Science in Practice Portal

LAWS

The most relevant laws related to special status species management across all BLM-managed lands are the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 1701, et sec. (FLPMA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, 16 USC 1531–1544, described and linked below. Other laws that may be relevant to your specific conservation questions may be found at:

Laws, Agreements, and Treaties | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Laws & Policies | NOAA Fisheries

The Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 1701, et sec. (FLPMA)

FLPMA declares that the nation’s public lands are to be managed in a manner that will “…provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife…” and identifies “fish and wildlife development and utilization” as one of the public lands’ “principal or major uses.” The FLPMA contemplates that management of the public lands includes protection of ecological values (section 102(8)) and the preservation of certain lands in their natural condition (section 102(8)) and identifies fish and wildlife development and utilization as one of six “principal or major uses” of public lands (section 103(l)). These statements in FLPMA, as well as FLPMA’s direction that public lands generally be managed under principles of multiple use and sustained yield, allow the BLM to take affirmative action to conserve special status species and their habitats across its 245 million acres of public lands, helping fulfill the ESA’s mission of conserving plants and wildlife.

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 As Amended | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)

Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, 16 USC 1531–1544

The ESA and implementing regulations at 50 CRF 402 (eCFR :: 50 CFR Part 402 -- Interagency Cooperation—Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Amended) conserve endangered and threatened species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov)) is responsible for terrestrial and freshwater species, as well as sea birds, sea otters, manatees, and polar bears. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Fisheries (Endangered Species Conservation | NOAA Fisheries) is responsible for most marine species, including whales, seals, sharks, and coral. NOAA also implement measures to protect anadromous species—ones that migrate between fresh and saltwater. USFWS and NOAA share jurisdiction over species such as sea turtles, Gulf Sturgeon, and Atlantic salmon.

Endangered Species Act | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Endangered Species Act Guidance, Policies, and Regulations | NOAA Fisheries

Federal agency obligations under the ESA include:

• Section 2(c) (Policy) establishes a congressional policy objective that all agencies seek to conserve endangered and threatened species and utilize their authorities in furtherance of the purposes of the ESA.

Endangered Species Act Basics (fws.gov)

Endangered Species Act Implementation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Endangered Species Act | NOAA Fisheries

• Section 4 (Listing and Recovery) directs the FWS to determine the need to list species as threatened or endangered, designate critical habitat, and develop and implement recovery plan, for which BLM plays an important role in providing biological information, research, and recovery action planning.

Listing and Classification | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Listing Species Under the Endangered Species Act | NOAA Fisheries

Critical Habitat | NOAA Fisheries

Protective Regulations for Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act: Section 4(d) | NOAA Fisheries

Candidate Conservation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Recovery | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Endangered Species Conservation | NOAA Fisheries

Office of Protected Resources | NOAA Fisheries

Recovery of Species Under the Endangered Species Act | NOAA Fisheries

• Section 5 (Land and Water Conservation Funds) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands to conserve fish, wildlife, and plants, including those that are listed as endangered species or threatened species. When the BLM engages in the land use planning process, it can identify appropriate opportunities for acquisition by purchase, donation, land exchange, conservation easement, or other means, of land, water, or interests therein for the purpose of conserving fish, wildlife and plants, including listed species.

Land and Water Conservation Fund | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)

• Section 6 (Cooperation with States) authorizes the Secretary to cooperate to the maximum extent practicable with States, including entering into management agreements and cooperative agreements for the conservation of threatened and endangered species. The BLM should implement this section through a State level memorandum of understanding by providing technical assistance to, and coordinating with, State agencies responsible for the conservation of endangered and threatened species.

Traditional Conservation Grants | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Endangered Species Act Section 6 Program: Cooperation with States | NOAA Fisheries

Species Recovery Grants to States | NOAA Fisheries

Species Recovery Grants to Tribes | NOAA Fisheries

• Section 7 (Conservation and Consultation) consists of two primary parts related to BLM obligations. Section 7(a)(1) of the ESA directs all Federal agencies to use their authorities to carry out programs to conserve endangered and threatened species. Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA requires Federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ensure that any action Federal agencies authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of listed species’ designated critical habitat.

