Obama Administration Moves to Protect Spotted Owl

Northern Spotted Owl. Photo: USFWS

On March 31st, in response to a court case brought by American Bird Conservancy and other conservation organizations, the Obama Administration told Federal Judge Emmet Sullivan that it would not defend the Bush Administration’s Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan or its decision to reduce Critical Habitat for the owl, and would instead pursue a settlement with the plaintiffs to have the plan revoked. Settlement negotiations continue, but the administration has asked for a delay until August 1, to permit it more time to consider the issues until more Interior Department staff are confirmed by the Senate.

“This is a tremendous victory for the Northern Spotted Owl and also for the Marbled Murrelet, which is equally reliant on old-growth forest along the northwest coast,” said Steve Holmer, Director of Public Relations for American Bird Conservancy. “This policy change needs to be quickly followed up with broad and progressive forest management reforms. These include the permanent protection of our mature and old-growth forests that are essential not only for the conservation of these priority species, but also as a vast carbon store that must remain intact if we are to succeed in the battle against climate change.”

In addition, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) withdrew the first two large timber sales under the Western Oregon Plan Revisions, a forest management plan for the federal forests it manages in the state which is based in part on the flawed owl recovery plan. The plan is also facing litigation and the administration has requested a similar delay in responding to the court challenge until a new Director of the BLM is appointed.

In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, American Bird Conservancy, members of the Bird Conservation Alliance, and other conservation organizations requested that the plan be withdrawn so that it could undergo Endangered Species Act review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to determine its likely impact on endangered species. Withdrawal of the scientifically flawed proposal to reduce Critical Habitat for the threatened Marbled Murrelet is also being requested.