Update to the Idaho Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Special Status Animal and Plant Lists

This Instruction Bulletin (IB) incorporates additions of 24 Special Status Plant Species as well as changes in plant species occurrences, nomenclature and conservation status.  The Animal species list issued under the combined Animal and Plant List IB ID-2016-003 remains unchanged.  

In accordance with national policy (BLM Manual 6840), the Idaho BLM Special Status Species (SSS) List has been updated to assist in addressing conservation management needs and help establish priorities. 

Policy/Action:  This Instruction IB transmits Idaho’s Special Status Animal and Plant Species list update.  The Bureau’s national SSS policy (6840.04 sections D.4 and D.6,), provide that State Directors are responsible for, “…ensuring that all actions comply with the Endangered Species Act…including compliance with Section 7 consultations and conferences with the USFWS and National Marine Fisheries Service” and for “designating Bureau sensitive species within their respective jurisdictions, and at least once every five years, reviewing and updating the Bureau sensitive species list…”.  On BLM-administered lands, all offices are to “…manage Bureau sensitive species and their habitats to minimize or eliminate threats affecting the status of the species or to improve the condition of the species habitat” (6840.2.C).  The BLM Manual 6840 further describes Bureau sensitive species as species that require special management consideration to avoid potential future listing under the Endangered Species Act.

If you have questions, please contact Anne Halford, Botanist at (208) 373-3940 ahalford@blm.gov, Paul Makela, Wildlife Biologist at (208) 373-3809 pmakela@blm.gov, or Scott Hoefer, Fisheries Biologist at (208) 373-3819.