Conservation Briefs is a compilation of short news stories of interest to Outdoor News Bulletin readers. The stories cover a number of issues that have developed in the past month or provide updates on issues that were featured in previous ONB editions. Each story includes links to online resources for more details on each topic.

This month:

• BLM to Review Planning Process
• White House Releases National Climate Assessment
• FWS Proposes Revisions to Critical Habitat Roles
• Rice Lands Provide $3.5 Billion in Wetland Habitat

BLM to Review Planning Process

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced on May 5 that it is initiating a review of how the agency develops its Resource Management Plans (RMPs). The agency will be looking at changes to regulations that will allow it to plan across landscapes on multiple scales, to create dynamic and durable plans that are responsive to change, and to create a more efficient planning process. The BLM is seeking input from stakeholders on the process and comments can be emailed or submitted online.

"As I've met with elected leaders and citizens from across the West on BLM issues, I've consistently heard two things: first, the BLM needs to more effectively address landscape-level management challenges; and second, planning takes too long," said BLM Director Neil Kornze. "We're listening to you and we are stepping forward to improve the way we work so we can make our process more flexible in planning across landscapes, more dynamic and responsive to change and less time consuming."

White House Releases National Climate Assessment

The Obama Administration released the third U.S. National Climate Assessment on May 6. The new report is a scientific assessment of the impacts of climate change across the country as well as on major economic sectors. It also outlines response strategies to reduce emissions and adapt to a changing climate. With release of the Assessment, the Administration began a public relations campaign in an effort to increase the awareness of climate change and the sense of urgency to implement change. President Obama kicked off the release of the report with interviews with television meteorologists and other cabinet members were discussing the Assessment in appearances they made across the country.

"All Americans will find things that matter to them in this report, from impacts in their own regions to those elsewhere that affect the air we breathe and our food, water and energy supplies," said Jerry Melillo, a distinguished scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory and chairman of the advisory committee responsible for overseeing the report.

FWS & NMFS Propose Revisions to Critical Habitat Rules

On May 9, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service announced that they are proposing to revise rules affecting critical habitat for federally listed endangered species. Critical habitat is the habitat essential for a species' recovery and the Endangered Species Act prohibits actions that would result in the "destruction or adverse modification" of designated critical habitat. The agencies propose to change the definition of adverse modification to assess how the conservation value of critical habitat is being affected. In addition, the agencies propose to clarify the procedures and standards used for designating critical habitat. The third proposed policy is intended to provide greater predictability, transparency and consistency regarding the consideration of exclusions from critical habitat designations. The changes are open for comment until July 11 through regulations.gov.

"Our goal in proposing these revisions is to make the process of designating and consulting on critical habitat more predictable, more efficient, and more easily understood," said Gary Frazer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director for Ecological Services. "We think these common-sense changes, reflecting lessons learned over the years, will improve conservation of species that need help and reduce the potential for conflicts and litigation."

Rice Lands Provide $3.5 Billion in Wetland Habitat

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Rice Federation released a study on May 5 that estimates the cost of replacing wetland habitat provided by rice production at $3.5 billion. The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas, and the Central Valley of California collectively support more than half of all wintering dabbling ducks in the United States. Each year, nearly 3.4 million acres of rice are grown in the United States. However increased competition for water resources, particularly given California's significant drought, may reduce the amount of winter flooded rice fields available for wintering ducks. In addition, declines in rice acreage along the Gulf Coast could be problematic with the simultaneous decline in coastal prairie and marsh habitat.

"Rice production and farming are important components to ensuring we meet the population goals set forth in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "This study is an excellent tool we can utilize to show policymakers and waterfowl managers just how critical rice lands are to waterfowl populations."