How to Improve the Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides an enforcement mechanism for animals and their native habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enforce the series of regulations within the act. There are a number of ways to improve the Endangered Species Act to deal with future ecological problems. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Report actions by individuals and corporations in your community that defy the mandates of the Endangered Species Act. You can contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in your region to help federal efforts at environmental protection (see Resources below).
-
2
Use public comment periods for changes in the Endangered Species Act to voice your opinion. The federal government is required to provide a comment period after public hearings for local violations of legislation like the Endangered Species Act.
-
-
3
Attain comfort with congressional liaisons and assistants in order to bend the ear of your federal representatives. Your contacts with senators and representatives will be limited which make conversations with congressional staffers important to getting across your opinion.
-
4
Bombard appropriate state and federal agencies with letters and phone calls on a regular basis. A letter-writing campaign by friends and family to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA will create a document trail for your advocacy.
-
5
Establish a website to organize your efforts to improve the Endangered Species Act. Your website should feature links to the actual act as well as a list of resources to let the public know their frustrations with enforcement of the act.
-
6
Throw your hat in the ring as a political candidate if you get nowhere with efforts to improve the Endangered Species Act. You can run a grass roots campaign of knocking on doors and speaking to small groups to get attention for larger conservation and environmental issues.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Pressure your local public radio station to report on the Endangered Species Act. Public radio hosts who hold listener hours and open lines can be convinced to cover a specific issue if there is enough support from listeners. You should listen to public radio regularly to piggy-back on the efforts of other concerned listeners.
Read every amendment and corollary to the Endangered Species Act before you work to improve the law. Your ability to cite the act on a provision-by-provision basis will help you debate the issues effectively.
