LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proposes to add 48 species found only on Kaua'i to the federal endangered species list, it announced yesterday.

The proposal is the first time the agency has applied a newly developed, ecosystem-based approach to species conservation, officials said in a telephone news conference.

The approach may be used on O'ahu, in the Arctic and in great river basins of the Southeastern U.S.

"Kaua'i, the oldest island of the main Hawaiian Islands, has been called a 'treasure trove of biodiversity' and is believed to house the greatest diversity of plants in the state," said Patrick Leonard, Fish & Wildlife Service field supervisor for the Pacific Islands. "Therefore, it is appropriate that we begin this new approach to listing species and designating critical habitat in Kaua'i."

The American Bird Conservancy praised the action as "an important victory for the (birds) 'akikiki and 'akeke'e, which need every bit of help that they can get. Recent population surveys indicate that these species are on the brink of extinction," said George Fenwick, the conservation group's president.

American Bird Conservancy and Hawaiian bird expert Eric VanderWerf had petitioned the agency requesting protection under the Endangered Species Act for the two very rare birds. There were estimated to be fewer than 1,400 'akikiki and fewer than 3,500 'akeke'e in 2007. The populations of both birds dropped drastically since 2000, the group says.

One species of Hawaiian picture-wing fly and 45 plants, including a loulu palm unique to Kaua'i, are included in the announcement.

A total of 27,674 acres in six ecosystem types are proposed as critical habitat for the species. All but 1,646 acres overlaps with already designated critical habitat for other species on Kaua'i, said Gina Schulz, FWS deputy field supervisor for Pacific Islands. Most of the land is along the Na Pali coast, Alaka'i Swamp and Mount Wai'ale'ale, she said.

The largest new area proposed as critical habitat is at the head of Wainiha Valley, where landowner Alexander & Baldwin is funding extensive conservation work in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i, Schulz said.

The more endangered species a state has, the more money it is allocated under federal funding formulas, Schulz said. However, whether that ultimately translates to more money for conservation in Hawai'i depends on Congress' appropriations.

Copies of the proposed rule will be posted on the service's Web site at www.fws.gov/pacificislands and published soon in the Federal Register. Comments will be received on the plan from 60 days of publication. The service is particularly interested in threats to the proposed species or ecological requirements of the species.

Copies of the proposed rule can also be requested from the service at 808-792-9400.