Background 



The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) listed the grizzly bear in the coterminous 

 states as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. Shortly after that, the 

 state and federal agencies involved in efforts to recover the grizzly bear formed the 

 Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) to help coordinate conservation efforts. 

 The Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee (YES) was assigned lead responsibility for 

 recovery efforts in the Yellowstone ecosystem. 



The FWS's listing decision identified a number of threats to the long term viability of 

 grizzly bears in the Yellowstone area. Among the factors considered were lack of habitat 

 security and inadequate regulatory mechanisms to control grizzly bear mortality to 

 acceptable levels. The FWS Recovery Plan outlined a number of steps necessary to 

 address these problems. One task in the Recovery Plan was development of a 

 Conservation Strategy by the state and federal agencies in the Yellowstone area that 

 identified how bears and their habitat would be managed after the bear was delisted. The 

 goal of the Conservation Strategy is to ensure the recovered population remains 

 sufficiently healthy that protection under the Endangered Species Act is not necessary. 



A technical team composed of staff from state and federal agencies in the YES 

 collaborated on drafting a Conservation Strategy during 1998 and 1999. The FWS 

 Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator led the process and was the primary author. 

 Although the technical team sought consensus on content of the strategy, some aspects of 

 the draft strategy were not fully acceptable to all members. 



The YES recognized the need for public review of the draft strategy to develop 

 understanding and acceptance of the strategy. The YES was also open to suggestions for 

 change to make the strategy more effective. The YES proposed to submit the draft for 

 public review during the spring of 2000. The FWS agreed to facilitate the review through 

 publication, notice in the Federal Register and compilation of public comment. 



Given the state's lead role in management of grizzlies after delisting and the significant 

 costs the states will incur, the IGBC identified the need for understanding of, and 

 conunitment to, the Conservation Strategy at the highest levels in state government. 

 Accordingly, as part of the public review process, the IGBC invited the governors of 

 Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to appoint a citizen roundtable to review the draft 

 conservation strategy to help formulate the states' recommendations on the draft. 



Governors' Roundtable Members and Process 



Governor Kempthome (ID), Governor Racicot (MT) and Governor Geringer (WY) 

 signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December, 1999, agreeing to appoint a 15 

 member citizen roundtable to review the draft Conservation Strategy for the ^Jtzzly Bear 

 in the Yellowstone Area. The governors' goal was to coordinate the states' review and 

 provide a meaningful role for state residents in defining the ftiture of grizzly bear 



72 



