The Yellowstone to Uintas Connection has released a new report on agency management for Canada lynx. The report provides a detailed analysis and critique of agency management and its current Recovery Plan and Critical Habitat Designation.
John Carter notes that “This report illustrates agency deflection around most of the factors that adversely affect Canada lynx, its habitat and prey base. It shows that the science has been largely ignored or misapplied in developing recovery plans and critical habitat designations, resulting in vast areas of lynx habitat being omitted from protections.”
The report focuses on the Greater Yellowstone Area and its connections to the Northern and Southern Rockies.
“I used the Forest Service models that are the basis for revised critical habitat designation that reduced critical habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Area by 88% by ignoring historical lynx occupancy and claiming that little habitat exists. Yet the models show some of the best habitat in the Northern and Southern Rockies occurs in the GYA.”
The report also addresses the degradation of lynx habitat by logging, motorized recreation, mining, livestock grazing, and other uses while applying the agency and other models to illustrate corridors and core areas that need protection and restoration if lynx populations are to be sustained.
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