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Management Plan, but it also provides- a model for involving all 

 interested parties, including the States, Federal agencies, and 

 private, nonprofit organizations, in working cooperatively in 

 partnership with private landowners. 



The third and final example I want to cite relates to Secretary 

 Babbitt's initiative to protect the habitat of the California 

 gnatcatcher . 



Several years ago, the State of California approached the 

 Foundation for assistance in conserving biodiversity in the State. 

 The State was impressed with the Gap Analysis in the State of Idaho 

 but, due to the land use planning process in California, wanted a 

 similar analysis stepped down to the county level. One particular 

 problem was incompatible databases, and the Foundation provided a 

 grant not only to integrate the databases across the State but also 

 to provide the additional detail needed at the county level. 



In support of the State's effort and seeking to break new ground 

 nationally in the protection of endangered species. Secretary 

 Babbitt has acted to encourage regional habitat conservation 

 planning efforts in California. In listing the gnatcatcher as 

 "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, he also proposed a 

 special rule that recognizes the regional conservation efforts 

 already under way in southern California. 



72-588 0-93-2 



