As environmental awareness grows around the world, people are learning that a diversity of species and the habitat to support them is necessary to maintain the ecological health of the earth. At the same time, however, the pressure to develop wildlife habitat for human settlement and economic gain also grows, causing frequent clashes between the forces of development and of conservation.

This pioneering study focuses on a new tool for resolving the land-use conflict—the creation of habitat conservation plans (HCPs). Timothy Beatley explores the development and early results of this provision of the United States' federal Endangered Species Act, which allows development of some habitat and a certain "take" of a protected species in return for the conservation of sufficient habitat to ensure its survival and long-term recovery.

Beatley looks specifically at nine HCPs in California, Nevada, Texas, and Florida, states where biological diversity and increasing populations have triggered many conflicts. Some of the HCPs include the San Bruno Mountain HCP near San Francisco, the North Key Largo HCP in the Florida Keys, the Clark County HCP near Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Balcones Canyonlands HCP near Austin, Texas. This first comprehensive overview of habitat conservation planning in the United States will be important reading for everyone involved in land-use debates.

• Preface
• Chapter 1. Land Development and Endangered Species: Emerging Conflicts
• Chapter 2. The Federal Endangered Species Act: Key Provisions and Implications for Land Development
• Chapter 3. Overview of Past and Ongoing Habitat Conservation Plans and Processes
• Chapter 4. The Politics of Habitat Conservation Planning: Key Actors and Perspectives
• Chapter 5. Habitat Conservation Plans to Protect Butterflies and Other Invertebrate Species: San Bruno Mountain and Beyond
• Chapter 6. Conserving Habitat for a Threatened Desert Lizard: The Coachella Valley Habitat Conservation Plan
• Chapter 7. Habitat Conservation in the Florida Keys: The North Key Largo Habitat Conservation Plan
• Chapter 8. Protecting Migratory Songbirds: The Least Bell's Vireo Habitat Conservation Plan
• Chapter 9. Endangered Rats and Endangered Homeowners: The Affordable Housing/Species Clash in Riverside County
• Chapter 10. Preserving the Desert Tortoise: The Clark County Habitat Conservation Plan
• Chapter 11. Preserving the Kit Fox and Other Flora and Fauna of the San Joaquin Valley: The Bakersfield and Kern County Habitat Conservation Plans
• Chapter 12. The Promise of Regional, Multi-species Approaches: The Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan
• Chapter 13. Evaluating the Success of Habitat Conservation Efforts: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future
• Notes
• Index