Section 7 Consultation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Endangered Species Act Consultations | NOAA Fisheries

• Section 9 (Prohibition of Take) prohibits take of all individuals of listed fish or wildlife. For plants, there is no “take” prohibition, but Section 9 makes it unlawful for anyone to remove and reduce to possession any endangered plant species; maliciously damage or destroy any endangered plant species on Federal lands; remove, cut, dig up, or damage or destroy any such species from any other area in knowing violation of any law or regulation of any State or in the course of any violation of a State criminal trespass law; or violate any regulations pertaining to threatened plants.

Section 9. Prohibited Acts | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

• Section 10 (Exceptions to Take and Experimental Populations) provides exceptions for activities otherwise prohibited. The BLM shall obtain Section 10 permits from the FWS and/or NMFS if take of listed fish or wildlife species or the removal or reduction to possession of listed plants is anticipated for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species. Section 10 also authorizes FWS and NMFS to establish experimental populations of threatened and endangered species. The BLM shall cooperate and assist in establishing experimental populations of listed species on BLM-managed lands when such establishment is consistent with BLM land use plans and policy and is technologically and economically feasible. The BLM shall treat essential experimental populations as threatened species and nonessential experimental populations as proposed species for purposes of Section 7 (a)(2) consultations.

Permits for Native Endangered and Threatened Species | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Tools for Conservation Partnerships | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Conservation Banking | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Mitigation and Conservation Banking Toolbox | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Permits | NOAA Fisheries

• Section 11 (Penalties and Enforcement) mandates that BLM shall exercise all of its authorities to ensure compliance with the ESA. Within its authority, BLM shall modify, suspend or revoke the lease, license, permit or other agreement authorizing the use of BLM-managed lands, of any person who is convicted of a criminal violation of the ESA or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued pursuant to the ESA.

Section 11. Penalties and Enforcement | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

• Section 18 (Annual Cost Analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Upon request of the FWS, the BLM shall provide to the FWS a species-by-species summary of its expenditures on the conservation of listed species for the FWS annual expenditure report to Congress.

Endangered and Threatened Species Expenditures Reports | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

EMERGING ISSUES

T&E Program Strategic Plan

A focus of the Threatened and Endangered Species Program is emphasizing and increasing BLM use of section 7(a)(1) of the ESA, across all agency programs and in coordination with partners. The use of ESA section 7(a)(1) helps to streamline section 7(a)(2) consultations and permitting requirements because conservation commitments are agreed to by the USFWS or NMFS early in the planning process. In addition, 7(a)(1) helps support efforts to delist endangered and threatened species and preclude the need to list new species under the ESA, overall reducing regulatory requirements on BLM lands.

BLM Strategic Plan for Threatened and Endangered Species, 2022-2027 | Bureau of Land Management 

EMERGING ISSUES FOR SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES CONSERVATION

The following provides useful links regarding emerging issues and questions related to the conservation and recovery of special status species.

Resources to Assist with Species-Specific Issues

• NatureServe Explorer Pro – Under the terms of a Data License Agreement, NatureServe has published secure ArcGIS feature service(s) to provide BLM with access to Element Occurrence (EO), related Source Feature (SF) species location records, nonstandard observations data (i.e. data that do not follow the formatting guidelines of Biotics, NatureServe’s central database system), and/or Species Habitat Models. The information in NatureServe Explore Pro can be used by BLM biologists, botanists, ecologists, and restoration specialists to help support development and implementation of proactive conservation and recovery efforts, and be used by BLM in planning and NEPA evaluations. The available data also substantially streamlines NEPA and ESA permitting processes because it provides updated status and distribution information.

