Sustainable Ecosystems Institute

Northern Spotted Owl Science review

Agenda

Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) is assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in the science review of the Northern Spotted Owl Draft Recovery Plan. Over the course of several months we will be examining reviewer's comments, under the guidance of an independent panel of experts. Our final goal is a comprehensive and impartial evaluation of the scientific information used to develop the Recovery Plan. Our task is scientific - all decision-making regarding management of the species will remain the responsibility of USFWS. This review will be an open and transparent process and a complete record will be compiled.

As part of the panel process, SEI hosted a meeting in January examining threats, Barred Owl impacts, Habitat Fitness Potential models, owl response to fire, and viability. SEI is hosting a second public meeting, where the panel will listen to scientific presentations on relevant topics raised by reviewers including fire regimes and adaptive management. The panel will ask questions of presenters, and there will be discussion on the best interpretation of results. This meeting is scheduled for February 11th 2008 and you are invited to attend. We emphasize that this will be a science meeting and that we will not be discussing issues of policy. We will be posting information about the meeting at www.sei.org

The February 11 meeting will begin at 8:00 am in the Chinook Conference Room of the One Bellevue Center office building in Bellevue, Washington (411 108th Avenue NE). Directions are available at: www.parametrix.com/contact/pdf/Bellevue.pdf.

To assist us in planning, it is important to get an approximate number of people attending the meeting; please indicate whether you are likely to attend by e-mailing us at Katie.seiorg@gmail.com. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please let us know.

If you have any questions please contact Katie Fehring, or Lisa Sztukowski at 503-246-5008.

Agenda Outline Draft

Monday February 11, 8:00-6:00
Session 1: Fire Regimes
Session 2: Adaptive Management
Session 3: Modeling Tools