Cumberland Habitat
Conservation Plan

BACKGROUND

What is an HCP?

Why an HCP for the Cumberland Plateau?

Who is involved in the HCP effort?

How are HCPs being developed?

What HCPs are being developed?

Where will the HCPs be located?

What are the species of concern in the Cumberlands?

What are the benefits of an HCP for private interests and landowners?

What are the benefits to communities and conservationists?

How is the Cumberlands HCP Project being funded?

What are the benefits to private interests and landowners?

Some of the reasons given by other landowners and private interests who have chosen to participate in the development of HCPs include:

1. The HCP process ensures that landowners and/or other private interests are able to proceed with agreed upon resource uses, as long as conservation measures to mitigate and minimize resource use impacts on endangered species, and/or their habitats, are simultaneously undertaken.

2. The applicant is provided regulatory assurances that if “unforeseen circumstances” arise, there will be no requirement to commit additional land, water, or financial compensation beyond the original HCP agreement. Such long term planning assurances can be vital to financial and development interests that have or may be investing significant financial resources in a project.

3. Private landowners and other private interests have more control over finding positive solutions to endangered species protection issues, and in some cases environmental permitting is streamlined.