Endangered species habitat and urban development.

The Endangered Species Act of 1976 (ESA) regulates the development of land containing endangered species habitat. Under the ESA, such land can be developed only after a permit is secured. Regional habitat conservation plans (RHCPs) provide an alternative to individual project compliance under the ESA. Obtained by local governments, RHCPs place habitat management under local control and typically result in lower compliance costs than individual projects. An example of such a plan, the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP), in Austin, Texas, is presented here. (Reprinted by permission