In a recent post about treating Carolina hemlock our president, Will
Blozan, asked if peregrine falcon or some other cliff dwelling species
might be the equivalent of the spotted owl for that species. In a
couple of different replies to that post, I pondered that question and
my best answer was that Carolina hemlock is its own spotted owl. I'm
not sure if folks noticed that part of the thread, so I started a new
post.
Basically, I think it could be incredibly beneficial if the Carolina
hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) was given some sort of status that would
increase funding for combating hemlock wooly adelgid. Already,
Carolina hemlock is a Federal Species of Concern (FSC). This has not
been enough to protect this important and unique hemlocks. Carolina
hemlock, unlike eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) will never be safe
in even a portion of its range because of cold winter temperatures.
This is a plant that will be EXTINCT in the next 5-10 years without
continued human intervention. I think it would be wonderful for all
of us, as individuals, to lobby our elected officials to support
listing the Carolina hemlock as Federally Threatened (T). In the case
of Carolina hemlock, this listing would not be needed to protect
habitat - its cliff habitats are relatively secure. Listing could
attract much needed funding for chemically treating Carolina hemlock
bluff communities and for increased funding for biological control of
HWA.
I would love to hear others' thoughts on this strategy.
Agreed! Carolina Hemlock should be considered an endangered species,
even more than the Eastern Hemlock. How could ENTS as a whole lobby
for this tree to become so? We have never been an activist group but
this would be a good cause for us to put our best foot forward.
James Parton.
On May 12, 12:57 pm, Josh <joshkellybotan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In a recent post about treating Carolina hemlock our president, Will
> Blozan, asked if peregrine falcon or some other cliff dwelling species
> might be the equivalent of the spotted owl for that species. In a
> couple of different replies to that post, I pondered that question and
> my best answer was that Carolina hemlock is its own spotted owl. I'm
> not sure if folks noticed that part of the thread, so I started a new
> post.
> Basically, I think it could be incredibly beneficial if the Carolina
> hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) was given some sort of status that would
> increase funding for combating hemlock wooly adelgid. Already,
> Carolina hemlock is a Federal Species of Concern (FSC). This has not
> been enough to protect this important and unique hemlocks. Carolina
> hemlock, unlike eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) will never be safe
> in even a portion of its range because of cold winter temperatures.
> This is a plant that will be EXTINCT in the next 5-10 years without
> continued human intervention. I think it would be wonderful for all
> of us, as individuals, to lobby our elected officials to support
> listing the Carolina hemlock as Federally Threatened (T). In the case
> of Carolina hemlock, this listing would not be needed to protect
> habitat - its cliff habitats are relatively secure. Listing could
> attract much needed funding for chemically treating Carolina hemlock
> bluff communities and for increased funding for biological control of
> HWA.
> I would love to hear others' thoughts on this strategy.
You don't really lobby for ESA threatened or endangered status. You petition the FWS with detailed documentation. See the documents on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ESA Listing web site:
The official process is a petition. However, in the hyper-politicized
realm of conservation, the support of local representatives and the
executive branch (wait a few months) sure help. Don't hesitate to
call your Reps and Senators voicing support for listing the Carolina
hemlock.
> You don't really lobby for ESA threatened or endangered status. You petition the FWS with detailed documentation. See the documents on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ESA Listing web site:
I looked at the petition process flow chart and it looks like a minimum 1 year 4 months (if I counted correctly) from initial petition to granted status. I'm guessing that once status is granted it's like starting from zero as far as getting an action plan and money approved. Given the rapid progression of HWA can the listing process and resulting action occur quickly enough to be effective? It might be useful to cultivate lines of communication or contacts within the listing program to determine if an expedited listing process can be implemented for Carolina Hemlock. -AJ
>You don't really lobby for ESA threatened or endangered status. You >petition the FWS with detailed documentation. See the documents on >the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ESA Listing web site:
Folks, I have not been following this thread very closely, so forgive my jumping in mid-discussion. If there's an interest and concern about getting this species listed, I'd suggest talking with a couple folks at the Center for Biological Diversity--Emily Roberson and Noah Greenwald. CBD has a great deal of expertise in the petitioning process (I am also a CBD staffer, but am a relative newbie as far as petitioning goes). There is a provision in the ESA for emergency listing, but I don't know much about how it works.