Click here for the Nature Serve - How to Guide on Occurrence Data and Species Habitat Models

• USFWS National Listing Workplan – In order to provide the best possible conservation for our nation's imperiled species, we developed a National Listing Workplan (Workplan) for addressing domestic listing and critical habitat decisions under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This workplan can help BLM biologists and botanists research species that have emerging threats for which conservation planning and 7(a)(1) proactive conservation efforts could help reverse declining trends and help lead to delisting or downlisting endangered or threatened species.
• IPaC: Home (fws.gov) – The USFWS Information for Planning and Consultation (IPAC) website is a project planning tool that streamlines section 7(a)(2) and environmental review processes. It allows BLM staff to explore species and habitat locations relative to proposed land use authorizations, receive USFWS species lists and concurrences online, and build consultation packages. Training videos and demos are available on this site.

Environmental Variation

Variability in temperature and precipitation can affect America's fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. Numerous agencies and conservation organizations are developing and implementing conservation strategies and plans that may be useful in BLM efforts to conserve special status species. Understanding and addressing environmental variation is important for conserving special status species and enabling BLM to assist efforts to delist endangered and threatened species and preclude the need to list new species under the ESA.

• National Fish, Wildlife, & Plants Network, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (AFWA) – The Network supports the diverse, collective voice of the natural resource community on issues related to variability in temperatures and timing and amounts of precipitation and is made up of representatives from federal, state, tribal, academic, and non-profit organizations. This website provides links to the Adaptation Strategy, fact sheets, and roundtable reports.
• USFWS Initiative – The USFWS website provides information and links relative to how agencies and individuals can respond to variations in temperature and precipitation, including stories from the field.
• NOAA Fisheries Strategy – The NOAA Fisheries Strategy is part of a proactive approach to increase the production, delivery, and use of information needed to fulfill NOAA Fisheries mandates, including changes in temperature and precipitation. NOAA also provides information and links (Responding to Change | NOAA Fisheries) on how the agency is conserving protected species in response to variations in temperature and precipitation.
• USGS Science Explorer – The USGS investigates and provides information and links on the causes and consequences of environmental changes.
• U.S. Toolkit – Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges in Environmental Initiatives – Informational resource for tribes, agencies, and organizations across the United States interested in understanding traditional knowledges—or TKs—in the context of variations in environmental conditions.
• The Nature Conservancy Resilient Land Mapping Tool – provides information to help identify resilient lands across the U.S., especially with regard to variations in temperature and precipitation.

Habitat Connectivity

• BLM Habitat Connectivity on Public Lands, Instruction Memorandum, November 2022 – This Instruction Memorandum (IM) helps the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fulfill aspects of its multiple use and sustained yield mandate by ensuring habitats for native fish, wildlife, and plant populations are sufficiently inter- connected. As part of that work, this policy directs the BLM state offices to consult with state fish and wildlife agencies and Tribes to assess habitat connectivity in order to manage as best as possible for intact, connected habitat.  
• AFWA Connectivity Toolkit – The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Adaptation Committee charged a small working group in September of 2019 to develop a toolkit focused on landscape connectivity. The purpose is to provide state fish and wildlife agency planners and managers with the information necessary to plan and implement terrestrial and aquatic connectivity initiatives.
• Center for Large Landscape Conservation – The Center networks and collaborates with experts, practitioners, and local communities. Information on the site may be pertinent to developing and implementing collaborative habitat connectivity projects.

Landscape/Ecosystem Level Conservation

• Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Sagebrush Conservation Initiative – The Sagebrush Conservation Initiative was formed to identify and fill the highest priority gaps in scientific knowledge needed to effectively conserve sagebrush dependent species and the sagebrush habitats they depend on. WAFWA’s goal is “A healthy, working sagebrush landscape for people and wildlife."
• WAFWA Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT) – Web based tool that identifies key wildlife corridors and crucial wildlife habitats in the West. Can be used to help plan and implement proactive conservation and recovery projects, especially those that are landscape level and cross-jurisdictional.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is dedicated to sustaining, restoring and enhancing the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. NFWF builds partnerships between leading U.S. corporations and the federal agencies, nonprofits and individuals who drive conservation efforts across the United States. Biologists and botanists should be familiar with NFWF program’s and funding mechanisms to facilitate collaborative, landscape-level conservation efforts.

