MAINE AUDUBON • August 25, 2023
The Endangered Species Act is turning 50 this year! This law is one of our most important tools to conserve our nation’s most vulnerable species – which, right now, includes 740 animals and 940 plants. Fifty years of experience has proven that the Endangered Species Act works: it has prevented the extinction of 99% of the species it protects. Yet despite its track record, the Endangered Species Act’s own future is in doubt. The Trump Administration worked tirelessly to weaken the ESA, and attacks continue from Congress. Right now, we have an important opportunity to both reverse the damage done, address current threats to this landmark law, and potentially make the Act even stronger. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service recently proposed several revisions to the Endangered Species Act. We spent weeks reviewing their suggestions thoroughly and while many are good, we urged these federal agencies to be even bolder.