Contact info for Emily and Noah can be found at the Center's website: biologicaldiversity.org.
Mollie Matteson ~~~~~~ PO Box 551 37 Hapgood Lane Richmond, VT 05477
"As human beings, our biggest asset is love, so now is the time to get up off our big fat assets, and practice supply-side spirituality. Because we aren't here to earn God's love, we are here to spend it. " ~~Swami Beyondananda, aka Steve Bhaerman
> I looked at the petition process flow chart and it looks like a > minimum 1 year 4 months (if I counted correctly) from initial > petition to granted status. I'm guessing that once status is granted > it's like starting from zero as far as getting an action plan and > money approved. Given the rapid progression of HWA can the listing > process and resulting action occur quickly enough to be effective? It > might be useful to cultivate lines of communication or contacts > within the listing program to determine if an expedited listing > process can be implemented for Carolina Hemlock. > -AJ
> Andrew Joslin > Jamaica Plain, MA
> At 01:08 PM 5/12/2008, you wrote:
>> You don't really lobby for ESA threatened or endangered status. You >> petition the FWS with detailed documentation. See the documents on >> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ESA Listing web site:
ENTS- It's worth it, but you need to know that this is a long drawn out process that will guaranteed tax your patience...and it's absolutely essential that you establish good rapport with FWS, right from the start. Be charming! -DonRB
> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 13:08:07 -0500> From: paulj...@tds.net> To: entstrees@googlegroups.com> Subject: [ENTS] Re: Federal Listing for Carolina Hemlock?> CC: hawthorn_...@yahoo.com> > > You don't really lobby for ESA threatened or endangered status. You petition the FWS with detailed documentation. See the documents on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ESA Listing web site:> > http://www.fws.gov/endangered/listing/index.html> > PJ> > _________________________________________________________________
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mollie Matteson" <matte...@gmavt.net> To: <entstrees@googlegroups.com> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 3:37 PM Subject: [ENTS] Re: Federal Listing for Carolina Hemlock?
> Folks, I have not been following this thread very closely, so forgive > my jumping in mid-discussion. If there's an interest and concern > about getting this species listed, I'd suggest talking with a couple > folks at the Center for Biological Diversity--Emily Roberson and Noah > Greenwald. CBD has a great deal of expertise in the petitioning > process (I am also a CBD staffer, but am a relative newbie as far as > petitioning goes). There is a provision in the ESA for emergency > listing, but I don't know much about how it works.
> Contact info for Emily and Noah can be found at the Center's website: > biologicaldiversity.org.
> Mollie Matteson > ~~~~~~ > PO Box 551 > 37 Hapgood Lane > Richmond, VT 05477
> "As human beings, our biggest asset is love, so now is the time to > get up off our big fat assets, and practice supply-side spirituality. > Because we aren't here to earn God's love, we are here to spend it. " > ~~Swami Beyondananda, aka Steve Bhaerman
> On May 12, 2008, at 4:21 PM, Andrew Joslin wrote:
>> I looked at the petition process flow chart and it looks like a >> minimum 1 year 4 months (if I counted correctly) from initial >> petition to granted status. I'm guessing that once status is granted >> it's like starting from zero as far as getting an action plan and >> money approved. Given the rapid progression of HWA can the listing >> process and resulting action occur quickly enough to be effective? It >> might be useful to cultivate lines of communication or contacts >> within the listing program to determine if an expedited listing >> process can be implemented for Carolina Hemlock. >> -AJ
>> Andrew Joslin >> Jamaica Plain, MA
>> At 01:08 PM 5/12/2008, you wrote:
>>> You don't really lobby for ESA threatened or endangered status. You >>> petition the FWS with detailed documentation. See the documents on >>> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ESA Listing web site:
