Listing and Critical Habitat | Critical Habitat
Endangered Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus) The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1983 specifically for the protection of the endangered West Indian Manatee. This unique refuge preserves the last unspoiled and undeveloped habitat in Kings Bay, which forms the headwaters of the Crystal River. The refuge preserves the warm water spring havens, which provide critical habitat for the manatee populations that migrate here each winter.
Photo credit: David Hinkel.
When a species is proposed for listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) must consider whether there are areas of habitat believed to be essential to the species' conservation. Those areas may be proposed for designation as critic habitat.
If critical habitat is designated, does that mean no further land development can occur in that area?
No. A critical habitat designation does not necessarily restrict further development. It is a reminder to federal agencies that they must make special efforts to protect the important characteristics of these areas.
Does a critical habitat designation affect all activities that occur within the designated area?
No. Only activities that involve a federal permit, license, or funding, and are likely to destroy or adversely modify the area of critical habitat will be affected. If this is the case, the Service will work with the federal agency and, where appropriate, private or other landowners to amend their project to allow it to proceed without adversely affecting the critical habitat. Thus, most federal projects are likely to go forward, but some will be modified to minimize harm to critical habitat.
Find answers to other frequently asked questions regarding critical habitats.
Access an online mapping application that displays designated spatial information for selected critical habitats.
View the status of critical habitat actions (historical logs of the actions that propose, finalize, withdraw or change critical habitat designations for a species) within a specified date range.