Using Spatial Data to Improve Recovery Under the Endangered Species Act
Creators: name: Gazenski, Kimmy
name: Lamb, Rachel
name: Krehbiel, Robb
Publisher: name: Digital Repository at the University of Maryland
Year: 2014
Subjects: conservation biology, endangered species, environmental law, spatial analysis

description: Many species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are making slow and
insufficient progress towards long-term recovery. Various studies have examined the recovery
planning process in order to identify related challenges and suggest improvements to science and
management efforts. In 2002, Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) published a
comprehensive study that provided 15 diverse recommendations for improving recovery plan
quality, implementation and overall effectiveness. To increase the probability of wide-scale
incorporation, these recommendations were targeted at NOAA National Marine Fisheries
Service’s “Interim Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Planning Guidance” (Interim
Guidance). However, notably absent in both the SCB study and the Interim Guidance is any
discussion of spatial data collection and its use for creating multi-layered maps. This is of
particular concern because spatial data has increasingly been recognized for its unique potential
to assist in long-term species recovery.

In order to fully assess the potential use and inclusion of spatial data within the recovery
planning process, we identified three research objectives. The first objective was to assess how
well SCB recommendations have been incorporated into both the Interim Guidance and
individual recovery plans. This evaluation would allow us to determine the relationship between
the two documents and how well recovery plans follow the Interim Guidance. The second
objective was to determine the feasibility of creating a spatial tool for all species listed under the
ESA given available data types and formats. While maps can aid management decisions, known
data deficiencies for many species are expected to make the creation of such maps challenging.
By assessing a taxonomically representative subset of species recovery plans, we could evaluate
the relative availability of spatial data across different groups of species. Our third objective was
to create a single-species proof-of-concept map for the development of a large-scale, online
mapping tool. This process would allow us to evaluate how useful a spatial tool and online
Google mapping platform could be to those interested in improving species recovery.

As a result of our analysis we conclude that the more fully a recommendation is
incorporated within the Interim Guidance, the better it will be expressed within individual
recovery plans. Therefore, if the Interim Guidance explicitly requires spatial data collection,
more specific-specific spatial data will likely become available. Through our feasibility study we
found large data gaps for all species and only 20% or less of all applicable data layers for
amphibians, clams, and snails in particular. Additionally, while we found biological data most
frequently, threats, recovery actions, and ESA legal requirements were largely absent in any
spatial format. In order to create a diverse multi-layered map for all species, spatial data
collection must be prioritized among all data categories and for low-profile species. Our proof-of-
concept map for the Utah prairie dog, demonstrates that multi-layered maps can currently be
created for select species after expansive data searching and mode rate use of geo-spatial
programs such as ArcGIS. These maps can directly support Defender’s own internal purposes as
well as uniquely support USFWS and NMFS’s ongoing efforts in spatial tool development.
description: Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology Program; Defenders of Wildlife