National Endangered Species Act
The United States Endangered Species Act, commonly referred to as the ESA, was passed in 1973 with the aim to protect threatened flora and fauna, and their habitats. The law is lengthy and covers administrative agencies, endangered species and appropriate courses of action should the act be disobeyed or a species of wildlife become threatened.
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Background
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The Endangered Species Act promotes conservation of ecosystems in which endangered species are found. An ecosystem is a lot like a community in that it is an efficient unit of the world in which living and nonliving components interact to use and move energy. The Earth can be said to be a single ecosystem with many ecosystems within it, according to the Franklin Institute.
A species is considered endangered by the terms of the ESA when it is in danger of extinction in all or most of its habitat, which can be considered the "houses" of the neighborhood. A species is considered threatened if it seems that it is in possible and practical danger of becoming endangered. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are about 1,900 species listed under the ESA, only 1,320 of which are found in the United States and its surrounding oceanic territory. Therefore, 1,320 species are protected in the United States under the terms of the ESA.
Administration
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The federal agencies with the main responsibility for enforcing the Endangered Species Act are the Fish and Wildlife Service and the NOAA's Fisheries Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service generally oversees land and freshwater species, while NOAA oversees marine species, according to NOAA.
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Enforcement
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There are civil and criminal penalties for disobeying the terms of the ESA, including a civil penalty of not more than $12,000 or a criminal penalty of not more than $25,000 and/or six months in prison depending on the crime, according to NOAA.
Significance
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If a species disappears from its habitat, it can have disastrous effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Species occupy niches, or specific roles, in an ecosystem. Extinctions can cause openings in a niche that can affect other species. For instance, many spiders eat other insects such as flies, mosquitoes and even beetles. If spiders become extinct in a certain habitat or ecosystem, the ecosystem suddenly loses a valuable and natural population controller, and insect populations may increase drastically. Species may also hold valuable scientific answers for researchers studying cures for various diseases. For instance, several endangered species of flowers have been implicated as possible cures for various diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Warning
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Individuals who own private property are not allowed to dispose of species that are endangered; it is against the law. There are civil and criminal penalties for individuals who do dispose of, sell or otherwise tamper with the habitat or the species itself. If you believe you have an endangered or threatened species living on your property, contact your local Environmental Protection Agency field office.
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References
- Photo Credit Bear Cave image by Benjamin Huseman from Fotolia.com
