In addition to the general terms, there are specific terms used under both laws when listing a species.
Candidate Species (Federal) - any species considered for listing as a threatened or endangered species, but is not yet the subject of a proposed rule. Candidate species do not have any protection under the FESA. There are two categories of candidate species:
Category One Candidate - candidate for listing for which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has sufficient biological information to support a proposed listing as endangered or threatened.
Category Two Candidate - candidate for listing for which existing information may warrant listing, but for which substantial biological information to support a proposed rule is lacking.
Proposed Species (Federal) - any species for which a proposed regulation has been published in the Federal Register; the proposed species are listed under Section 4 of the FESA and are granted limited protection under the Act.
Candidate Species (State) - a species officially noticed by the California Fish and Game Commission as being under review by DFG for inclusion in either the threatened or endangered species lists. Candidate species are protected if DFG gives notices to all interested parties through correspondence and newspaper announcements.
CEQA Guideline Section 15380- a species not included in any listing is considered rare, threatened, or endangered if it is demonstrated that the species is diminishing in a significant portion of its range. This guideline offers a certain amount of protection to the nonlisted species in California, for instance, those listed in the Native Plant Society Inventory.
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