Learning from endangered and threatened species recovery programs: A case study using U.S. Endangered Species Act recovery scores

PurposeThere are significant, ongoing threats of species extinction. Threatened species recovery programs are an important way of reducing this threat, but many recovery programs are unsuccessful. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues facing species recovery programs, and the potential benefits to be found in managing threatened species recovery from a project management perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis research used the Grounded Theory Method to analyze the contents of four senate inquiries and 21 interviews with recovery experts. The Grounded Theory Method was then used to inductively develop concepts and theories that explain some of the issues faced in the delivery of recovery programs in Australia. These were explored from a project management perspective, to understand ways that project management could provide benefit to the recovery planning process.FindingsEight core challenges that have an impact on recovery emerged from the data. It was identified that there is a general lack of integration of project management into the recovery process. This was found to be particularly evident in terms of the recovery project lifecycle, risk management and stakeholder management. Strategies for addressing these issues are discussed.Originality/valueConservation scientists typically focus on technical recovery competencies. The authors argue that managing recovery from a project management perspective will increase recovery success rates through an increased focus on the contextual and behavioral competencies that are essential to the management and delivery of recovery projects and programs.

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Benchmark for the ESA: Having a Backbone Is Good for Recovery

Frontiers in Conservation Science ◽

10.3389/fcosc.2021.630490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Aaron M. Haines ◽

Matthias Leu ◽

Delaney M. Costante ◽

Tyler C. Treakle ◽

Carli Parenti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Endangered Species ◽

Environmental Regulations ◽

Endangered Species Act ◽

The United States ◽

Lower Number ◽

Species Recovery ◽

Private Landowner ◽

Global Extinction ◽

History Of

To forestall the current rate of global extinction, we need to identify strategies that successfully recover species. In the last decade, the recovery record for the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) has improved. Our aim was to review federal delisting documents for recovered species and quantify patterns in taxonomy, history of threats, policy, funding and actions that are associated with species recovery. In comparison to species still listed, the average recovered species was a vertebrate, had been listed longer under the ESA, was exposed to a lower number of threats at the time of listing, and received relatively higher levels of funding. Based on our review, we suggest the following strategies to improve species recovery: provide more time for ESA protection, allocate more funding for recovery, maintain environmental regulations that facilitate recovery, establish more private landowner agreements, and increase the area of protected lands.

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