Source: www.endangered.org
Enacted laws to protect wildlife, plants, insects, and fish from extinctions have been created for this sole purpose. The most effective and essential environmental law in the US is called The Endangered Species Act(ESA). This Act represents the commitment that us Americans have on working together to save the lives of these poor species that are about to disappear forever; if we do not do something the blame is going to be on us. Although plants and animals are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, the Endangered Coalition is a good contribution in our country to take the first step in taking care of our natural heritage.
In a study made by the Endangered Species Coalition it shows “84 percent of Americans support the Endangered Species Act, and 87 percent agree that it is a successful safety net..” (Protecting the Endangered Species Act). This Coalition works with Congress to defend their goals by not passing certain bills that could “undermine” the ESA. Aside from that, the ESA comes up with solutions that would both benefit habitats and their species, and landowners so that they do not hurt them.
The Act is made up of three elements:
1.Preventing listed species from being killed or harmed (State agencies research before determining for listing actions) includes: 12-month petitions findings, rules that prohibit specific things, proposed rules to remove a species from the threatened list.
2. Protecting habitat essential to these species’ survival: Involves collaboration with State Agencies to avoid/prohibit activities that threaten habitats.
2. Protecting habitat essential to these species’ survival: Involves collaboration with State Agencies to avoid/prohibit activities that threaten habitats.
3. Creating plans to restore healthy populations: this includes Habitat Conservation Plans, agreements with landowners that agree to better the land they own because it is a species' habitat (Safe Harbor Agreements).
Future Research: What are government agencies or other organizations doing to implement the ESA?
Future Research: What are government agencies or other organizations doing to implement the ESA?
