Endangered Species Act of 1973 Kimia Rahmati May 2010 *The U.S. Congress, under Pres. Richard Nixon, passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 as a way to ensure the implementation of conservation efforts for plants and animals in danger of extinction. The act… *The act was designed to provide protection to the at-risk species of plants and animals, along with the ecosystems that those species rely upon for survival. -authorizes the determination and listing of species as endangered and threatened. -prohibits unauthorized taking, possession, sale, and transport of endangered species. -prohibits unauthorized taking, possession, sale, and transport of endangered species. Signed by the United States and the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere on March 3, 1973

The ESA Under the ESA, there are two categories: threatened species and endangered species. Before the species can actually be classified as receiving protection under the Endangered Species Act, it must get listed on the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. In July of 2008, there were a total of 1,238 threatened or endangered animals protected under the act, and a total of 747 threatened or endangered plants protected under the act. The law requires federal agencies, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the NOAA Fisheries Service, to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species. The two agencies that enforce regulations relating to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA). The law also prohibits any action that causes a "taking" of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife. Likewise, import, export, interstate, and foreign commerce of listed species are all generally prohibited.