Premium Essay

Endangered Species Act Of 1973

Submitted By
Words 1987
Pages 8
“[B]y tomorrow morning we shall almost certainly have one less species on Planet Earth than we had this morning. It will not be a charismatic creature like the tiger. It could well be an obscure insect in the depths of some remote rainforest. It may even be a creature that nobody has ever heard of. But it will have gone. A unique form of life will have been driven from the face of the earth forever” (Meyers, 1979).

The Endangered Species Act was enacted by congress in 1973. The act laid out five relevant findings. The first finding concerned economic growth and development. This development, which often occurred with little to no concern for conservation, has led various fish, wildlife, and plants to extinction. Second, there exists additional …show more content…
The Act not only protects specific species, but the environment they live in as well. In this way protection under the ESA for a single species can preserve entire ecosystems. The Endangered Species Act is an example of intelligent human foresight to preserve for the future while bearing the costs of preservation today.

When Richard Nixon signed the act in 1973 he gave a short speech that is worth quoting in its entirety and addresses, among other things, Pinchot’s idea of what conservation is.

“I have today signed S. 1983, the Endangered Species Act of 1973. At a time when Americans are more concerned than ever with conserving our natural resources, this legislation provides the Federal Government with needed authority to protect an irreplaceable part of our national heritage--threatened wildlife.

This important measure grants the Government both the authority to make early identification of endangered species and the means to act quickly and thoroughly to save them from extinction. It also puts into effect the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora signed in Washington on March 3, …show more content…
An indicator species is a species that indicates the overall health of the ecosystem it lives in. If the indicator species is doing well then that is a sign that the ecosystem as a whole is doing well. If the indicator species is doing poorly then it is a sign that the ecosystem is in a poor condition as well. Having a species like the spotted owl that is indicative of its ecosystem as a whole is extremely valuable because it would take too much time and effort to assess the health of each one of the species living in the spotted owl’s

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Endangered Species Act of 1973

...The Endangered Species Act The second half of the twentieth century was a time of the greatest advancements in environmental awareness in history. It was during this time that people began to realize there impact on the environment. People began to realize that something must be done to stop the negative impacts on their surroundings which caused the environmental movement to be born. One of the most important factors that resulted from this has been the protection of endangered species. Many actions have been taken to ensure the protection of endangered species including two major policies: CITES and the Endangered Species Act.   In 1966, Congress passed the Endangered Species Preservation Act, this provided limited protection to a list of native animal species. The Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Defense were responsible for the protection of these species and the preservation of their habitats. This act also gave land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help maintain these natural habitats. The Endangered species act was amended in 1969 because more protection was needed. With the threat of worldwide extinction, the amendment called for an international meeting and changed the name to the Endangered Species Conservation Act. Several years later, in 1973, the United States and twenty-three other nations signed an international act called CITES or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna. CITES monitors...

Words: 1724 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Environmental Laws Paper

...Laws Paper The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was put forth in legislature to provide protection for threatened and endangered species and to preserve biodiversity. The Act has been amended several times since its birth. The following paper will further discuss the Endangered Species Act history, the responsible parties for enforcing the Act, where the Act can be located in the Code of Federal Regulation and the United States legal code, and the benefits as well as the costs regarding the Act. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 The original Endangered Species Preservation Act was created in 1966 with the goal of providing a means of listing native species as endangered and giving them limited protection (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 2013). In 1969 the Act was amended to include species protection against worldwide extinction through prohibiting the selling and importation of endangered species in the United States (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 2013). In 1973 during a conference in Washington eighty nations signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which would monitor and restrict if necessary international commerce if believed that trade would harm plant and animal species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 2013). In 1973 the Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress replacing the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1969. The Act of 1973 provides conservation to all endangered and threatened species as well as conservation...