Habitat Restoration

• BLM Plant Conservation and Restoration Program – The BLM conserves, maintains, and restores native plant communities through its land use planning and land management activities. The BLM restores native plant communities for wildlife and pollinator habitat following energy development, mining, and wildfire. BLM biological staff and restoration specialists should be familiar with benefits the Plant Conservation and Restoration Program can bring to conservation of special status species, including the National Seed Strategy and Seeds for Success efforts.
• NOAA Fisheries Restoration Atlas/mapping tool – Allows users to explore thousands of NOAA restoration projects across the U.S.

Species Specific Updates

Imperiled Insect Species can be found on some BLM lands. The Pollinator page lists some of those species.

USFWS press releases can be found on their website, including species-specific listing and recovery announcements.

NOAA Fisheries provides Success Stories and Featured News on their website, including species-specific listing and recovery information.

Desert Tortoise - The BLM plays a critical part in the management and ultimate recovery of the Desert Tortoise. As an agency, we manage significant portions of the species range. Without BLM's active participation in the management and improvement of the tortoise and its habitat, the species will not recover or become self-sustaining. This spreadsheet is record that pulls together the desert tortoise data from across BLM states, districts, and field offices. Recovery and delisting of the desert tortoise is important for reducing regulation requirements of the ESA and thereby streamlining BLM authorizations.

Spreadsheet: Desert Tortoise Catalog Index File

General Informational Documents

The following are general summaries and not all-inclusive documents. They are simply meant to be used as a starting point for field personnel to begin their investigations. Additional research will often be required.

• Energy Development and Wildlife
• Recreation and Wildlife
• Range and Wildlife
• Wildlife Disease
• Wildlife Migration

SPP Content - WE NEED YOUR T&E RESEARCH UPLOADED

The science within the SPP science relies on YOU, the field biologist. As professional managers of wildlife you will often develop or follow science-based protocols based on studies conducted in your area. These scientific reports are extremely beneficial to you and other biologists throughout the agency. To best assists fellow and future BLM biologists, it is imperative you upload science-based documents related to research conducted in your area.

To maximize the benefit of submissions, BLM staff are encouraged to submit scientific information that includes:

• Research conducted on BLM Lands - this includes final reports from BLM staff or contracted entities.
• Science syntheses and white papers
• Examples of issue-based analysis for inclusion in NEPA
• Scientifically informed best management practices
• Bibliographies and annotated bibliographies
• Links to key data sets
• Links to key information portals (outside of the SPP)

When uploading content to the SPP, you will be asked to identify the most appropriate BLM program as this will route the uploaded content to the content manager for approval. Approval of content will be based on the Principles and Practices of Integrating Science Guidelines as described in IM 2017-030.

NOTE: To find uploaded content, simply use the Advanced Search Function at the top of the page and use specific key words to narrow down your search options.

As great as it would be to have EVERYTHING uploaded, we also need to make sure the SPP does not get overloaded with information that may not be useful.

To increase functionality and effectiveness of the SPP, items NOT encouraged for submission include:

• Non-science related items (opinion pieces, news stories)
• BLM Policy – Code of Federal Regulations, Executive Orders, Secretary Orders, Manuals, Handbooks, Instruction Memoranda, Information Bulletins
• Generic or other types of scientific information with limited application to BLM management
• Scientific information that has only very narrow geographic implications that would be unlikely to be useful across the agency
• Peer-reviewed scientific journal articles that are available at the BLM library
•  

RESOURCES FOR THE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM:

We understand that not every biologist knows where to find the Policy & Regs and Training they need to best execute their job. The following links will help find those resources specific to being a BLM "wildlife" biologist.

POLICY & REGULATIONS

The following links go directly to existing BLM pages. These are provided to the field biologists as a quick link for reference only. 

BLM Wildlife Policy - All policy and regulations relevant to BLM

• BLM Policy Place Homepage

BLM Manuals – Most Relevant to Management of Special Status Species and Habitats

•  Form 1221-2, 6840 - Special Status Species Management (blm.gov)
  • Manual 6840, Special Status Species – This manual establishes policy for the conservation of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and their ecosystems. Objectives are to conserve or recover ESA-listed species and implement proactive conservation measures.
  • Temporary - Old 6840 Manual (Rel. 6-125) with Section 7(a)(2) Instructions and Procedures
• https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/MS 6500 Wildlife and Fisheries Management.pdf
  • Manual 6500, Wildlife and Fisheries Management – This manual establishes policy to manage habitat with emphasis on ecosystems to ensure self-sustaining populations and a natural abundance of wildlife, fish, and plant resources on the public lands.
• mediacenter_blmpolicymanual1740.pdf
  • Manual 1740, Renewable Resource Improvements and Treatments – The purpose of this manual is for identifying objectives, policies and standards that are common and apply to planning, analyzing, constructing, maintaining, replacing and or modifying renewable resource improvements and treatments for the forestry, range management, riparian management, soil, water, air, fish, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, wild horse and burro, invasive species, hazardous fuels reduction, emergency stabilization, and burned area rehabilitation programs to achieve management objectives on BLM managed lands.
• MS-1794 Rel. 1-1807.pdf (blm.gov)
  • Manual 1794, Mitigation – Provides foundational policy when considering mitigation for impacts to renewable resources from public land uses. The manual purpose is to identify consistent principles and procedures for mitigation, consider mitigation well in advance of making decisions about anticipated public land uses, and applying mitigation to address reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources.
• 6600 Manual - Fish, Wildlife, and Special Status Inventory and Monitoring (blm.gov)
  • Manual 6600, Fish, Wildlife, and Special Status Plant Resources Inventory and Monitoring – This manual establishes policy to conduct inventory and monitoring of fish, wildlife, and special status plant resources as needed to comply with laws, regulations, and executive orders. Objectives include providing data to assist managers in making and evaluating multiple use decisions, establish fish, wildlife, and plant management objectives, coordinate with other agencies and BLM programs, describe species occurrence and biological diversity.
• 6780 Manual - Habitat Management Plans (blm.gov)
  • Manual 6780, Habitat Management Plans – This manual establishes policy, procedures, and guidance for the preparation and implementation of Habitat management Plans (HMP). The overall objective of a HMP is to manage habitats on the public lands for the conservation and rehabilitation of fish, wildlife, and plant resources.

BLM Handbooks

• https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/Media_Library_BLM_Policy_Handbook_H-1740-2.pdf
  • H-1740-2, Integrated Vegetation Management Handbook - This handbook guides implementation of vegetation management planning and treatment activities to achieve policy and objectives set forth in Manual 1740, Renewable Resource Improvements and Treatments.
• Media_Library_BLM_Policy_Handbook_H-1742-1.pdf
  • H-1742-1, Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Handbook – Provides detailed information regarding the policies, standards, and procedures used in the Burned Areas Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) programs. The Handbook is tiered to the Department of Interior (DOI) Manual 620 DM3, Wildland Fire Management Burned Areas Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation relative to planning and implementing ES&R projects on BLM-managed lands.
• H-1794-1 Rel 1-1808.pdf (blm.gov)
  • H-1794-1, Mitigation Handbook – Provides additional clarity and details for implementing BLM mitigation policy in Manual 1794. Overall, The BLM seeks to implement an approach to public land management that includes up-front identification of: low-conflict areas for development that avoid impacts; best management practices to minimize impacts during construction, operation, and reclamation; compensatory mitigation measures and sites to address residual effects that warrant additional mitigation; and areas that are too special to develop and deserve protection.

Relevant Handbooks and Online Resources from Other Agencies

• Endangered Species Consultation Handbook | FWS.gov
  • USFWS and NOAA/NMFS Endangered Species Consultation Handbook – outlines procedures for conducting consultation and conference activities under section 7 of the ESA. Note that this Handbook was published in 1998 – training and coordination with your local USFWS is important to ensure that you are following the most currently acceptable procedures.
• Habitat Conservation Planning and Incidental Take Permit Processing Handbook | FWS.gov – 
  • Provides procedures and guidance for the development of Habitat Conservation Plans. Federal agencies may be partners with local or private entities in the development of HCPs and mitigation therein.
• IPaC: Home (fws.gov)
  • The USFWS Information for Planning and Consultation (IPAC) website is a project planning tool that streamlines section 7(a)(2) and environmental review processes. It allows BLM staff to explore species and habitat locations relative to proposed land use authorizations, receive USFWS species lists and concurrences online, and build consultation packages. Training videos and demos are available on this site.

