Habitat conservation planning in Texas: implications of Senate Bill 1272

Abstract

In recent decades, the United States has experienced rapid growth and development that has threatened biodiversity and species habitat. In response to this and other environmental concerns of the 1970s, the United States congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973. This legislation has played a significant role in protecting species and their habitats. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of habitat conservation planning as it stems from the Endangered Species Act. Habitat conservation planning was introduced by Congress in 1982 as a mechanism to alleviate conflicts between species protection and development pressures. This paper will analyze the impact of Texas State Senate Bill 1272 on habitat conservation planning in Texas. This legislation was passed by the State Legislature in May 1999 in response to concerns expressed by private landowners regarding the habitat conservation planning process. It is intended to discourage the creation of regional habitat conservation plans by establishing new guidelines for those initiating regional habitat conservation plans. This paper presents three sections providing an overview of the Endangered Species Act, habitat conservation plans, and the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan in Travis County, Texas. This conservation plan is the flagship of urban, regional habitat conservation plans. Texas Senate Bill 1272 will be analyzed as it addresses the problems associated with habitat conservation planning in Texas.