Words: 1300 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Endangered Species

...environmental law that I choose is Endangered Species Act. This Act was passed in 1973, to protect the extinction of or threatened species. Before I go any further let me define the difference between extinct and threatened species; • Extinction is the process by which a species die out, this means that all genetic buildup of that species is gone forever. Extinction can be the cause of Natural disaster, from human activities. • Threatened species are living organism that can become endangered in our nearby future. Endangered species represent the living species of plants and animals. That have become scarce, this means that they are in danger of becoming extinct. When an endangered species becomes extinct, this can interrupt the food chain or web. This will interrupts the production of new or improve medicine, we would loss that animal species forever because there is no genetic evidence left of that species. All this would be affected by the extinction of a species. The goal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is to prevent extinction from happening. ESA was signed by President Nixon, The extinction of animals and plant species was brought about by Rachel Carson who wrote a book called Silent Spring (1962). Rachel warned about destroying wildlife with DDT in our environment. This is what prompted the enactment of the Endangered Species Preservation Act of (1966). This Act was made to protect nature species that were on the brink of extinction...

Words: 332 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

General over View on Endangered Species

...Endangered Species Our planet earth has produced many wonderful and bewildering things. Our planet was once lush of vegetation, plants and amazing animals. There are numerous plants and animals that are now extinct, either due to natural selection, climate change, or urbanization. Knowing this, we should not take advantage of what earth has to offer, this includes animals that are now endangered species. According to Richard T. Wright, “endangered species is a species that has been reduced to the point where it is in imminent danger of becoming extinct if protection is not provided (page 254). Although some animals may seem unimportant to most, many of these animals are what help keep the earth’s ecosystem in equilibrium. There is much controversy on endangered species and the devastation of their habitats. Before someone establishes their own opinion on the subject matter, it must be understood what an endangered species is and how it came to be, along with the controversy between it. Endangerment is a very broad issue that involves habitat, the surrounding environment and the interaction between other species. There are many factors that have lead to endangerment and possible extinction to earth’s animals. One of the biggest factors is habitat destruction. Habitats are constantly changing due to the earth’s constant change in climate and movement, although that is only a slight change. The biggest component to habitat destruction is the result from human activity...

Words: 1592 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Keystone Extinction Is More Ethical Than Conservation

... Although the Endangered Species Act (ESA) at first glance seems to offer only benefits, it has been a topic of heated controversy since it was passed in 1973. The Act was created in response to the increasing awareness of animal endangerment and extinction, particularly those of the iconic American bison and passenger pigeon. When President Nixon signed the law he declared, “Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), endangerment is the second most serious status and indicates a “very high risk of extinction in the wild.”...

Words: 1425 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Endangered Species Act

...The Endangered Species Act is a conservation act to preserve environments and animals in need. It was created in 1973 but what led up to it was the Act of 1966 and the amendment of 1969. Both of these acts were to limit poaching and help preserve the animals. Congress created the law backed by early conservationists like Dr. Train, Dr. Earl Baysinger Dick Gutting, and Dr. Gerard Then it was approved by clinton who helped start the biggest work to save animals. Endangered species are species that are close or in danger of becoming extinct. There are 7 levels to the endangered animals based on how close they are to being extinct. They use data on population levels, Ecosystems the animals live in and the rate an Organism's population is...

Words: 419 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Can Endangered Species of the World Rely on the International Law for Their Safety? Discuss

...Can endangered species of the world rely on the international law for their safety? Discuss This essay will attempt to discuss how the international law protects endangered species of the world. Using academic commentary and legislation it will also review the ethical, philosophical, economical and moral aspects of this area of law. The essay will also draw attention to the current issue, which has been a controversy in the preservation of endangered species of the world, but will particularly pay more attention to the protection of whales. Ever since the days of illustrious philosophers such Plato, Aristotle, Descartes to the modern scientists there has been a lengthy wait in fighting for laws and acts to protect animals in keeping them in good health and their populations high in numbers. Long ago, most animals became extinct because of natural events, like earthquakes or volcano eruptions. Climatic changes were also a threat i.e. like the ‘beginning of the Ice Age which also led to the disappearance of certain species’ . Today, animals are in danger mostly because of human beings. In the 17th century Descartes and Plato both portraying animals as mere objects, held that ‘animals have no conscience and humans should have no moral obligation’ towards them. However, through the advancement of technology and science Charles Darwin came up with his theory of evolution, bringing new developments and protection to endangered species, with his effort in his work there...