TRAINING

The following links go directly to existing BLM pages or other outside resources. These are provided to the field biologists as a quick link for finding available training. DO NOT upload any training information to the SPP.

BIO 101 - This course provides new BLM biologists the basic information to enable them to function effectively within a Field Office setting.  Module topics include overviews of the budget process, important wildlife laws, organizational structure, interactions with other disciplines, NEPA and planning as it relates to biologists’ roles, writing effective project proposals, habitat and species management, and managing partnerships. In-person training is available, however, enrollment is by nomination only. Please contact your State Wildlife Lead for more information.

Special Status Species Training through DOI Talent: *** Some courses may be temporarily unavailable. These links will become active again when the courses become available.****

• Endangered Species Act of 1973 – Overview –This course is provided by BLM as an online overview of the various sections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• Threatened and Endangered Species Management and Consultation – This instructor led class is provided by the BLM. The training provides an overview of laws and policies, identifies benefits of conserving T&E species and their ecosystems, identifies steps for complying with ESA section 7 and incorporating T&E considerations into land use planning, and identifies responsibilities for implementing recovery plans.
• Interagency Cooperation for Endangered Species - Participants acquire basic information on conducting interagency consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Key information needs and procedures are addressed, with a focus on the information needs related to biological assessments and biological opinions.
• Introduction to Species Status Assessment - This multi-week USFWS online course is an overview of the species status assessment (SSA) framework, which is an analytical approach developed by the Service to deliver foundational science information for all Endangered Species Act decisions. The overview will cover the basic concepts and minimum requirements of an SSA and will show participants how to diagnose the level of complexity and expertise required to complete an SSA.
• Land Use Planning for Priority Species & Vegetation (self-study) – This online course is targeted to planning team members who will be involved in developing sections in a land use plan for priority species and vegetation (wildlife and fisheries biologists, ecologists, botanists, range or plant specialists; hydrologists; planning team leads). Other resource specialists (such as minerals specialists, outdoor recreation planners) are welcome to take the class; as are cooperating agencies, consultants supporting the planning team effort, managers and decision-makers. 
• Modeling for Endangered Species Management - Participants will have the opportunity to explore the application of analytical approaches and models to the management of threatened and endangered animal populations. Emphasis will be placed on the development of modeling skills (using Excel spreadsheets), estimation of vital rates, modeling population dynamics, and the interpretation of model outcomes for managing threatened populations.
• Conservation Biology and Modeling – This online course is provided by USFWS for Federal employees engaged in natural resource conservation who wish to apply conservation biology and modeling principles to improve the management of natural resources.
• Species Distribution Modeling - This instructor led course will provide participants with the skills needed to build species distribution models (SDMs) and habitat suitability maps that have become increasingly important for conservation planning. Topics explored include processing species occurrence and environmental datasets, model building, prediction and evaluation, and development of habitat suitability maps.
• Applied Landscape Scale Conservation Biology – This USFWS online course provides participants with a foundation in the conservation biology and landscape ecology principles needed for designing sustainable landscapes. Participants will learn how to apply these principles at the landscape scale and within a Strategic Habitat Conservation framework. Within the context of landscape conservation and climate change, the course entails a variety of exercises covering species diversity, genetic drift, effective population size, demographic and environmental stochasticity, single population and meta-population viability analyses, habitat fragmentation, and connectivity. 
• Climate Adaptation Workshop - This instructor led course is provided by USFWS as hands-on training for applying climate-smart principles to real natural resource management plans and projects that are local or regional in scope. The training and coaching session is based on the guide Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Adaptation Principles into Practice. Teams, consisting of three or more people, will be coached using the climate-smart conservation framework and will develop climate-informed conservation goals and integrate adaption planning into ongoing work. 
• Migratory Bird Conservation – A Trust Responsibility – This instructor led course is provided by USFWS. The course focuses on understanding the intent and protections of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), identifies responsibilities and challenges, discusses existing initiatives and partnerships, and discusses applicability of MBTA permits.
