U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Delisting is the removal of species from

the Federal Lists of Endangered and

Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Downlisting is the reclassification of a

species from Endangered to

Threatened. Delisting and downlisting

actions result from successful recovery

efforts. To delist a species, the Service

must determine that the species is not

threatened based on a number of

factors, such as population size,

recruitment, stability of habitat quality

and quantity, and control or

elimination of the threats. If some of

the threats have been reduced and the

population has met its recovery

objectives for downlisting, we may

consider changing the species status

from Endangered to Threatened.

Delisting species is the ultimate goal of

implementing the Endangered Species

Act (ESA).

Why, when, and how are species removed

from the list of endangered and threatened

species?

Recovery plans, developed by the

Service and stakeholders for listed

species, identify delisting and

downlisting goals. When a species

reaches its delisting goals, the Service

considers removing it from the Federal

Lists of Endangered and Threatened

Wildlife and Plants. Likewise, when a

species reaches its downlisting goals,

the Service considers changing its

status from Endangered to

Threatened.

To delist or downlist a species, the

Service follows a process similar to

when we consider a species for listing

under the ESA: we assess the

population and its recovery

achievements; we assess the existing

threats; and, we seek advice from

species experts in and outside of the

Service. To assess the existing threats,

the Service must determine that the

Delisting a Species

Section 4 of the Endangered

Species Act

species is no longer threatened or

endangered based on five factors:

■ Is there a present or threatened

destruction, modification, or

curtailment of species' habitat or

range?

■ Is species subject to overutilization

for commercial, recreational, scientific,

or educational purposes?

■ Is disease or predation a factor?

■ Are there inadequate existing

regulatory mechanisms in place

outside the ESA (taking into account

the efforts by the States and other

organizations to protect the species or

habitat)?

■ Are other natural or manmade

factors affecting its continued

existence?

If the Service determines that the

threats have been sufficiently reduced,

then we may consider delisting or

downlisting the species. When delisting

or downlisting a species, the Service

first proposes the action in the Federal

Register. At this time, we also seek the

opinion from independent species

experts, other Federal agencies, State

biologists, and the public. After

analyzing the comments received on

the proposed rulemaking, we decide

whether to complete the proposed

action or maintain the

species status as it is.

Our final decision is

announced in the

American

peregrine falcon,

delisted in 1999,

because of

recovery.

Craig

Koppie,

USFWS
Federal Register. The comments

received and our response to them are

addressed in the final rule.

What happens after a species is delisted?

If delisted due to recovery, the ESA

requires the Service, in cooperation

with the States, to monitor the species

for a minimum of five years in order to

assess each species' ability to sustain

itself without the ESA's protective

measures. The draft post-delisting

monitoring strategy is generally

available at the time the proposal for

delisting is published in the Federal

Register. We seek peer review and

public comment of this document. Once

the final delisting monitoring plan is

approved, it is put into action. If,

within the designated monitoring

period, threats to the species change or

unforeseen events change the stability

of the population, then the species may

be relisted or the monitoring period

extended.

Why are species delisted?

Species are taken off the endangered

and threatened species list (i.e.,

delisted) for a variety of reasons:

recovery, extinction, new evidence of

additional populations, and other

reasons. Over the years, the Service

has delisted few species, because we

have focused our attention and

resources on saving more imperiled

species. For more information about

species that have been delisted or

downlisted, please see our web site at

http://endangered.fws.gov/

wildlife.html.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered Species Program

4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420

Arlington, VA 22203

703/358 2061

http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery

August 2002

Assess whether species still needs protection under the ESA

[5-factor analysis]

■ Is there a present or threatened destruction, modification, or

curtailment of species' habitat or range?

■ Is species subject to overutilization for commercial, recreational,

scientific, or educational purposes?

■ Is disease or predation a factor?

■ Are there inadequate existing regulatory mechanisms in place

outside the ESA (taking into account the efforts by the States and

other organizations to protect the species or habitat)?

■ Are other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued

existence?

Species reaches recovery goals

Publish proposed rule to

delist or downlist in the

Federal Register

Monitor the species according to a postdelisting monitoring plan

Species removed from (or reclassified in) the

Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants

Publish final rule to

delist or downlist in the

Federal Register

No change in status

warranted, species remains

on the list

Announce decision

not to delist or downlist in

the Federal Register

Steps in the Delisting and Downlisting Process

Solicit expert opinions of 3 appropriate and

independent species specialists (peer review).

Seek input from public, scientific community,

Federal and State agencies