Jenniffer González Colón Invites Citizens to Comment on The Recovery Plans of The Fish and Wildlife Services to Review the Recovery Plans for Endangered Species in Puerto Rico

Press Release

Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón announced that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published revision projects for recovery plans for the Endangered Species Act (Endangered Species Act, ESA), which provide a recovery guide for 43 species protected by the federal government, including eight species found in Puerto Rico.

The endemic species of Puerto Rico included in these FWS revised recovery plans are the yellow-shouldered blackbird ("ladybug"); Cranichis ricartii (hull orchid of Puerto Rico); the Higuero de Sierra; Hairs of the Devil; Vernonia proctorii; the lyonia truncata var. proctorii; the Aristida chaseae; and St. Thomas prickly-ash, originally from the island of Saint Thomas, but which can also be found in Puerto Rico.

Recovery plans are non-regulatory guidance documents that identify, organize and prioritize recovery actions, set measurable recovery objectives and include time and cost estimates.

According to the FWS, each species for which the recovery criteria are being reviewed has been submitted or is currently in a status review that considers the best scientific and commercial data that are available from the species list or the revision of most recent state This information includes: (1) the biology of the species, (2) habitat conditions, (3) conservation measures that have benefited the species, (4) the status of the threat and trends in relation to five factors of the list, and (5) other information, data, or corrections. Therefore, reviews benefit threatened and endangered species and the public by sharing the best available information on what is really needed to achieve recovery.

In total, the Service will review up to 182 recovery plans covering some 305 species included in the list of the ESA law.

"The FWS has been a crucial ally in conservation efforts in Puerto Rico, collaborating to prevent the extinction of native species such as the Puerto Rican parrot and llanero coquí. I congratulate the agency for opening comments and using the latest information and science to review recovery plans for 8 species protected by the federal government on the island. I invite all interested parties and experts in the field to comment on the proposed revisions and effectively help FWS to conserve our endangered species, "said Commissioner González Colón.

There will be a 30-day period open for comments on the proposed revisions, which will end on July 29, 2019. The FWS is requesting the submission of any information that can help achieve the necessary understanding of species biology, threats and recovery needs; problem identification and implementation concerns; and facilitating a more effective implementation, associated with these preliminary reviews that update the recovery criteria for these 43 species.

As a member of the Natural Resources Committee of the federal House of Representatives, González Colón has prioritized the conservation of endangered species and critical habitats of Puerto Rico.

Last May he met with Leopoldo "Leo" Miranda, of the Regional Service of Fish and Wildlife of the Southeast of the United States, to analyze the ways in which the agency could strengthen and improve its ongoing conservation work in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, including the recovery of efforts for 71 species at risk and in danger of extinction on the island, such as the Puerto Rican parrot.

"This effort joins the delegation of the Natural Resources Committee of the Congress that we visited in March the FWS Iguaca Aviary in the El Yunque National Forest, to discuss the Puerto Rican Cotorra Recovery Program and the efforts that the agency is currently making together with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico for the recovery of this species. I will continue to advocate for the rapid disbursement of approximately $ 11.4 million in hurricane recovery funds that the FWS has allocated to Puerto Rican parrot aviaries and others, "the commissioner said.

The commissioner has also made efforts to protect the coral reef ecosystems of the island. Earlier this year, he participated in the Allocations Committee of the federal House of Representatives to obtain funds for the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He also presented HR 1014, the Offshore Wind for Territories Act, which stipulates that 12.5% ​​of the income generated by any potential development of offshore wind energy in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States Territories must be dedicated to the conservation of Coral reefs.

"Puerto Rico is recognized for its natural resources and beauty. I will continue to work in Congress and with the relevant federal agencies to ensure that we are effectively protecting the habitats, flora and fauna native to our island, "added Commissioner González Colón.

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