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Three of the seven existing species of marine turtles are critically endangered. Effective conservation means protecting turtles at all stages of their lives. Getting to know the Endangered Species act puts conservation efforts in perspective.
What is the Endangered Species Act?
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 or ESA is the most wide-ranging of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. As stated in section 2 of the act, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untendered by adequate concern and conservation."
How do animals get on the list?
A species can be listed in two ways. The first is for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or NOAA fisheries to take the initiative and directly list the species. The second is through individual or organizational petition, which would prompt a scientific review. Species can either be listed as endangered or threatened.
What do the different labels (endangered, threatened, candidate species) mean?
Endangered species are closer to extinction than threatened species. The third status, “candidate species” mean that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded the listing is warranted, but the species is not immediately listed.
What has the Endangered Species Act accomplished?
As of April 3, 2007, 41 species have been delisted; sixteen due to recovery, nine due to extinction (seven of which were extinct prior to being listed), nine due to changes in taxonomic classification, five due to discovery of new populations, one due to an error in the listing rule, and one due to an amendment to the Endangered Species Act specifically requiring the species delisting.
Twenty-three others have been down listed from "endangered" to "threatened" status. Some have argued that the bald eagle, brown pelican and peregrine falcon's removal from the list should be attributed to the 1973 congressional ban on DDT (a pesticide) rather than the Endangered Species Act, however, the listing of these species as endangered was a substantial cause of congress instituting the ban and many non-DDT oriented actions were taken on their behalf under the Endangered Species Act (i.e. captive breeding, habitat protection, and protection from disturbance).
To see a full list of endangered species, visit:
http://www.earthsendangered.com/list.asp
Where can I read the full act?
Click here to read the entire Endangered Species Act of 1973.
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