The Effects of De-Listing the Grizzly Bear from the Endangered Species Act on Timber Management in the Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract

When the grizzly bear is delisted from the Yellowstone Ecosystem, strict federal standards regulating timber management on the surrounding National Forests will elapse, and new standards written to protect grizzly bear habitat will take their place. Controversy surrounds this change in management, with some believing this will result in an increase in logging. This paper address how will the delisting may effect timber management on National Forest surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Comparing the documents that guided the management of grizzly bear populations and habitat as a listed species, and the documents guiding management post-delisting, has shown there were many standards and guidelines controlling the size, shape, location, and timing of timber sales in occupied grizzly bear habitat. When the bear is delisted, there will only be one standard controlling the size, shape, location, and timing of timber sales. This one standard will allow greater flexibility in how timber sales are designed, which may result in slight increases in the size of timber sales in occupied grizzly bear habitat.