**[Recovery Plan Revision -- Threats Assessment/Recovery Action Planning
Process]{.smallcaps}**

Revision of the 1994 Recovery Plan for the desert tortoise will be based
on regional recovery action plans. The ultimate objective is to develop
a scientifically credible recovery plan with realistic prospects for
implementation and success, given private property rights and the
missions of affected agencies, communities, and stakeholders. The
recovery action plans will be developed in a collaborative process
between Regional Working Groups (including stakeholders), FWS Desert
Tortoise Recovery Office (DTRO), and the Science Advisory Committee
(SAC), as described below in the itemized list and flowchart. The
planning process will maximize the opportunity for exchange of
information and feedback between the Regional Working Groups, SAC, and
DTRO, and incorporate stakeholder input and participation in working
groups and workshops. Development and implementation of the revised
recovery plan will be a collaborative effort, with each of the three
major participating groups having distinct roles in the process.

-   The Regional Working Groups will identify, plan, and coordinate
    desert tortoise recovery actions that are implementable within their
    respective regions. They will interact with the SAC to prioritize
    recovery actions based on threat severity, management feasibility,
    and expected effectivness. They will work with land managers,
    stakeholders, scientists, and partners across jurisdictional
    boundaries to implement desert tortoise recovery, monitoring, and
    research actions. They will also document any constraints to
    implementing recovery actions and identify information gaps to help
    guide future research priorities.

-   The Science Advisory Committee will provide input into key elements
    of the recovery plan, including providing a scientific
    categorization of threat severity, revising recovery criteria, and
    evaluating the effectiveness of the revised recovery plan through
    ongoing review and input. They will interact with the Regional
    Working Groups to prioritize recovery actions based on threat
    severity, management feasibility, and expected effectivness.

-   The Desert Tortoise Recovery Office has the primary responsibility
    to produce the final revised recovery plan for the desert tortoise,
    which will be based on the regional recovery action plans. The DTRO
    will work closely with the Regional Working Groups to assist in
    prioritizing and implementing recovery actions, track and report
    recovery accomplishments, and identify resource and research needs.
    The DTRO will provide staff support to the recovery planning process
    and will act as the main information link between the Regional
    Working Groups and SAC.

**Process outline (see flowchart):**

1)  DTRO produces threats list (threats and sources of threats),
    including supporting documentation, based on the listing rule and
    any new information. DTRO distributes threats list to regional
    working groups and SAC for review and comment.

> Step 1 is simply a compilation of threats to the tortoise organized
> according to the (de-) listing factors under the ESA. The list will
> include relevant documentation for reference.

2)  Regional working groups and SAC provide review and comment on
    threats list.

> Step 2 provides an opportunity for working group members to add to the
> threats list, consider the relevance of each threat in their area, and
> identify uncertainties prior to the workshops.

3a) Threat Workshop: Regional working group uses threats list to 1)
document the geographic extent (GIS) of each threat based on management
jurisdictions/ownership patterns within their region and 2) identify
specific recovery actions, including the geographic extent that such
recovery actions will be implemented, to abate those threats.
Constraints to implementing identified recovery actions, such as
funding, will be documented. Working group will also identify additional
information needs for recovery planning and implementation.

> This provides the core of the recovery action plans. Professionally
> facilitated workshops will answer the following questions: Where are
> threats occuring on the landscape and what is the relative intensity
> of threats across the landscape? What do managers/stakeholders
> recommend to abate these threats? What limitations affect
> implementation of the proposed actions? What other information needs
> or priorities does the work group recommend?

3b) SAC categorizes threats according to severity, based on biological
effects on the desert tortoise (e.g., severity to different life
stages), providing documentation of process/rationale.

> Concurrent with 3a, the SAC will categorize the threats list based on
> their general biological effects to tortoise/habitat. If possible,
> this step will be completed prior to 3a to provide additional
> information to the threat workshops.

4)  SAC makes scientific recommendations regarding recovery actions
    relative to severity of threats, geographic extent of threats
    identified by regional working group, proposed recovery actions, and
    expected effectiveness of recovery actions. SAC also identifies
    information gaps and recommends research priorities.

> Given the initial outcomes of the work groups, the SAC will make
> recommendations for which recovery actions offer the most promise to
> affect tortoise populations.

5)  Regional working group considers SAC recommendations and
    incorporates as feasible.

> The working group adjusts the recovery action plans accordingly, but
> also identifies any additional priorities, concerns, or relevant
> information for the SAC. To the extent possible, we will strive to
> facilitate direct SAC/working group interaction. The DTRO will serve
> as conduit between groups to the extent that logistical difficulties
> prevent direct interaction.

6)  DTRO distributes pertinent information relative to all five regions
    to individual regional working groups (i.e., keeps each group
    informed of the big picture).

> Keep each working group abreast of progress by other working groups to
> take advantage of ideas in other regions, maintain consistency, etc.

7)  Continue feedback, as necessary.

> Continue feedback between working group and SAC, so both groups can
> make adjustments and refine recovery action plans.

8)  Recovery action plans integrated into revised recovery plan and
    distributed widely for review.

> Recovery action plans, after any adjustment for (revised) recovery
> unit boundaries, will be combined into the revised recovery plan. This
> plan will be distributed for review, providing managers, stakeholders,
> or others that were not involved in the work groups an opportunity to
> provide input.