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Endangered Species Coalition 2016 Top 10 Report Nominating Form Deadline: September 12, 2017 General Information Nominating Organizations: Please use this Column to Provide the Requested Information 1 Organization & Web address Environmental Protection Information Center—(EPIC) www.wildcalifornia.org 2 Contact name Rob DiPerna 3 Address 145 G Street, Suite A Arcata, CA 95521 4 Email & phone [email protected]; 707-822-7711 5 Communications staff contact name (if Amber Shelton different from above) 6 Email & phone [email protected] 707-822-7711 Species Information 7 Common name, genus, and species Humboldt marten, (Martes caurina) 8 Geographic range Northern coastal California and southern coastal Oregon 9 Conservation status Not listed, listing petitions pending 10 Remaining population size In California, less than 100 individuals are thought to exist; no solid estimates for OR population Report Questions 11 Can you provide high-resolution photos? Yes 12 If your species is selected, will you use the Yes report to advocate for the species? 13 5 free reports provided; additional copies = 10 Copies ~$2.60/each. If you’d like additional copies, how many (bulk orders may be cheaper)? Public Engagement Questions (Please explain why the species is interesting, why it matters, why decision-makers + the public should care.) 14 Provide background information, including Humboldt marten is an incredibly cute cat-sized mesocarnivore in the weasel family; interesting facts, for the species profile. the Humboldt marten is stealthy and allusiveellusive, relying heavily on thick underbrush, and dense old-growth forests with large, down logs and large basal hollows for denning, and resting and feeding. 15 What is your organization’s most important The Humboldt marten was once-thought extinct until recently rediscovered; we have lead message for the public about this a second chance to save the marten from extinction and to restore the forests on species’ decline to be included in the report? which the marten depends. 16 Is your NGO saving the species? If yes, how? Yes. We are part of two listing petitions for the marten, State and federal, and we monitor and comment on private logging projects where marten habitat still exists Please cite any substantiating scientific studies and where connectivity corridors for marten dispersal exist. 17 How can individuals help? Please be specific. Write letters to the California Fish and Game Commission to support EPIC’s petition to list the marten under the California Endangered Species Act. 18 What action should the new administration The new administration should follow its court-ordered directive and revisit its 12- take to save the species? How can they Month “Not Warranted” Finding on our Federal ESA listing petition for the marten; accomplish this action? the courts agreed with us that the Fish and Wildlife Service erred in reaching its “Not Warranted,” Finding, and the Service needs to produce a “Warranted” Finding by the stipulated deadline in 2019. Criteria-specific Questions Part 1 – Please answer N/A or “see above/below” if appropriate. 19 Detail the ecological importance of the Humboldt martens play a key role in balancing fragile and fragmented old-growth species. Does it play a critical function in its forest ecosystems by predating on other small mammals, and by eating local plants ecosystem? How does the ecosystem and berries and helping to disperse seed sources in the forest. depend on this species (e.g., keystone predator, keystone pollinator, ecological engineer, refugia provider, etc.)? 20 Detail information on any social or economic The Humboldt marten affords a critical opportunity to do landscape-level planning benefits the species provides—e.g., clean and restoration in forest and wildland areas upon which it depends; marten habitat water, recreation, medicine, etc. (Optional) has been reduced by 95 percent from pre-European contact estimates, and this decline correlates to the amount of old-growth redwood forest lost to logging in our region; scientists suggest using the marten as a focal species for landscape level forest restoration to provide critical connectivity between habitats and populations for the marten, both of which are fragmented and isolated. 21 Can the species be an ambassador for its Yes. Again, connecting the decline of the mMarten with the decline of our old-growth habitat or taxonomic group? If yes, detail. forest habitats and the need to reconnect and restore both through landscape-level planning and restoration is an enormous opportunity, especially in an era of climate change. Judge’s Score for Importance of Species: 22 Describe the specific threat(s) to the species. Threats include past and ongoing habitat loss and degradation, predation, vehicular What are the greatest impacts? collisions, climate change, catastrophic events such as large wildfire, and very small, very isolated remnant populations. 23 If not described above, detail the current Humboldt martens were once thought extinct until accidentally rediscovered; and projected decline of the species. estimates indicate a 95 percent decline from pre-European contact estimates, with only three-known, very small, isolated populations segments remaining, two in Please cite any substantiating scientific studies northern California, one in southern Oregon. 24 If not described above, detail the status of 95 percent of the marten’s original habitat has been lost to human activities, and the species’ habitat(s). What are the threats, what habitat does remain is small, fragmented, isolated, and much is still at-risk from if any? Is there adequate connectivity? private timber harvest and other activities. Connectivity between habitats is severely compromised, and private timber ownership resides between two remnant populations in a critical area for connectivity and conservation. 25 Describe the timing of the species’ threat(s). The threats to the marten are imminent. The combination of small, very isolated Is it a current, eminent, or future threat? populations, and the ever-present threat that a single catastrophic event such as a large wildfire, could compromise the future of the species, makes the marten particularly vulnerable. Judge’s Score for Severity and Extent of Threat:

KEY QUESTIONS FOR NOMINATION: Criteria-specific Questions Part 2 – Please answer N/A or “see above/below” if appropriate. 26 What does the science on this species The science indicates that the Fish and Wildlife Service erred in making a “Not indicate was the correct ESA decision? Warranted” Finding on our federal petition, and federal courts agreed, granting our motion for summary judgement, and remanding the decision back. 27 How was the science not followed? What The Service erred by on the one hand acknowledging that populations were small and was the ultimate decision that was made (or isolated, but on the other finding that small isolated populations were not a threat to not made)? the survival and recovery of the species. 28 Why was the science not followed? Indicate Powerful timber lobby and interests in Southern Oregon and Northern California have if there is an associated political threat from applied political pressure to try and thwart marten listing and meaningful industry groups, members of Congress, conservation. and/or states. 29 What is the impact of the political meddling In this case, federal courts agreed with us that the Service erred in making a “Not in the decision on the species? What has Warranted” finding and that it did not follow the science to its logical conclusion in occurred as a result of not following finding that small, isolated populations were not a significant threat to the survival of scientific recommendations on the the marten. management of the species? Judge’s Score for Severity of Political Interference: Judge’s Final Score

Please submit to [email protected] by September 12, 2017, and thank you for participating in the 2016 Top 10 Report. Please cite any substantiating scientific studies Please cite any substantiating scientific studies