Developing a Biological Assessment Online

Target Audience:

The target audience for the course is Federal action agency employees and their representatives, including state natural resource agencies, who provide Section 7 Section 7
Section 7 Consultation The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.

Learn more about Section 7 biological assessments to the Services (Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries).

Summary and Objectives:

The Biological Assessment (BA) distance learning (DL) course provides participants with an overview of the process and content required for developing a robust BA document under Section 7 (Interagency Cooperation) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Class participants work independently and in groups during live breakout sessions to learn and apply basic biological analysis concepts. Weekly interactive sessions (as well as threaded email discussions) keep live discussions going; group activities are coached in "real time" in breakout sessions by subject matter experts (SMEs), providing flexibility in learning and collaboration. The course requires virtual attendance at each of five Wednesday afternoon webinars (3-4 hr long), completion of pre-meeting reading and other "homework" assignments (1-2 hr each week before Wednesday's web).

Competency Addressed: 

Compliance - Basic, Ecology - Basic, Writing - Basic, Wildlife Biology - Basic, Technical Competence - Basic