[PCA] Fw: [epa-species] Notice of Availability of the Recovery Plan for the

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

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[Federal Register: August 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 48579-48580]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au05-55]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Recovery Plan for the Endangered
Catesbaea melanocarpa

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability
of the final recovery plan for Catesbaea melanocarpa (no common name).
This endangered plant species is a small spiny shrub of the family
Rubiacea. It is extremely rare and is known from Puerto Rico, St. Croix
in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadeloupe. The
recovery plan includes specific recovery goal/objectives and criteria
to be met to delist Catesbaea melanocarpa under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended.

ADDRESSES: Copies of this recovery plan are available on the Internet
at <A HREF="http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans
">http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans</A>
or by request from the Caribbean Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, P.O. Box 491, Boquer[oacute]n, Puerto Rico 00622 (telephone
787/851-7297).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marelisa Rivera at the above address
(telephone 787/851-7297, ext. 231).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Catesbaea melanocarpa belongs to a genus that consists of ten or
more species of spiny shrubs. Catesbaea melanocarpa is extremely rare
and is known from Puerto Rico, St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands
(USVI), Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadeloupe. In the U.S. Caribbean, it is
known from only one individual in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, and
approximately 100 individuals in one location in St. Croix, USVI.
Little information is available regarding the status of the species in
Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe. The two currently known locations in
Puerto Rico and the USVI are privately-owned, and are subject to
development pressure for residential and tourism projects. The risk of
extinction is high because so few individuals of Catesbaea melanocarpa
are known to occur in limited areas. Additionally, the species is
threatened by catastrophic natural events, such as hurricanes, as well
as human induced fires. Catesbaea melanocarpa was listed as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) (Act) on March 17, 1999 (64 FR 13116).
    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is
a primary goal of our endangered species program. To help guide the
recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most listed species.
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation
of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or delisting them,
and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery measures.
    The 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 requires us to provide
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during
recovery plan development. A notice of availability of the technical
agency draft recovery plan for Catesbaea melanocarpa was published in
the Federal Register on September 27, 2004 (69 FR 57712). A 60-day
comment period was opened with the notice, closing on November 26,
2004. We received comments from two interested parties and from two
experts on Catesbaea melanocarpa who served as peer reviewers of the
recovery plan. On April 19, 2005, we published in the Federal Register
a notice of reopening the comment period for the agency draft recovery
plan to solicit comments on revised ``Recovery Goal'' and ``Recovery
Criteria'' sections (70 FR 20396). A 30-day comment period was opened
with the notice, closing on May 19, 2005. We received comments from two
interested parties. Comments and information submitted were considered
in the preparation of this final plan and, where appropriate, incorporated.

Recovery Plan

    The objective of this recovery plan is to provide a framework for
the recovery of Catesbaea melanocarpa so that protection under the Act
is no longer necessary. As recovery criteria are met, the status of the
species will be reviewed, and it will be considered for
reclassification to threatened status or for removal from the Federal
List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR part 17).
    The information on the current number of individuals throughout the
species' range, and the knowledge of biology, habitat requirements, and
genetic information is limited. However, the Service has developed
downlisting and delisting criteria for Catesbaea melanocarpa. These
criteria are intended to provide long-term sustainability of the
endangered Catesbaea melanocarpa. Long term sustainability requires
adequate reproduction for replacement of losses due to natural
mortality factors (including disease and stochastic events), sufficient
genetic robustness to avoid inbreeding depression and allow adaptation,
sufficient habitat for long term population maintenance, and
elimination or control of threats.
    Downlisting of the species from endangered to threatened status
will be considered when: (1) The habitat known to support the two
extant populations (St. Croix and Pe[ntilde]ones de Melones) is
enhanced and protected through landowner conservation agreements or
easements; (2) extant populations are enhanced through the planting of
additional propagated individuals to augment the number of adult
individuals to at least 250; (3) at least one population within each of
the following previously occupied habitat is found and/or established:
Gu[aacute]nica Commonwealth Forest (PR), Sus[uacute]a Commonwealth
Forest (PR), Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe; and (4) research is
conducted on key biological and genetic issues, including effective
propagation techniques, and number of individuals within a population
and number of populations needed for the establishment of self-
sustaining populations and a viable overall population.
    Catesbaea melanocarpa will be considered for delisting when: (1) A
number of viable populations (to be determined following the
appropriate studies) are protected by long term conservation
strategies; (2) viable populations (the number of which should be
determined following the appropriate studies) are established in
previously unoccupied but suitable habitat at Sandy Point National
Wildlife Refuge (USVI), Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (PR), La
Tinaja in Sierra Bermeja (Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge,
PR), and any other

[[Page 48580]]

identified suitable conservation area within the dry forest zone; and
(3) the numbers of populations, their sizes, genetic makeup and
distribution needed to ensure self-sustainability are determined and
achieved.
    In an effort to meet the recovery criteria, the following recovery
actions were identified. The Recovery Plan breaks these actions down
further into specific tasks.
    1. Protect existing populations (St. Croix and Cabo Rojo) from
current and future threats and/or limiting factors through landowner
agreements and other conservation mechanisms.
    2. Determine the distribution and population status of Catesbaea
melanocarpa throughout its present and historic range, including
Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe.
    3. Evaluate techniques and develop a plant propagation program for
Catesbaea melanocarpa.
    4. Enhance existing populations and establish new self-sustaining
populations (number of which should be determined by viability
analysis) within protected areas by introducing additional individuals
developed through propagation. Introduction sites may include, but are
not limited to, the Gu[aacute]nica Commonwealth Forest, Sus[uacute]a
Commonwealth Forest, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, and Cabo
Rojo National Wildlife Refuge.
    5. Conduct additional scientific research on Catesbaea melanocarpa.
    6. Facilitate the recovery of Catesbaea melanocarpa through public
awareness and education.
    7. Provide technical assistance to Barbuda, Antigua, and Guadalupe
for the development of conservation measures for the species.
    8. Refine recovery criteria.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C.
1533(f).

    Dated: July 11, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05-16372 Filed 8-17-05; 8:45 am]
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