The Pros & Cons of the Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 deals with the preservation of wildlife which are threatened with extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the government agency entrusted with the enforcement of its provisions. Like any legislation, this law has both good and bad aspects.

Pro: Ecosystem Preservation

According to a government legal digest (see Resources), the Act amended previous endangered species laws to place greater emphasis on ecosystem preservation as a way to prevent the extinction of certain species.

Pro: Environmental Enhancement

Environmentalists argue that there is a limit to the amount of species extinctions that particular ecosystems, and even the entire globe, can endure. If that limit is exceeded, the result would be breakdowns in food chains and environmental deterioration to an extent that could lead to wide-spread famine. Some environmentalists fear that the Earth itself would then be unable to sustain human life.

Pro: Aesthetic Value

The alleged spotting of an ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird previously thought to be extinct, near the Cache River of east Arkansas' White River National Wildlife Refuge created a huge stir among scientists and wildlife lovers (see Resources). This Act seeks to preserve the aesthetic experience of being able to see certain species roaming their natural habitat.

Con: Politics

Like any legislation, the Endangered Species Act is at the mercy of the prevailing political winds that power the policies and emphases of the executive, congressional and judicial branches of the government of the United States.

Con: Economics

Short- and long-term economic benefits can conflict with the aim of preservation of certain species. An example would be the desire to clear cut a forest which may be the only remaining habitat for a particular species of bird. The Endangered Species Act in and of itself cannot resolve the conflicting claims of a community or corporation wanting to derive financial benefits from cutting, and the claims of scientists and animal lovers aiming to preserve a particular species.

Resources

• Endangered Species Act of 1973
• Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program
• Npr.org on the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker