29th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, February 20-23, 2004
Abstracts

Recovery Action Program for the Desert Tortoise in California

John Hamill
California Desert Management Project, Department of the Interior 222 E. Main Street, Suite 202, Barstow, CA 92342

Several agencies in the Department of the Interior agencies (Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and Geological Survey) and the State of California (Department of Fish and Game, Department of Parks and Recreation) are considering entering into a Memorandum of Agreement to participate in the Recovery Action Program for the Desert Tortoise in California (Program). The purpose of the Program is to: (1) Establish a framework for coordinating and integrating recovery actions among managers and scientists across jurisdictional boundaries in California, (2) Put into place the basic support elements necessary to recover the desert tortoise in California, and (3) Coordinate implementation of specific recovery actions that require interagency cooperation for effective implementation throughout the California deserts.

Basic support elements included in the Program are an interagency annual work planning process, science and data management support, desert tortoise monitoring, and public outreach and education. Several high priority recovery actions will be implemented including raven management, feral dog management, head starting and translocation and disease management. Mechanisms are provided to ensure that the Program is carried out in consultation and cooperation with affected stakeholders, local communities, and the public.

The Desert Managers Group will coordinate implementation of the recovery actions identified in the Program. The MOA will establish a Regional Executive Management Group to oversee and guide implementation of the Program. DOI agencies are inviting public comment on the Program until March 5, 2004. Copies of the Program are available from the author or at www.dmg.gov/documents.