Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973
in order to protect those plant and animal species that are at risk of becoming
extinct. Species that receive protection under the ESA are classified into two
categories, "Endangered" or "Threatened," depending on their
status (how many are left in the wild) and how severely their survival is
threatened. A species that is listed as Endangered is in danger of becoming
extinct throughout a significant portion of its habitat range (the areas where
it lives). Threatened species are those that are likely to become Endangered in
the foreseeable future.
What is the Endangered Species Act?
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), a bureau of
the Department of the Interior, is responsible for listing, delisting, and
reclassifying the species protected by the ESA. When it is proposed that a
species be listed as Threatened or Endangered, the FWS announces the proposal in
the Federal Register, a publication of the US government. The public is then
allowed to comment on the proposal for a set period of time, letting the FWS
know whether or not they agree or disagree with the proposal. The FWS then
decides whether to approve, revise or withdraw the proposal. This same process
is used when it is proposed that a species be delisted or reclassified. A
species is proposed for delisting when it appears to have recovered enough to no
longer need protection under the ESA. A species is proposed for reclassification
if the status of the species worsens (the species moves from Threatened to
Endangered) or if the status improves (the species moves from Endangered to
Threatened). The process of listing, delisting or reclassifying a species can
take a year or longer.
How does a species get "listed?"
The Endangered Species Act outlines a number of
protective measures that are designed to preserve species that have been listed
as Endangered or Threatened. These measures include restrictions on hunting,
transporting and trading (buying and selling) the species. Also, the USFWS is
authorized to develop recovery plans for Endangered and Threatened species,
which outline the steps that need to be taken for the species to recover and
eventually be removed from the ESA.
How are listed species protected?
As of May 31, 2000, there are 1051 animal species
protected under the Endangered Species Act. 368 animal species are listed as
Endangered in the United States, and 518 are listed as Endangered in foreign
countries. 128 animal species are Threatened in the United States, and 37 are
Threatened in foreign countries. There are 738 plant species protected under the
ESA. 593 are Endangered in the United States, and 1 is Endangered in foreign
countries. 142 plant species are Threatened in the United States, and 2 are
Threatened in foreign countries. There are 1789 total species protected by the
How many species are protected by the Endangered
Endangered species are protected by more than just
the Endangered Species Act. Local laws, enforced by state governments and state
Departments of Natural resources protect species in different states of the
United States. Groups of species are protected by specific acts such as the
Marine Mammal Protection Act. Many foreign countries have laws protecting their
endangered species. Endangered species are protected on international levels as
well. For example, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an agreement between150 countries worldwide.
Endangered species are listed under one of two appendices of CITES (pronounced
sigh-tees). If a species is listed under Appendix I, the member countries have
agreed not to trade (buy and sell) that species commercially. If a species is
listed under Appendix II, the member countries have agreed to trade that species
commercially only if it does not endanger the survival of the species.
In what other ways are endangered species
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