§ 1580 Ecological Reserve Establishment

This law lets the state set aside special natural areas called ecological reserves to protect endangered plants, animals, and habitats for the future.

Key Takeaways

•The state’s goal is to protect threatened plants, wildlife, and habitats by creating ecological reserves.
•The department can get land (or water rights) in many ways—buy, lease, gift, easement, etc.—to set up a reserve.
•The commission decides which properties become reserves and writes rules for how they’re cared for.
•Ecological reserves are not counted as wildlife management areas and are exempt from those rules.

Example

The state buys a piece of wetland that is home to a rare frog species.

Because of this law, the department can purchase the land, declare it an ecological reserve, and manage it so the frog’s home stays safe and isn’t developed.

The Legislature hereby declares that the policy of the state is to protect threatened or endangered native plants, wildlife, or aquatic organisms or specialized habitat types, both terrestrial and nonmarine aquatic, or large heterogeneous natural gene pools for the future use of mankind through the establishment of ecological reserves. For the purpose of establishing those ecological reserves, the department, with the approval of the commission, may obtain, accept on behalf of the state, acquire, or control, by purchase, lease, easement, gift, rental, memorandum of understanding, or otherwise, and occupy, develop, maintain, use, and administer land, or land and nonmarine water, or land and nonmarine water rights, suitable for the purpose of establishing ecological reserves. Any property obtained, accepted, acquired, or controlled by the department pursuant to this article may be designated by the commission as an ecological reserve. The commission may adopt regulations for the occupation, utilization, operation, protection, enhancement, maintenance, and administration of ecological reserves. The ecological reserves shall not be classified as wildlife management areas pursuant to Section 1504 and shall be exempt from Section 1504. (Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 385, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001.)

This law lets the state set aside special natural areas called ecological reserves to protect endangered plants, animals, and habitats for the future.

Key Takeaways

•The state’s goal is to protect threatened plants, wildlife, and habitats by creating ecological reserves.
•The department can get land (or water rights) in many ways—buy, lease, gift, easement, etc.—to set up a reserve.
•The commission decides which properties become reserves and writes rules for how they’re cared for.
•Ecological reserves are not counted as wildlife management areas and are exempt from those rules.

Example

The state buys a piece of wetland that is home to a rare frog species.

Because of this law, the department can purchase the land, declare it an ecological reserve, and manage it so the frog’s home stays safe and isn’t developed.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

§ 1580 Ecological Reserve Establishment

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References