Endangered Species Act

Definition

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a United States federal law that provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats. It aims to prevent the extinction of species by identifying, listing, and implementing measures to safeguard their populations and ecosystems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Endangered Species Act was first enacted in 1973 and has been amended several times to strengthen its protections.
2. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are responsible for implementing and enforcing the Endangered Species Act.
3. The Act requires the federal government to identify and list species that are endangered or threatened, and to develop and implement recovery plans to help those species recover.
4. The Act prohibits the 'take' (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect) of listed species without authorization from the government.
5. The Endangered Species Act has been a controversial law, with debates around its impact on economic development and private property rights.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and key provisions of the Endangered Species Act.
  • The Endangered Species Act is a federal law that aims to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats. Its key provisions include identifying and listing species as endangered or threatened, developing and implementing recovery plans, prohibiting the 'take' of listed species without authorization, and requiring federal agencies to ensure their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species. The Act has been a subject of debate due to its potential impacts on economic development and private property rights.
• Describe the role of federal agencies in implementing and enforcing the Endangered Species Act.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are the two federal agencies responsible for implementing and enforcing the Endangered Species Act. They are tasked with identifying and listing endangered and threatened species, developing and implementing recovery plans, and authorizing the 'take' of listed species under certain circumstances. These agencies also work to ensure that federal actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or destroy their critical habitats.
• Analyze the impact of the Endangered Species Act on policy decisions within the context of 16.3 Policy Arenas.
  • The Endangered Species Act has had a significant impact on policy decisions within the 16.3 Policy Arenas, particularly in the areas of environmental policy, natural resource management, and economic development. The Act's requirement to protect listed species and their habitats has often conflicted with other policy goals, such as resource extraction, infrastructure projects, and urban/suburban expansion. This has led to debates and legal challenges around balancing environmental protection with economic interests. Policymakers must navigate these tradeoffs when making decisions that may affect endangered or threatened species and their critical habitats.

Related terms

Endangered Species: A species that is at risk of becoming extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a significant portion of its range.

Threatened Species: A species that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Critical Habitat: The geographic area containing features essential to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, which may require special management considerations or protection.