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The Service works with private landowners and other non-federal entities to develop Habitat Conservation Plans that authorize incidental take of listed species. This historic agreement highlights cooperative efforts between Service and private sector to conserve and protect endangered species while not sacrificing landowners' rights to develop their property.
The Service's Boquerón Field Office worked closely with landowner in design of minimization and mitigation measures.
"Development and environmental protection are often considered to be mutually exclusive," said James Oland, Service's Boquerón Field Office supervisor. "This project, however, demonstrates that two can co-exist when efforts are made to address potential conflicts before they become a problem."
The Culebra Northshore, S.E. proposed 17 conservation measures to minimize and mitigate impacts from proposed project to sea turtles and their nesting habitat. These measures include:
* A conservation easemGet Your Dive Gear Here Onlineent on 2.2 hectares to protect natural forest and provide a buffer against upland erosion onto beach. * Prohibitions on construction activities (e.g., beach armoring, beach nourishment), mechanical beach clearing, and vehicle traffic or animals on beach, as well as removal or trimming of beach vegetation. * Directing pedestrian traffic to beach on to only one boardwalk across shoreline and sand dune area. * Erection of a low fence at end of the
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By Kriss Hammond - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
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