Providing a Safe Harbor for Endangered Species On Private Land

Posted: 01-Sep-2002; Updated: 21-Aug-2009

The Safe Harbor concept was developed by Environmental Defense and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to encourage private landowners to restore and maintain habitat for endangered species without fear of incurring additional regulatory restrictions. From the signing of the first Safe Harbor agreement in North Carolina in 1995 up to April 2003, nearly three million acres of land have been enrolled in several Safe Harbor agreements, and many more are being drafted or await final approval. Existing agreements are located in states across the country and benefit a variety of imperiled animals. The diverse group of landowners participating in Safe Harbor plans includes private forest owners, ranchers, residential property owners, corporate landowners, golf courses, and a monastery. To read about specific Safe Harbor plans or view the full text of safe harbor agreements, click on one of the links below.

Safe Harbor agreements by state.

Safe Harbor agreements by date.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the official federal Safe Harbor policy for federal agreements in June 1999 and isssued revised regulations for the policy in May 2004 to resolve minor discrepancies between the policy and initial regulations. Two states, Kansas and Hawaii, have also adopted Safe Harbor policies.

Safe Harbor programs are working. Endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers have begun to breed on restored habitat in North Carolina, and 13 of the 19 pairs of endangered northern aplomado falcons in the United States are on Safe Harbor properties in Texas.

A variety of commentary and opinion on Safe Harbor is available on this site. The links immediately below provide more general information about Safe Harbor.

• What Is Safe Harbor? A brief explanation, with examples, of how Safe Harbor works.
• Safe Harbor: Helping Landowners Help Endangered Species. This 16-page color-illustrated handbook for landowners explains how safe harbor plans are developed, describes current plans, and informs landowners how to enroll in Safe Harbor agreements.
• Safe Harbor Agreements for Private Property Owners: Questions and Answers. This two-page U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet answers basic questions about who can participate in Safe Harbor agreements and how they work.