FORUM; Using the Best Scientific Data for Endangered Species Conservation

摘要

The Endangered Species Act calls fo the use of the best scientific data in conserving threatended or endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The language of this act and other environmental laws and reelvant judicial rulings also require assessments based on modern scientific standards that are routinely applied in ecological research. Particularly for the Endangered Species Act, "take" decisions should be mad eonly after the supporting documents provide: (1) designation of critical habitat based on use and availability methods; (2) risk assessment(s) for proposed take and other proposed take and ther project impacts; (3) ecosystem assessment by trained ecosystem ecologists; (4) a description of an adaptive manageemnt program involving more than post hoc adjustments to problems in mitigation design.