Comparing perspectives of participants and outside commentators on habitat conservation plans

The Endangered Species Act is interpreted on private lands through Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). A recent professional review of the HCP program identified challenges with HCP data accuracy, regulatory assurances, participation, and scientific review in the planning stage. These challenges are reviewed in the context of comments from 121 participants in 31 plans. Participants diverge from outside evaluators in believing that the data was sufficient to support decisions, and the primary problems were political, logistical, and social in nature. The long development lead time was cited as a concern.