Availability of Draft Molokai II: Addendum to the Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Molokai II: Addendum to the Recovery Plan

for the Molokai Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of a draft Molokai II: Addendum to the

Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996). There are

three taxa of plants included in this plan. All three are known only

from the island of Molokai. This draft plan Addendum supplements the

Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster finalized in September of

1996. A limited number of copies of the Molokai Recovery Plan remain

available, although the Service is not seeking comments on that

document.

DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan addendum received by November

3, 1997 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for

inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the

following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands

Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, room 3108, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu,

Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/541-3441); Molokai Public Library, 15 Ala

Malama Street, Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748. Requests for copies of the

draft recovery plan addendum and written comments and materials

regarding this plan should be addressed to Field Supervisor, Fish and

Wildlife Office, at the above Honolulu address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Schmerfeld, Fish and Wildlife

Biologist, at the above Honolulu address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point

where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their

ecosystems is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species

program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to

prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the

United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for

the conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery

levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost

for implementing the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

(Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed species

unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular

species. Section 4(f) of the Act as amended in 1988 requires that

public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be

provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider

all information presented during the public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. Substantive technical

comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments

regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in

changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate

Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into

account during the course of

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implementing recovery actions. Individualized responses to comments

will not be provided.

The Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster covered 16 species

and was finalized in September of 1996. The addendum refers to sections

of the original Plan. This draft addendum supplements the Recovery Plan

for the Molokai Plant Cluster by covering three endangered plant taxa.

All of these taxa are endemic to the island of Molokai, Hawaiian

Islands. The plants are: Cyanea dunbarii (haha), Lysimachia maxima (no

common name), and Schiedea sarmentosa (no common name).

The three taxa included in this addendum grow in a range of

vegetative communities (dry shrubland to wet forests) and elevational

zones (lowland to montane). These taxa and their habitats have been

variously affected or are currently threatened by one or more of the

following: habitat degradation by feral or domestic animals (goats,

pigs, and axis deer), competition for space, light, water, and

nutrients by introduced vegetation; erosion of substrate produced by

human- or animal-caused disturbance; mortality and habitat loss from

fires; and predation by animals (goats, axis deer, and rats). In

addition, due to the small number of existing individuals and their

very narrow distributions, these taxa and most of their populations are

subject to an increased likelihood of extinction and/or reduced

reproductive vigor from random naturally occurring events.

The objective of the Addendum to the Recovery Plan for the Molokai

Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996) is to provide a framework for the recovery

of these three taxa so that their protection by the Endangered Species

Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. The interim objective is to stabilize

all existing populations of the Molokai II taxa. To be considered

stable, each taxon must be managed to control threats (e.g., fenced)

and be represented in an ex situ (such as a nursery or arboretum)

collection. In addition, a minimum total of three populations of each

taxon should be documented on Molokai, where they now occur or occurred

historically. Each of these populations must be naturally reproducing

and increasing in number, with a minimum of 50 mature individuals per

population for short-lived perennials (Cyanea dunbarii, Lysimachia

maxima, and Schiedea sarmentosa). For downlisting, a total of five to

seven populations of each taxon should be documented on Molokai where

they now occur or occurred historically. Each of these populations must

be naturally reproducing, stable or increasing in number, and secure

from threats, with a minimum of 300 mature individuals per population

for short-lived perennials. Each population should persist at this

level for a minimum of 5 consecutive years before downlisting is

considered. For delisting, a total of 8 to 10 populations of each taxon

should be documented on Molokai where they now occur or occurred

historically. Each of these populations must be naturally reproducing,

stable or increasing in number, and secure from threats, with a minimum

of 300 mature individuals per population for short-lived perennials.

Each population should persist at this level for a minimum of 5

consecutive years.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the Addendum to the

Recovery Plan described. All comments received by the date specified

above will be considered prior to approval of this addendum.

Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the

Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: August 26, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97-23182 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am]

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