GOAL:
Preserve threatened and endangered plant and animal species by preventing "threatened" from becoming "endangered", "endangered" from becoming "extinct".

OBJECTIVE:
Establish a comprehensive threatened and endangered species program.

STATUS & TRENDS:
Destruction and degradation of habitats are causing the populations of certain plant and animal species to drop below a number suitable for maintenance. The greatest cause of habitat destruction is rapid land development, which has brought about a conti nuing decline in many species, including those which are already threatened or endangered. The actual impact on species has been difficult to assess. Selective efforts have concentrated on federally listed species of mammals, birds, and fish. To date, little inventory and monitoring work has been done on plants, reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrates. Public Act 89-224 established a program for the protection of endangered and threatened species. A list of threatened and special concern species h as been developed and these have been placed in proposed regulatory form. Recently, work has begun to address the method and process to be used to identify "essential habitat". Some inventory work has been accomplished for federally listed species by th e U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and by the National Park Service along the Appalachian Trail. In addition, The Nature Conservancy is completing a basic survey of the Connecticut River. Their results will be available for incorporation into the Natural Di versity Data Base.

STRATEGIES:

1. Expand a multi-level, interdisciplinary threatened and endangered species program which includes inventory, identification, research, regulations, and education with public and private sector organizations.
2. Protect significant habitats necessary to the healthy survival of threatened and endangered plant and animal species.
3. Adopt regulations concerning State agencies impacts on essential habitats on state owned land.
4. Prioritize management plans to maintain or increase populations of State listed species.
5. Continue cooperative efforts with federal, interstate and private organizations for federally listed species and/or species of special concern.