[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28723-28724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14217]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2008-NOXXX; 40120-1113-0000-C2]


Notice of Availability of the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability 
of the revised recovery plan for the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona 
vittata). The revised recovery plan includes specific recovery 
objectives and criteria to be met in order to reclassify this species 
to threatened status and delist it under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act).

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery 
Plan by contacting the R[iacute]o Grande Field Station, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1600, R[iacute]o Grande, Puerto Rico 00745 
(telephone (787) 887-8769 Ext. 224) or by visiting our Web site at 
http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marisel L[oacute]pez at the above 
address (Telephone 787/887-8769, ext. 224).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Once abundant and widespread on the Puerto Rican archipelago, the 
Puerto Rican parrot is considered one of the ten most endangered birds 
in the world. Largely green with a red forehead and blue flight 
feathers, the parrot is one of nine Amazona parrots occurring in the 
West Indies. The species is one of the smallest in its genus. 
Presently, a minimum of 25-28 individuals survive in the wild in the El 
Yunque National Forest (YNF) in eastern Puerto Rico and 22-28 in the 
R[iacute]o Abajo Forest (RAF) in north central Puerto Rico. Two captive 
population facilities hold more than 228 individuals: the Iguaca Aviary 
and the Jos[eacute] L. Vivaldi Aviary in eastern and west-central 
Puerto Rico, respectively.
    The Puerto Rican parrot is a fruit-eating cavity nester seldom seen 
far from forests. Due to its nesting requirements, it depends on mature 
forests with large cavity-forming trees. The decline of the parrot and 
its restricted distribution are due to many factors, but mostly due to 
widespread habitat loss (e.g., deforestation.)
    At present, in addition to low numbers and a limited distribution, 
major threats to this species are nest competition and predation of 
eggs and chicks, predation of fledglings and adults, parasitism, and 
the impact of hurricanes. Many of the threats are being controlled 
through management strategies.
    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the endangered species program. To help guide the 
recovery effort, we are preparing recovery plans for most listed 
species. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or 
delisting, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery 
measures.
    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1533 et seq.) requires the development of 
recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote 
the conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act 
requires us to provide a public notice and an opportunity for public 
review and comment during recovery plan development. We made the draft

[[Page 28724]]

revision of the Puerto Rican Parrot recovery plan available for public 
comment from June 17, 2008 through August 18, 2008 (73 FR 34313). We 
considered information we received during the public comment period and 
information from peer reviewers in our preparation of this final 
revised recovery plan. We will forward substantive comments to other 
Federal agencies so each agency can consider these comments in 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    The objective of this revised plan is to provide a framework for 
the recovery of the Puerto Rican parrot, so that protection under the 
Act is no longer necessary. The plan presents criteria for 
reclassifying and delisting the parrot. As these criteria are met, the 
status of the species will be reviewed and it will be considered for 
reclassification or removal from the Federal List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

    Authority:  The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533 (f).

    Dated: April 14, 2009.
Jacquelyn B. Parrish,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-14217 Filed 6-16-09; 8:45 am]
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