Words: 2564 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

The Moral Obligation Toward Endangered Wild-Life

...The Moral Obligation Toward Endangered Wild-life George Michael Olivas American Military University Professor Myers PHIL320 Environmental Ethics July 24th 2013 Abstract The moral agency of a man, all the same, looms ambiguously but more so mirroring an image of self—an image contrary to the ethical framework as it ought relate to the natural world. The premise by which we often grant moral importance to Homo sapiens is the mere membership within that group of species. Naturally the premise carries with it little to no weight and is nearly fallacious. Ethicist Peter Singer prompts humanity on the realism that the only other criteria by which to judge for moral consideration is sentience which definitively applies to broader a species. Sentience, as it is theoretical, is inclusive of moral consideration, "The capacity for suffering and enjoying things is a prerequisite for having interests at all, a condition that must be satisfied before we can speak of interests in any meaningful way (Singer, 1974).” The application of industry leaves a footprint in the delicate ecosystems of the earth which normally espouses a plethora of creatures known to regulate the respective biosphere. Far before humanity wandered to and fro the earth, animal life met extinction by natural causes nevertheless our dominance single-handedly exploits the environment and pollutes far worse than any means of naturalism—subjecting animal life into conditions...

Words: 2028 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Facts About Endangered Species

...1. An endangered species is one whose numbers are so small that it is at risk of extinction. 2. A threatened species is one that is vulnerable of becoming endangered in the near future. 3. In January 2013, the Fish and Wildlife Services reported 2,054 species worldwide that are endangered or threatened. 1,436 exist in the U.S. alone. 4. A species is declared extinct after many years of not being spotted. Because it takes so long to define an entire species as extinct, it is probable that there are many species already gone that we are unaware of. 5. A species is defined as endangered or threatened when it is compared against these five factors: * Damage to or destruction of its habitat * Overuse of the species for educational, recreational, or entertainment purposes * Disease or predation of the species * Lack of protection * Natural or manmade hazards to the continued life of the species 6. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) protects registered endangered species by removing them from the “take” list, which makes it unlawful for a person to shoot, harm, capture, trap, or attempt any such actions to the species. 7. Ultimately, the ESA strives to recover species from the endangered list by restoring their ecological health until they no longer need protection. 8. Factors that threaten the earth’s creatures include deforestation, bycatch (the unintentional capturing of sea creatures during fishing), water scarcity...

Words: 375 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

King Hairstreak Research Paper

...Texas, but also seen in North Carolina. Butterflies and moths belong to the Lepidoptera family meaning they are scaled winged insects. It is an endangered species and the population has been on the decline. One of the primary reasons is the forest habitats disappearance, due to land development. Rapid climate change with the temperatures during the spring has increased in the last few years from too cold to hot. Another is due to their low reproduction rate and the survival of the eggs. Lastly, the gypsy moth is a threat if their growth continues the reason being in the spring insecticide spray is used to control this pest, but also kills the habitat the King Hairstreak butterfly eats (Vaughan and Shepard, 2005). The Kings Hairstreak feed on foliage called Common Sweetleaf Pictures were from WordPress...

