We understand that this is not an exhaustive list of potential private lands policies and programs. As the following discussion makes clear, we believe that the current proposed private lands amendments to the Endangered Species Act will not further the Act's goals unless those measures are implemented in a scientifically sound manner. However, our group believes that with essential stipulations, landowner-friendly initiatives can assist in meeting our nation's goal of protecting its unique and valuable natural heritage. Should the species require further conservation efforts, the costs would be largely borne by the public rather than the landowners. A no surprises policy is troubling to scientists because it runs counter to the natural world, which is full of surprises.
Nature frequently produces surprises such as new diseases, droughts, storms, floods, and fire.
Furthermore, scientific research produces surprises in the form of new information regarding species, habitats, and natural processes. Habitat Conservation Plans, therefore, are inevitably developed and authorized under conditions of substantial uncertainty and may ultimately prove inadequate. Unless conservation plans can be amended, habitats and species certainly will be lost. We appreciate that no surprises policy is not a guarantee that conservation plans will not change, but a contractual commitment to shift some of the financial burden of future changes in agreements to the public. In that light, the following features should constitute minimum standards for HCPs with no surprises assurances.