Conservation Planning |
Through the Conservation Planning program and Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, the Service works with private landowners, local and state governments, corporations, and other entities to conserve and protect listed and unlisted species on non-Federal lands. There are four major emphasis areas within the conservation planning program.
Habitat conservation plans (HCPs). These are voluntary agreements which non-Federal parties can develop if there is a chance that their project might harm endangered or threatened species.
Candidate conservation agreements (CCAs). These voluntary agreements are developed for species which are candidates for listing and provide implementation of conservation actions which may preclude the need for listing.
Candidate conservation agreements with assurances (CCAAs). These voluntary agreements provide a landowner with assurances that if a species is listed under the Endangered Species Act, we will not require additional conservation measures beyond those the property owner voluntarily committed to under the terms of the original agreement.
Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs). This policy provides participating property owners with technical assistance to manage habitat for listed species. We provide assurances that additional restrictions will not be imposed as a result of voluntary conservation actions to benefit covered species.
