HCP Facts

What are HCPs?

What are Habitat Conservation Plans? Also known as HCPs, Habitat Conservation Plans are planning documents designed by Congress to reduce conflicts between listed species and economic development. The framework of these cooperative conservation plans encourages creative partnerships between public and private entities and has proven to successfully integrate land-use activities with the conservation of listed species and other natural resources.

What is in the HCP? These plans include an assessment of impacts that would result from the proposed activity on federally listed or unlisted species; measures that must be undertaken to mitigate, monitor, and minimize impact on wildlife; the identification of funding sources to implement the plan; procedures to handle unforeseen circumstances; and alternative actions that were identified and a listed explanation of why those alternatives were not adopted.

Why are these plans so important? Habitat conservation plans successfully address the growing tensions between private landowners and the protection of listed species. HCPs provide an assurance to landowners that their activities are lawful and consistent with the Endangered Species Act. Exemplifying cooperative conservation, HCPs have proven to be the best way to protect listed species while meeting society's need for agricultural production, power generation, water supply, and additional housing.

How many HCPs have been developed? According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, nearly 480 permits have been granted to landowners completing habitat conservation plans. As a result, 590 endangered and listed species have been protected on almost 39 million acres of land.