The National Association of State Foresters has provided official comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding the agency’s proposal to change the listing status of the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) from threatened to endangered.
Over the decades since the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted, NASF has observed how ESA provisions affect approaches to forest management, the costs of forest management, and the overall health of forests and forest-dependent species. ESA requirements that make it more expensive and/or more difficult to manage forests can accelerate the conversion of forests to other land uses and could potentially result in the permanent loss of wildlife habitat.
It is critical that the USFWS continues to recognize the role forest management plays in the long-term survival and recovery of the NLEB. The agency can do this by maintaining the current section 4(d) rule in the final rule, thereby allowing for forest management activities that benefit the species.
You can read the full comments by clicking the link below.