Craighead Institute Input into Government Agency Planning Processes
Craighead Institute scientists provide input into many government processes that affect conservation decisions and management of public lands: both directly, and indirectly by providing reliable information to other stakeholders.
Delisting of the grizzly bear in the Yellowstone Ecosystem
Lance Craighead submitted a letter to the International Bear Association arguing that the IBA should not take a position on Delisting because of the political nature of the process. Instead, he encouraged individual IBA members to submit their own opinions to the Fish and Wildlife Service. (link to IBA_Newsletter_Nov_2005).
Carlos Carroll and co-authors Lance Craighead, Reed Noss and John Vucetich prepared a white paper for the Society for Conservation Biology. Because the proposed rule to delist the Yellowstone grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population is relevant to larger issues involving implementation of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 and development of species recovery targets and strategies in the U.S. and beyond, we felt it was appropriate and urgent for SCB's North America Section to review a summary of conservation science relevant to the rule. This position was adopted by the North American Section of the SCB and submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service in February 2006. (link to SCBNAgrizzlybearstatement).
Lance Craighead also co-authored a Scientists sign-on letter opposing the proposed rule to delist the Yellowstone grizzly. This letter was signed by over 100 scientists and submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service in February 2006. (link to Scientists_signon_letter).
Tom Olenicki and Lance Craighead presented a summary of the proposed delisting rule and its effects on grizzly bears at a press conference and hearing that was held in Bozeman MT on Feb.8. The presentation included a poster with maps of suitable grizzly bear habitat that we identified using the CERI grizzly habitat suitability model developed by Tom. (link to poster)
Lance, Tom, and Barrie Gilbert submitted a letter to the FWS outlining our opposition to the proposed delisting rule and providing an alternative set of requirements that we feel are sufficient to protect and maintain the grizzly bear population; these requirements should be met before delisting occurs. (link to CERI FWS letter)
Proposed changes to the ESA
CERI scientists and colleagues signed their names to a scientists' sign-on letter prepared by the Union of Concerned Scientists, EarthJustice, and the National Wildlife Federation opposing the proposed changes to the ESA under the Pombo Bill going through Congress. There has been a tremendous outpouring of support: over 3,800 biological experts representing every state in the country have joined the letter! The letter with the full complement of signatures was delivered to each U.S. Senator in early February 2006. (link to ESA_letter)
Proposed changes in National Park Service Policies
CERI scientists and colleagues supported a letter prepared by the George Wright Society (http://www.georgewright.org/), and commented on those changes via a National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment web site at this link. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Committee on Protected Areas (WPCA) North America also opposed the proposed changes in US National Park Service Policies being promulgated by the Bush Administration. Lance Craighead is a member of the WCPA. A summary of the GWS comments is available here (link to george wright society summary)
Designation of Grizzly Bear Management Areas in British Columbia
At the suggestion of the Raincoast Conservation Society and the Environmental Investigative Association, Barrie Gilbert, Lance Craighead, and Brian Horesji (all CERI science advisors) prepared a critique of British Columbia's Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy in 1998 outlining the requirements we feel are necessary for a GBMA if it is to adequately maintain grizzly populations (link to BCGriz_rep).
Forest Management Plans
Gallatin NF travel management plan
Delisting of the grizzly bear in the Yellowstone Ecosystem
Lance Craighead submitted a letter to the International Bear Association arguing that the IBA should not take a position on Delisting because of the political nature of the process. Instead, he encouraged individual IBA members to submit their own opinions to the Fish and Wildlife Service. (link to IBA_Newsletter_Nov_2005).
Carlos Carroll and co-authors Lance Craighead, Reed Noss and John Vucetich prepared a white paper for the Society for Conservation Biology. Because the proposed rule to delist the Yellowstone grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population is relevant to larger issues involving implementation of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 and development of species recovery targets and strategies in the U.S. and beyond, we felt it was appropriate and urgent for SCB's North America Section to review a summary of conservation science relevant to the rule. This position was adopted by the North American Section of the SCB and submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service in February 2006. (link to SCBNAgrizzlybearstatement).
Lance Craighead also co-authored a Scientists sign-on letter opposing the proposed rule to delist the Yellowstone grizzly. This letter was signed by over 100 scientists and submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service in February 2006. (link to Scientists_signon_letter).
Tom Olenicki and Lance Craighead presented a summary of the proposed delisting rule and its effects on grizzly bears at a press conference and hearing that was held in Bozeman MT on Feb.8. The presentation included a poster with maps of suitable grizzly bear habitat that we identified using the CERI grizzly habitat suitability model developed by Tom. (link to poster)
Lance, Tom, and Barrie Gilbert submitted a letter to the FWS outlining our opposition to the proposed delisting rule and providing an alternative set of requirements that we feel are sufficient to protect and maintain the grizzly bear population; these requirements should be met before delisting occurs. (link to CERI FWS letter)
Proposed changes to the ESA
CERI scientists and colleagues signed their names to a scientists' sign-on letter prepared by the Union of Concerned Scientists, EarthJustice, and the National Wildlife Federation opposing the proposed changes to the ESA under the Pombo Bill going through Congress. There has been a tremendous outpouring of support: over 3,800 biological experts representing every state in the country have joined the letter! The letter with the full complement of signatures was delivered to each U.S. Senator in early February 2006. (link to ESA_letter)
Proposed changes in National Park Service Policies
CERI scientists and colleagues supported a letter prepared by the George Wright Society (http://www.georgewright.org/), and commented on those changes via a National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment web site at this link. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Committee on Protected Areas (WPCA) North America also opposed the proposed changes in US National Park Service Policies being promulgated by the Bush Administration. Lance Craighead is a member of the WCPA. A summary of the GWS comments is available here (link to george wright society summary)
Designation of Grizzly Bear Management Areas in British Columbia
At the suggestion of the Raincoast Conservation Society and the Environmental Investigative Association, Barrie Gilbert, Lance Craighead, and Brian Horesji (all CERI science advisors) prepared a critique of British Columbia's Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy in 1998 outlining the requirements we feel are necessary for a GBMA if it is to adequately maintain grizzly populations (link to BCGriz_rep).
Forest Management Plans
Gallatin NF travel management plan