take * * * into account those efforts, if any, being made by any State or foreign nation, or any political subdivision of a State or foreign nation, to protect such species * when making listing decisions. Listing Consideration

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Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE) policy is intended to facilitate voluntary development of conservation efforts with Partners. identifies criteria used to guide the Service when evaluating conservation efforts. policy does not establish standards for conservation efforts.

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Basic Elements of PECE In evaluating these efforts, the Service will need; Certainty that the Conservation Effort will be Implemented (9 elements) Certainty that the Conservation Effort will be Effective (6 elements)

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Certainty of Implementation Level of effort needed to address threats is identified. Authority for the actions is described. Level of commitment to the effort by the Parties is described, including funding. Implementation schedule is provided.

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Certainty of Effectiveness Threats are identified and addressed. Adaptive management principles are incorporated.

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Adaptive Management Model

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Conservation Design Identify Conservation Focus Areas. Identify Goals and Objectives for each. Compile Focal Area Plans into Rangewide Conservation Strategy.

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Conservation Goal Implement conservation actions, throughout the range, to establish: 1 NEC focal area capable of supporting 2,500 or more individuals; 5 focal areas each capable of supporting 1,000 or more individuals; and 12 focal areas each capable of supporting 500 or more individuals;

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Objectives Avoid further loss and fragmentation of existing populations; Implement conservation actions that increase patch quality, quantity, and connectivity; Establish management agreements to ensure that large, source populations remain viable and their habitats remain suitable; Evaluate the role of eastern cottontails as a non-native competitor and implement conservation actions that address this threat, as appropriate.

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Green Infrastructure Model for NEC Conservation Focal Area Patch Dispersal Corridor Step 1. Identify focal areas. Step 2. Improve patch quality, quantity and connectivity. Step 3. Link focal areas through dispersal.

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Identify Focal Areas and Rank Focal Areas

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75 257 2100 735 225 1575

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Legend = Task = Personnel PLANNING Focus Area Coordinator Site Planner Project Screening Habitat Management Delivery Track Progress Focus Area Conservation Team Acquisition Partner Easement & Acquisition Standards State Coordinator Rangewide NEC Management Team NEC Executive Board Prioritize Actions & Compliance Screen FOCUS AREA ORGANIZATION Allocate Resources Biological Planning Identify Assumptions NEC Research Team Develop Conservation Design Outreach & Recruitment Evaluate Design ADMINISTRATION Assess Habitat and Population Response Develop Conservation Agreement Provide Technical Assistance Prioritize Actions ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT NEC Survey Conduct Study Design Study Organizational Structure for Conservation of the New England Cottontail CONSERVATION DELIVERY Land Protection MONITORING & REPORTING Modify Design Translocation

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Business Model Framework 1Research and Development 1 Research and Development Investigate local opportunities and vulnerabilities 2Marketing 2 Marketing Use analytical technology to identify and characterize landowners (the market) that may be recruited to benefit a target resource 3Advertising 3 Advertising Conduct outreach 4Technical Sales 4 Technical Sales Employ technical sales expertise that is versed in land and natural resource transactions and restoration concepts 5Delivery 5 Delivery Develop efficient mechanisms to deliver conservation projects 6Business Information System 6 Business Information System Track real-time spatial information on the status of sales and delivery to measure model approach 1.Assess focal area 2.Develop rangewide plan. 3.Quantify needs. 4.Establish timeline.

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Ranked Parcels to Target Landowner Recruitment

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On-going research at UNH Determine detection rates. Develop population estimation tools. Spatial Patch Occupancy Model (SPOM)? MONITORING

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Hot Topics Formation of Executive Committee NRCS Initiative ($6.8 million request for 5 years to deliver 2,500 acres of habitat on private land) Captive Breeding Efforts Development of Inbound Marketing Tools April Tech. Committee mtg. at the NEFWC.

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Certainty of Implementation Level of effort needed to address threats is identified. Authority for the actions is described. Level of commitment to the effort by the Parties is described, including funding. Implementation schedule is provided.

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Certainty of Effectiveness Threats are identified and addressed. Adaptive management principles are incorporated.

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NEC as a barometer dispersal limited year round resident area sensitive extreme habitat specialist NEC Conservation is not single species management