• Basic Bird Biology – This USFWS instructor led course is an extensive survey course on bird biology and ecology designed to provide participants with the ability to integrate ecological knowledge and thinking into their daily work processes.
• Fish Population Dynamics and Assessment – instructor led and online (FWS-CSP2308 (doi.gov)) courses available. The goal of this course is to provide a set of tools useful for managing fish resources. This course will focus on techniques associated with the two fundamental activities for successful management: 1) monitoring fish populations with sufficient rigor to characterize key population attributes important to management objectives (e.g., growth, mortality, abundance, and size distribution); and 2) predicting how key population attributes might change with implementation of management actions.
• Evaluating Acoustic Bat Surveys for ESA Compliance - This instructor led course will cover the basics of how to properly evaluate acoustic data and reports from wild bat surveys. Participants will get hands-on experience interpreting acoustic bat data and critically evaluating reports received for federal and/or state regulatory review. Field exercises also will provide hands-on experience with proper calibration and set-up of acoustic detectors in the field, data collection and analysis, species identification, and reporting.
• Conservation Biology of Freshwater Mussels - This is an instructor led USFWS introductory course on the biology and ecology of freshwater mussels and the conservation issues facing this highly endangered group of animals. Participants will learn about mussel anatomy, physiology, life history, health, ecosystem services, mussels as bio monitors, conservation status, population impacts, conservation measures (relocation, propagation, and conservation genetics), legal issues (permits and the Endangered Species Act, Section 7 consultations, and critical habitat), and field techniques (survey and sampling techniques and habitat assessment).
• Pesticides and Fish and Wildlife Resources – This instructor led class is provided by USFWS and explores pesticides effects to fish and wildlife resources through the use of classroom lectures, case studies, and field exercises. The course covers topics such as the major types of pesticides that can affect fish and wildlife resources, typical routes of exposure, assessing the potential risk, and the environmental fate of pesticides in terrestrial and aquatic systems.
• Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Seed Technology and Restoration Course - This self-paced on-line course is intended to serve as an introduction to seed technology and Arid and Semi-Arid lands restoration as a first step towards more in-depth in person restoration and revegetation courses.
• Seed Collecting for Conservation and Restoration Training Class - This instructor led class informs students on how to assess a plant population for seed collection, determine seed ripeness, how to package and ship collected seed for cleaning, and how to use native seed for restoration projects.
• Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations Training Class - Learn how to monitor rare plants efficiently, effectively, and ensure the monitoring is statistically valid, write monitoring objectives, create a pilot study, analyze data, and make monitoring recommendations. 
• Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Applicator Class - Required for state and local noxious weed coordinators and BLM employees who will be handling or applying pesticides. (Resource: BLM Pesticide Applicator Study Guide)
• GIS Advanced - This is "The Big Kahuna" of all our GIS classes. It's a synthesis of modeling, ecological and geospatial data analysis, programming and automation of common GIS tasks. You are required to bring a project to class. Sixty-percent of the class is instructor led learning and computer exercises, the remaining time is dedicated to project consultations and open lab. 

Miscellaneous Training Opportunities:

• Collaborative Conservation: Partnerships in Practice – This online course is provided by the USFWS for graduates of CLM8123. The course is designed for Federal employees actively involved in community-based partnerships who want to further develop their understanding and use of social science concepts, practices, and tools to strengthen community engagement and achieve long-term human and ecological outcomes.
• Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (sponsored by the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation) - a professional development program designed for leaders within the natural resource sciences. CLfT focuses on hunting awareness and conservation education among academic programs and government agencies. \
• Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) – The objective of the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy is to provide a standardized monitoring strategy for assessing natural resource condition and trend on BLM public lands. The AIM Strategy provides quantitative data and tools to guide and justify policy actions, land uses, and adaptive management decisions. This website provides AIM information and training opportunities.

BLM Conservation Awards - find out how you can nominate your favorite scientist for an annual conservation award.