Revision to the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sensitive Animal and Plant Lists

In Reply Refer To:
6840 (9300) P
EMS TRANSMISSION -  10/11/2018
Information Bulletin No. NM-2019-002

To: NM/OK/TX/KS Officials
Attention: State Office Program Leads, Field Office Managers and Resource Coordinators

From: State Director

Subject: Revision to the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sensitive Animal and Plant Lists

Program Area: Special Status Species (SSS) Management

This Information Bulletin (IB) updates the BLM Sensitive Species list as well as changes in species occurrences, nomenclature and conservation status.

In accordance with national policy (BLM Manual 6840), the New Mexico BLM Sensitive Species List has been updated to assist in addressing conservation management needs and to help establish priorities. The list will be updated annually, as needed, and shared on the NM Biological Resources Programs sharepoint site.

The animal list includes several taxonomic groups, including Amphibians, Arthropods, Birds, Crustaceans, Fish, Mammals, Mollusks, and Reptiles. Lists include BLM Sensitive Species as well as watch species. Watch species have no management impact whereas BLM Sensitive species should be conserved to avoid potential future listing under the ESA in all management actions.

This IB transmits New Mexico’s BLM Sensitive Animal and Plant Species list update.  The Bureau’s national SSS policy (6840.04 section D.4) provides that State Directors are responsible 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 Marikay Ramsey, T&E Species Program Lead at (505) 954-2177, via email at marikayr@blm.gov or Zoe Davidson, State Botanist, at (505) 954-2045, via email at zdavidson@blm.gov.