The Endangered Species Act of 1973 Donald Qiu Period 3

Background The Endangered Species Act was first created in 1973 and later amended in 1982,1985, and 1988. It’s one of the dozens of United States Environmental Laws passed in the 1970s was Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973. The ESA has lists of protected plant and animal species both nationally and worldwide.

Function/issues The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untemper by adequate concern and conservation. Once a species becomes listed as "endangered" or "threatened," it receives special protections by the federal government. Animals are protected from “take” and being traded or sold. The primary goal of the Endangered Species Act is to make species' populations healthy so they can become extinct. Once they are gone, they are gone forever and there is no going back. An extinction of just one species can have major disturbance on the rest of the ecosystem because of the food chain.

Agency/Group responsible for regulation The Act is administered by two federal agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Under the ESA, the federal government has the responsibility to protect: Endangered Species - species that are likely to become extinct throughout all or a large portion of their range. Threatened Species - species that are likely to become endangered in the near future. Critical habitat - vital to the survival of endangered or threatened species.