Words: 647 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Environmental Science

...replenish the oxygen to survive off of. All animals and plants are a part of our lifecycle and should be respected as such. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was put in place to protect threatened and endangered animals and plants. There are two agencies that equip this program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This act was dated official in 1973. There is a specific list of species that are endangered. This law requires that these agencies ensure that all species on that list are to never be compromised in any way such as: importing, exporting, hunting, etc. In the 1900s, when it was realized that bison and a bird in North America called the Passenger Pigeon were going missing, it was determined that something had to be done to protect the wildlife. As this issue was looked upon, it was found that millinery and pesticides were a major cause of animal and plant extinction. Millinery is the designing and manufacturing of hats. When people realized that they could profit from making a product with animal skins and furs, millinery became a problem for wildlife. Those who are greedy and unconcerned were not going to stop without a law in place. Therefore, the ESA was put in place, attempting to preserve what animals were left to replenish from specific species. Pesticides became an issue with the extinction of plants when kudzu entered the life of our native plants in 1876. Kudzu is an...

Words: 651 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Amur Leopard Research Paper

...Critically endangered is one of the worst words to use when describing a species and its status, apex predator is no longer the first thing that comes to mind when one hear the name Amur Leopard. Fear is no longer the first emotion that hits, instead the first words thought of are critically endangered, dangerously low, fragmented habitat and poaching, all terrible words and ideas to be associated with. The Amur leopard, also scientifically known as Panthera pardus orientalis, has long legs and long fur to maintain their position in the food chain (Hearn, 2007), as the apex predator of it’s immense habitat they are mostly solitary creatures, although it is not uncommon for the male to stay with female to assist rearing the children. Children...

Words: 1289 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Endangered Species Act

...priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” Said by Richard Nixon. The Endangered Species Act all started in 1973 when president Nixon signed it and made it into a law. It’s been a act for more than 40 years. Many people support and believe in this act, which is good because it helps the animals and helps the world as a whole. Although the Endangered Species Act can be costly, it has a very important impact on animals that are both extinct and endangered animals that need conservation. First off, some people may say that the act can be very costly at times. They believe that it can be too overfunded, and that’s not the case. While on the other hand...

Words: 1122 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Environmental Movement Matrix

...Choose five items from the following list and identify their significance during the 1970s: • Cuyahoga River, OH (Cleveland) fire 1969 • Love Canal • Silent Spring • Population Bomb • Endangered Species Act (1966, 1969, & 1973) • Clean Water Act (1972, 1977) • Conservationism vs. environmentalism • Acid rain • Ozone layer • Rainforests • Depletion of fossil fuels • Climate change Event Significance Silent Spring The publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 marked the beginning of modern environmentalism. Carson, known as the “godmother of modern environmentalism, impacted the American public’s consciousness with her detailed exposition on the dangers of environmental pollution to human health. By examining the ecological impacts of hazardous substances that pollute both the natural and human environments, like pesticides, Carson fundamentally altered the way Americans perceived the environment and the dangers of toxins to themselves. Conservationism vs. environmentalism By the 1870s, resource exploitation dominated development patterns in the West. Natural resources were devoured by destructive practices in mining, overgrazing, timber cutting, monocrop planting, and speculation in land and water rights. In 1902, for example, the Reclamation Act established the Reclamation Service, whose mission was to accomplish “the reclamation and settlement of the arid lands. The Reclamation Service promoted scientific methods like irrigation, storage...

Words: 435 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Enviroment

...bivouac site, preceded by their quartering party. During the FTX, the company will conduct tactical-bridging operations on the Yukon River. The FTX will involve normal operations (12 to 16 hours a day), with some night and limited visibility operations. The operations will include the use of pyrotechnics and blank munitions. The FTX will not include live fire due to budgetary constraints. The area has hills, wetlands, several winding streams, and one large river. Signs in the area identify and mark all wetlands. The forecasted weather will not adversely affect operations. The Soldiers are somewhat familiar with the terrain, which contains some identified and marked-off archeological sites. The training area contains the habitat for two endangered species, which are marked and posted. The unit will conduct unit-maintenance, refueling, messing, shower, and field-sanitation operations within...

Words: 1860 - Pages: 8