Endangered Species Recovery Committee
The Endangered Species Recovery Committee (ESRC) consists of seven members, two of whom are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The remaining members are the Chairperson of the State Board of Land and Natural Resources, the ecoregion Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Director of the United States Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division, the Dean of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa—College of Natural Sciences, and a person possessing a background in Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. The purpose of the ESRC is to serve as a consultant to the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Department on matters relating to endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate species.
The composition and duties of the committee are described in Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 195D-25. The current membership includes the individuals below.
Current Nongovernmental At-large Members and Term Length Pursuant to HRS §195D-25
- Dr. Lindsay Young—first term (2024-2028)
- Lisa Spain—first term (2017-2021) & second term (2021-2025)
-
Dr. Kawika Winter—first term (2018-2022) & second term (2023-2026)
Members Designated Pursuant to HRS §195D-25
- David Smith—Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Designee for Dawn Chang—Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources
- Michelle Bogardus—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Designee for Earl Campbell—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office
- Karen Courtot—U.S. Geological Survey
- Primary Designee for U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division
- Dr. Melissa Price—University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Management
- Designee for the Dr. Phillip Williams—Acting Dean of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Natural Sciences