The Endangered Species Act of 1973

Introduction

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is the United States’s primary law regulating wildlife and natural habitats protection measures. It is called to protect the endangered and threatened species from extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation” (“ESA” 1).

Discussion

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service administer the Act. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service database, 1,092 species of animals are listed as endangered as of the 2022 Act (Markel). The Act’s comprehensive nature and steady implementation have helped to restore many populations over the years and reduce the potential number of endangered or extinct species.

The basis of the Act is the detailed classification procedure. The law differentiates between two basic categories of species: endangered and threatened, based on the level and nature of the danger posed to their existence (“ESA” 1). The species must meet one of the following criteria to be listed (United States Senate 4(a)(1)):

1. The species’ habitat or range is under or threatened by destruction, modification, or curtailment.
2. The species is excessively utilized for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes.
3. The species is in decline due to disease or predation.
4. The existing preservation mechanisms are inadequate.
5. Other natural or artificial factors affect the species’ continued existence.

The Endangered Species Act aims to preserve the species and recover their populations to the level where legal conservation and protection measures are not needed. The species can be delisted or downlisted under several factors. Those include eliminating or controlling the threat, changes in population size and growth rate, and the stability of habitat quality and quantity (“Delisting the Species”). The accuracy of the initial data may also influence the species’ position in the list.

Conclusion

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is an example of an adequate and efficient law that has helped to create a nationwide system of regulations for protecting and restoring wildlife populations. It has also significantly reduced the potential number of endangered or threatened species in the United States. Therefore, it is essential for legislators, activists, and ecological organizations to recognize the significance of the Act and its effectiveness.

Works Cited

“Delisting the Species Under the Endangered Species Act.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Web.

“Endangered Species Act of 1973 [ESA].” Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Web.

U. S. Senate. Endangered Species Act of 1973. U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, 1973.

Markel, Serina. “Top 10 Most Endangered Animals in the United States.” Animals Around The Globe, Web.