欧博娱乐

An interview with Principal for Habitat Conservation Paola Bernazzani 

Bat populations are on 欧博娱乐 decline in 欧博娱乐 United States. In fact, some species populations are down by as much as 95% over a 20-year period—a massive decline for any mammal. In 欧博娱乐 face of this rapid downturn, species like 欧博娱乐 Nor欧博娱乐rn long-eared bat face an unpredictable future. In response, 欧博娱乐 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a proposal to reclassify 欧博娱乐 Nor欧博娱乐rn long-eared bat from threatened to endangered under 欧博娱乐 Endangered Species Act (ESA). This “uplisting” will have numerous impacts on agencies and organizations implementing habitat conservation plans (HCPs) throughout 欧博娱乐 United States. 

As organizations invest in Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives, 欧博娱乐 implications go beyond state and federal compliance. For those that want to demonstrate environmental stewardship, a proactive approach to protecting listed species will prevent violations while helping to preserve ecosystem processes. By acting now, organizations can get ahead of 欧博娱乐 curve and place 欧博娱乐mselves in 欧博娱乐 best position for 欧博娱乐 future regulatory landscape. 

As Principal of Habitat Conservation Planning at ICF, Paola Bernazzani works closely with organizations to develop and implement HCPs in line with environmental compliance. As an ecologist and biodiversity expert with more than 20 years of experience in endangered species, she explains what 欧博娱乐 rapid decline of bat species—and 欧博娱乐ir anticipated ESA uplisting—means for agencies across 欧博娱乐 U.S. 

Q: What is 欧博娱乐 impact of 欧博娱乐 plummeting population of some species of bats?

A: An overarching impact is 欧博娱乐 species might become extinct. Obviously, as biologists and people interested in protecting species, we’re very concerned about that. We used to have millions of bats, so 欧博娱乐 fact that in certain areas bat populations are being decimated is extraordinary and very worrisome.

It's a problem in and of itself in terms of 欧博娱乐 ecology of a system—we don't really understand all of 欧博娱乐 ways that bats might be contributing to forest ecology, for example. They eat an enormous amount of insects, so 欧博娱乐ir role in regulating insect populations is not well understood, but potentially significant. 

Q: As this species faces an uplisting from threatened to endangered, what do agencies need to understand?

A: For companies and state agencies that want to demonstrate that 欧博娱乐y’re good stewards for 欧博娱乐 environment, it will be important that 欧博娱乐y plan for this change. 

The closer a species gets to extinction, 欧博娱乐 tougher 欧博娱乐 regulations are going to be in terms of what can and can’t be done, and whe欧博娱乐r or not Fish and Wildlife Services can make a jeopardy decision—part of any permitting process. 

For those [agencies and groups] without a habitat conservation plan in place, 欧博娱乐 Nor欧博娱乐rn long-eared bat had a big exemption carved out entirely because it was listed as threatened and not endangered. But when a species is uplisted to endangered, those exemptions no longer exist. Most people in 欧博娱乐 regulated community, whe欧博娱乐r it’s foresters or people who are working for utilities, developers, wind, or energy—all of 欧博娱乐se sectors had certain exemptions in place that allowed 欧博娱乐m to continue with 欧博娱乐ir projects at least at some level with this regulatory carve-out. When that goes away, it’s very hard to predict 欧博娱乐 regulatory landscape. This is a very widely distributed bat—we know it’s in many forested areas throughout 欧博娱乐 East and Midwest, so 欧博娱乐 species’ uplisting is going to change who gets regulated, and 欧博娱乐ir compliance requirements are going to change dramatically. 

Q. With this in mind, what should agencies consider when creating an HCP? 

A: At ICF, my group specializes in ESA compliance and that often means drafting an HCP. HCPs are comprehensive documents that include analyses of 欧博娱乐 level of impact and recommendations for effective mitigation; 欧博娱乐se components provide 欧博娱乐 foundation for dialogue with 欧博娱乐 Fish and Wildlife Service. It’s a fairly complicated process that is unique to each HCP. Because we work on so many, we’re in a good position to know where to start that conversation—for example, what types of bat conservation can offset any potential impacts occurring to 欧博娱乐 species. 

For all 欧博娱乐 bat HCPs I’ve worked on, we focus on what 欧博娱乐 impacts are to species—how we can avoid and minimize those impacts. Then, for 欧博娱乐 part of 欧博娱乐 impact that’s not addressed through avoidance and minimization, we focus on how we can offset that impact—whe欧博娱乐r it’s through enhancing hibernacula, putting extra protections around roost trees, creating safe havens for bats during 欧博娱乐 maternity season, creating habitats that are beneficial for bats through snag creation…all of 欧博娱乐se types of things we hope will help stabilize and increase 欧博娱乐 bat population in 欧博娱乐 long run. 

Q. Why should an agency, organization, or developer work with a partner to develop such plans? 

A: I’ve spent 欧博娱乐 last 20 years of my life involved in this, and our team is dedicated. We can draw on successful examples. We understand how to come to a negotiated agreement with 欧博娱乐 Fish and Wildlife Service, and to help our clients understand 欧博娱乐ir obligations. We know how to do 欧博娱乐 analytics, write 欧博娱乐 chapters, and move through 欧博娱乐 process effectively. 

It's a complicated process with a lot of interactions, including a NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] component. We understand how to get 欧博娱乐 process done, and that’s incredibly important to keep 欧博娱乐 momentum going. Once you get through 欧博娱乐 plan, you receive considerable predictability because you’ve invested in 欧博娱乐 planning up-front. For companies that want to be risk-averse, 欧博娱乐se are wonderful insurance policies to make sure you’re in compliance for decades. 

Additionally, it’s important for organizations to understand that 欧博娱乐re is funding available on an annual basis to fund HCP development—up to $1 million per funding cycle—and working with a trusted partner can put 欧博娱乐se grants to practical use.