Government Information

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32992.pdf

Reviews controversies related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the federal agencies involved in implementing provisions of the act, the role of science in the ESA process, and how the courts have viewed agency use of science criteria. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/gtr/gtr_wo87.pdf

Summarizes findings and management challenges about the status, trends, and projected 50 year future of forests, rangelands, wildlife and fish, biodiversity, water, outdoor recreation, wilderness and urban forests, as well as the effects of climate change upon these resources.  From the Forest Service

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL31796.pdf

This report outlines the ESA provisions most relevant to the act’s impacts on private property and surveys the major ESA-relevant principles of Fifth Amendment takings law.  The report then summarizes court decisions on whether particular government actions based on the ESA “take” private property.   From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/fhw11-nat.pdf

Latest in a series of five year reports on outdoors recreation, such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife w atching, the number of participants, and the economic impact.  Reports that nearly 38% of Americans participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million participants from the 2006 survey.    From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Census Bureau

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42855.pdf

Describes changes in managed and wild bee populations, provides a listing of possible factors negatively affecting managed and wild bees, and summarizes scientific research regarding the role of pesticides among the facts affecting the well-being of bees.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3092/pdf/fs20123092.pdf

Discusses the reasons for amphibian decline in the U.S.   From the United States Geological Survey

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-21/pdf/2012-28050.pdf

Presents an updated list of plant and animal species native to the U.S. that are considered candidates for the Endangered  and Threatened  Wildlife and Plants listing.  Summarizes the status and threats to each candidate species.  Adds two new species to the list and removes three.    From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL31654.pdf

Describes the major features and controversies of the ESA as background for consideration of possible amendments in the 113^th Congress.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by National Agricultural Law Center