Recovery Program: Endangered and Threatened Species, 1994

Ecosystem Approach to Recovery

Recognizing that listed species that share common geographic locations may face similar threats, the Service investigates opportunities to combine conservation strategies for several listed, proposed, and candidate species into one recovery plan. A "multi-species" or "ecosystem" approach can improve the rate, fiscal efficiency, and effectiveness of recovery actions for listed species, and may eliminate the need to list candidate species. Examples of recovery plans that address multiple listed species' recovery needs include:

Maui-Molokai Forest Birds Plan—7 birds in Hawaii;
Ash Meadows Recovery Plan-4 fishes, 1 insect, and 7 plants on the border of Nevada and California;
California Channel Island Species Plan—4 plants, 2 birds, and 1 reptile in California;
Pine-rockland Ecosystem Plan—5 plants in south Florida; and
San Marcos River Ecosystem Plan—2 fishes, 1 amphibian, and 1 plant in Texas.

Taking ecosystem integrity into consideration when planning prelisting, listing, and recovery activities is of utmost importance in conserving biological diversity.

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