What are incidental take permits and habitat conservation plans?
When a non-Federal land manager plans an activity that may inadvertently “take” (harass, harm or kill) a federally threatened or endangered species, that land manager must apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an incidental take permit. The incidental take permit application must be accompanied by a habitat conservation plan (HCP) that outlines a conservation program for avoiding, minimizing, mitigating and monitoring the take. An incidental take permit allows take at levels that do not threaten the long-term survival and recovery of the species. Intentional take (e.g., collection, hunting, intentional habitat destruction) is never allowed.
