Stanford
Conservation Program

Species at Risk

Stanford land works to protect federal and state listed species as well as state species of conservation concern. The Stanford Conservation Program supports the University’s compliance with Federal and State Endangered Species Acts, local regulations, and designs on the ground conservation management activities for species at risk of local extinction. 

Stanford University, partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) developed the Stanford Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The Stanford Habitat Conservation Plan covers California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and an intergrade population of gartersnake.

A Habitat Conservation Plan is part of a process outlined by Section 10 of the federal Endangered Species Act. Congress adopted Section 10 to promote creative partnerships between public and private sectors and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the interest of species and habitat conservation. The HCP outlines what Stanford, as the landowner, will do to minimize or mitigate the impact of its activities on federally protected species. In turn, the USFWS issued a long-term incidental take permit that authorizes take associated with otherwise lawful activities. These activities are related to academic uses, general campus management and maintenance, redevelopment, future development, and even the conservation programs.

 

Stanford Habitat Conservation Plan Goals

  • Comply with the federal Endangered Species Act
  • Support Stanford's mission as a research and teaching institution
  • Coordinate multiple conservation actions
  • Provide a 50-year framework to plan for future land use and to promote all phases of conservation

Stanford Habitat Conservation Plan Strategies

  • Concentrate conservation efforts in high-priority areas
  • Establish long-term habitat protection
  • Protect and restore riparian areas
  • Enhance habitat areas
  • Implement a conservation credit system
  • Perform monitoring and adaptive management practices

Examples of Conservation Actions

  • Establish easements over large areas of the highest quality habitats and manage them for the benefit of the covered species
  • Establish no-build zones
  • Monitor species and habitat conditions
  • Construct California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog breeding ponds