Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

PURPOSEThis Agreement is entered into between the Service and the Tribe to foster cooperation on a government-to-government basis in Mexican wolf monitoring, management, and recovery to implement the current provisions, and subsequent revisions, of the Final Rule establishing an experimental, non-essential population of Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico (63 Fed. Reg. 1752, January 12, 1998), and to provide for implementation of the Tribe’s Mexican Wolf Management Program, as set forth in the White Mountain Apache Tribe Mexican Wolf Management Plan.The initial goal of the Tribe’s Mexican Wolf Management is to return the Mexican wolf to the Reservation, adding to biological diversity and returning a historical and culturally significant species to the landscape. A long-term objective is to develop educational, employment, and tourism benefits from the Mexican Wolf Program.IV. BACKGROUND As set forth in the Statement of Relationship between the Tribe and the Service, the parties have a common interest in promoting healthy ecosystems and have agreed to cooperate on a government-to-government basis. The Service’s Indian Policy and Secretarial Order No. 3206 provide that the Service will assist tribes in developing and expanding tribal conservation and management programs, assist tribes in identifying funding sources for fish and wildlife resource management, and pursue intergovernmental agreements to formalize arrangements involving sensitive species. On January 12, 1998, the Service issued the Final Rule announcing its decision to reintroduce Mexican wolves into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in eastern Arizona, and designated them as an experimental, non-essential population. The Fort Apache Indian Reservation (Reservation) lies outside, but immediately adjacent to, the western boundary of the wolf recovery area. The Tribe has the option of allowing or prohibiting wolf re-establishment on the Reservation. Mexican wolf recovery is a Federal responsibility, and the Tribe’s participation in wolf recovery activities is voluntary. In August 1998, the White Mountain Apache Tribal Council passed Resolution No. 08-98-184, which provides for the initiation of a Mexican Wolf Management Program on the Reservation. The Tribe, in cooperation with the Service, developed the White Mountain Apache Tribe Mexican Wolf Management Plan, which was approved by the Tribal Council on August 3, 2000. In September 2000, the Tribe and the Service entered into a Cooperative Agreement, FWS Agreement No. 1448-20181-00-J826, which provided for technical assistance and funding to hire and train a wolf biologist. V. SCOPE A. The Tribe and the Service shall:1. Establish and maintain a relationship for accomplishing the objectives of this Agreement.2. Collaboratively develop and distribute public information and educational material on the Mexican wolf and the reestablishment program.3. Collaboratively develop media releases and projects to inform the public of significant recovery activities and the relationship between the Tribe and the Service.B. The Service will:1. Provide technical assistance, equipment, and training for Tribal personnel in Mexican wolf monitoring and management, methodologies, and protocols used by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT), and assessment of reported wolf depredations and to assist the Tribe, upon request, in all other aspects of wolf management as appropriate to carry out the Yearly Work Plans.2. Provide funding to the Tribe to coordinate and implement the above-stated activities on Tribal lands. The Service shall work cooperatively with the Tribe to identify additional sources of funding, technical assistance, and equipment for Mexican wolf management and monitoring activities.3. Provide coordination, communication, and positive working relationships with the Tribe to implement this project to the satisfaction of both parties.4. Request prior permission from the Tribe for access to the Reservation by Service and IFT personnel to carry out the activities set forth in this Agreement. Such personnel shall be accompanied by a designated Tribal representative, unless prior approval from the Tribe is obtained.5. Designate wolves that become established on the Reservation as part of the experimental, non-essential population.C. The Tribe shall:1. Have lead responsibility for management of Mexican wolves that enter the Reservation and for all other wolf recovery activities on the Reservation, and shall coordinate such activities with the Mexican Wolf Recovery Leader (Coordinator), the IFT, and other entities as set forth in the WMAT Mexican Wolf Management Plan.2. Using funds provided by the Service, implement the WMAT Mexican Wolf Management Plan. a. Carry out wolf management activities as set forth in Yearly Work Plans. b. Provide a technical representative to serve on the Mexican Wolf Adaptive Management Oversight Committee. c. Train designated Tribal personnel and monitor and document movements, locations, and activities of Mexican wolves that enter or inhabit the Reservation in a manner consistent with methodologies and protocols used under the Mexican Wolf Management Plan or IFT standard operating procedures. d. Designate Tribal personnel to work with the Wolf Management Specialist pursuant to the Cooperative Agreement Between the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Cooperator) and United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Wildlife Services (WS) regarding assessment of wolf depredations.3. Expend funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and budget, and provide for full accounting of funds.C. Project performance will be measured by monthly Interagency Field Team meetings, quarterly Adaptive Management Oversight Committee meetings, and annual reports to the Service summarizing project accomplishments.VI. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The overall period of performance of this agreement is a period of 5 years beginning on 08/01/2008 and ending on 09/30/2013.

Who can apply

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Contact

Maggie Dwire <br/>Asst Mexican Wolf Program Coordinator <br/>505-761-4738
maggie_dwire@fws.gov