SCIE210 – Unit 5 Individual Project
Sandra Allen
American Intercontinental University
May 27, 2012

From the beginning of time, there has always been wildlife. The animals and plants of our wildlife contribute to what makes this life so interesting. If all wildlife were to go extinct, then we would not have a way to 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 Asian plant that actively grows at a higher speed than other plants. As it grows, it covers whatever is in its path and suffocates it all until death, causing certain plants to become instinct. The Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 authorized the Secretary of Interior to spend $15 million per year to purchase habitats for the species on the endangered list. This act also required protection of these species on federal land. All land belonging to the public that was not government was not required but were encouraged to. Many benefits have come from these law acts that have been set in place. Recovery plans have been put into place to help our animals and plants replenish. While doing this, exemptions can and do occur. If there is a project to be done within a habitat of a listed species, then the ESA must notify the FWS and National Marine Fisheries Service. Once listed species reached a level of stable existence again, they were delisted. As of 2011, fifty-one species had been delisted. Any kind of harming, wounding, or killing is considered to be a violation. Violations of these laws have a variety of penalties. The maximum fine is up to $50,000 or a year of imprisonment, possibly both. I do absolutely believe this law has improved our societies and environments due to helping original life to be sustained. These animals and plants were created to be on this earth. They did not choose to be here and did not choose to be killed for human pleasure. This law has given these listed species another chance.

References:
Boorse, D. F. and Wright, R.T. (2011). Environmental Science: Toward a more sustainable future, Eleventh Edition. San Francisco, California: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
USDA Forest Service. (n.d.). Kudzu. Weed of the Week. Retrieved from http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/kudzu.pdf
a.u. (2011). History of the United States endangered species act. Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved from http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/education/esa.htm