Let the Fish and Wildlife Service know you support critical habitat designations to save Kaua`i & Ni`ihau's endangered and threatened plants.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to support strong critical habitat designations for plant species from the islands of Kaua`i and Ni`ihau. I am pleased that your revised proposal (67 Fed. Reg. 3940) recognizes the importance of protecting currently unoccupied habitat for the future recovery of these critically imperiled native species.

Protecting critical habitat is essential not only for the recovery of threatened and endangered plant species, but also to protect the ecosystems on which these species rely for their long-term survival and recovery. In this way, we can ensure that other native species that depend on the same habitat do not become threatened with extinction as well.

I encourage the Fish and Wildlife Service to designate critical habitat for all threatened and endangered species native to Kaua`i and Ni`ihau, even those not recently observed (Acaena exigua and Melicope quadrangularis) as it is common for field biologists in Hawai`i to rediscover plant species that have not been seen for decades. It is also important to designate critical habitat for the three species of Pritchardia, as designation would promote their recovery and there is no evidence that establishing critical habitat will increase the risk to those native palm species from vandalism or collection.

While the reproposal is a major step forward, it unfortunately does not go far enough. In many cases, such as the critically endangered Hibiscus clayi, the Service proposes to designate only habitat where imperiled plants are currently located. By the Service's own admission, this would not protect enough habitat to provide for these species' recovery. The Service must also designate currently unoccupied habitat where these species formerly were found to achieve the goal of re-establishing healthy, self-sustaining populations of these plants.

Moreover, areas already subject to conservation measures--or that may be the subject of conservation agreements in the future--should not be excluded from critical habitat. While landowners that undertake efforts to conserve Hawai`i's imperiled species should be praised, conservation efforts do not alter the habitat's critical nature or the need to ensure its long-term protection.

Finally, I am disappointed that your draft economic analysis focuses only on the costs of designation, with no real effort to quantify its benefits. Critical habitat not only promotes species preservation - an important benefit in itself - but also contributes to an ecosystem's ability to provide significant economic benefits in the form of services such as recharging groundwater, preserving water quality, preventing erosion, promoting ecotourism, and many others. The Service should give these benefits serious consideration.

Please take the necessary steps to protect threatened and endangered plants on Kaua`i and Ni`ihau by designating their critical habitat. These imperiled species are found nowhere else in the world. They are irreplaceable treasures worth preserving.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 29, 2002