state Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan
The trust lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a management plan to protect endangered species and their habitat. It guides management on approximately 1.8 million acres of agency-managed forested lands within the range of the northern spotted owl. This HCP is a partnership between the National Marine Fisheries Service–now known as NOAA Fisheries Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and DNR.
To manage HCP lands more efficiently and effectively, they have been broken into nine planning units based primarily on large watersheds. The HCP enables us to comply with Endangered Species Act requirements by providing conservation objectives and strategies that provide habitat for listed and unlisted species while providing greater certainty, flexibility, and stability in meeting our trust responsibilities–generating revenue for trust beneficiaries through activities such as harvesting timber and other forest products.
What does the Habitat Conservation Plan protect?
The plan contains conservation strategies to protect several threatened and endangered species and their habitat as well as cultural resources. Major areas protected include:
How do you track and report on progress?