propagate certain species in captivity and to seek, through field studies, key factors that 

 threatened the existence of certain species. Captive propagation can be an aid in bolstering 

 some seriously threatened wild populations . 



Over 35 endangered species occur on National Wildlife Refuges at sometime during the year. 

 Management on many of these refuges focuses on endangered species such as the whooping 

 crane at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge . Since enactment of the Endangered Species 

 Preservation Act of 1966 which authorized use of land and water conservation funds for 

 the acquisition of endangered species habitat, refuge lands have been purchased speci- 

 fically for endangered species . 



As a result of the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969, a list of foreign endangered 

 species was developed and importation controls for such species were emphasized. Agents 

 were added to the staff of the Bureau's Division of Law Enforcement to inspect shipments of 

 wildlife arriving at ports of importation. 



In Fiscal Year 1973, new emphasis was placed on endangered species. New funds were 

 appropriated for management of endangered species and efforts were initiated to draw 

 attention and provide input by outside sources . The professional staff of the Office of 

 Endangered Species and International Activities was increased from 2 to 8. A new species 

 by species approach to management was adopted. 



Recovery plan concept 



The needs of many endangered species are greater than any one agency or level of 

 government can supply. Broad public support of the program is required. States are 

 intimately involved because of the habitat they control, the legal responsibilities they have 

 for resident wildlife, and biological skills possessed by professional ecologists they employ. 

 Most Federal agencies have contributions to make, particularly land managing agencies 

 such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and 

 Wildlife, National Park Service, and military installations under the Department of Defense. 

 Also involved are agencies charged with the protection of environments such as the 

 President's Council on Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau 

 of Outdoor Recreation, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, or those affecting the 

 environment such as the Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, Tennessee Valley 

 Authority, and Atomic Energy Commission. A successful endangered species program 

 must be coordinated among all such agencies at all levels of government. Private organi- 

 zations and groups serve not only to provide leadership but also to supply expertise and 

 funding for various projects . 



The guide for coordination of activities pertaining to endangered species among these 

 agencies will become the recovery plan. Such a plan will identify restoration problems 

 for each species and will detail step by step solutions. Also, the plan will show the order 

 in which actions are to be undertaken and who is assigned to carry them out. In this 

 manner, roles to be played by various State and Federal agencies and private groups can 

 be specifically identified. Costs to accomplish various objectives will be estimated. The 

 recovery plan will demonstrate the perspective involved for each action proposed. Plans 

 will also serve to identify the most urgently needed research needs . Their ultimate purpose 

 is to encourage participation by all organizations that can play a part in the survival of the 



