Back to Questions WHATS THE HISTORY BEHIND THE AMENDMENT?
• May 1998 – the Forest Service and BLM established a team of international experts in lynx ecology to collect and summarize scientific data. This effort resulted in the publication of the Ecology and Conservation of Lynx in the United States. • Also in May1998 – another team of biologists began developing the Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy (LCAS). The strategy recommended conservation measures, and was completed in February 2000. • July 1998 – the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed listing the lynx as a threatened species. • December 1999 – the Forest Service and BLM completed a biological assessment of 57 Forest Service land management and 56 BLM land use plans. The BA determined that the plans were likely to adversely affect lynx because they lacked management direction for lynx. • February 2000 – five Regional Foresters and four FWS Regional Directors signed a conservation agreement to promote the conservation of lynx and its habitat. • April 2000 – the FWS li