Covered Species
Identification of a list of species that will be “covered” by the Plan (i.e., covered by the permits and conserved and managed through the implementation of the Plan) is one of the most important early steps in HCP development. This is commonly referred to as the covered species list. The the HCP will evaluate the impacts of covered activities (i.e., those activities for which take authorization is requested) on covered species and estimate the level of take expected from these covered activities. The HCP will also describe a conservation strategy to mitigate these impacts and conserve and manage these species and the habitats upon which they depend for survival. Note that the list of covered species may continue to evolve as the process of describing activities and quantifying impacts moves forward as part of HCP development.
Photos courtesy of ICF International & Kerwin Russell/Riverside-Corona Resource District