Endangered and Threatened Species: Designation of Critical Habitat for 22 Species in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam

The commenter, an ecologist and Associate Professor at Virginia Tech who also serves as a board member for a conservation nonprofit, supports the goal of designating critical habitat for Mariana Islands species. However, they urge the Service to extend the public comment period, conduct more in-person outreach, and refine the scientific accuracy of the proposed boundaries to ensure the rule doesn't inadvertently hinder conservation efforts.

Dr. Else Demeulenaere, an Associate Director at the University of Guam's Center for Island Sustainability, supports the proposed critical habitat designation but requests more public outreach, a comment period extension, and clarification on how the designation complements existing conservation plans and management on private and military lands. She also recommends evaluating additional coastal limestone forest habitats for inclusion in the final rule.

The commenter supports the proposed critical habitat designation for 22 species in Guam and the CNMI, citing the importance of biodiversity and outdoor recreation. They advocate for ensuring habitat connectivity to combat fragmentation and suggest maintaining strong oversight of Department of Defense land management plans to ensure effective conservation.