The silverspot butterfly recovery efforts are succeeding because they recognized and filled an existing need. According to Cathy Macdonald of the Nature Conservancy, the Forest Service stepped in and "filled a gap left by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," whose time and efforts were being dominated by the contentious spotted owl issue. It provides a good example of the agency understanding and making use of biological knowledge and external opportunity. Because the Forest Service recognized the value of sharing information, expertise and labor, and embraced this collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the silverspot recovery efforts have expanded.
Forest Service staff on the Siuslaw National Forest explained that the serious long-term commitment to the silverspot made in 1980 has contributed significantly to the success of the management effort. USFS Forest Coordinator for the Silverspot Butterfly Michael Clady said that they "were serious about doing it and stuck to it" regardless of what other agencies and individuals were doing. "We were leading, not being dragged along - it was very proactive," he noted. Because of this sincere commitment and the agency's "lead by example" attitude, other groups were more comfortable signing on and offering valuable time and resources to the effort. It is generally believed that if the Forest Service had not initiated its efforts early and remained committed to protection and management, the silverspot population at Rock Creek would likely have been lost.
Oregon State University entomologist Paul Hammond, who has been involved in the silverspot research since the beginning, explained that the "above-and-beyond" efforts of individuals in the Forest Service have enabled continued progress over the years. Since 1980, he has worked with eight to ten different Forest Service biologists and has found them to be enthusiastic. "Nothing would have happened without their personal effort and commitment," Hammond said.
Around the time of the final review of the 2001 Recovery Plan, the Forest Service sent a letter to the Regional Director of the USFWS challenging the agency to step up to the plate and get serious about the silverspot. Michael Clady said that, "Since then, the FWS has taken a much more active role in leading things. That's really changed and has been very positive. The Forest Service had settled into a routine and the USFWS is challenging them to try some things differently."
Innovative funding also has helped promote progress. Paul Hammond described that "originally the Forest Service did much of their own management, but in the face of cutbacks they have had to contract out the mowing management." This arrangement seems to be working very well.
