The Endangered Species Act Q&A

The Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1973, has prevented the extinction of 99% of listed species, including the recovery of 46 species such as bald eagles and humpback whales. While the law protects native US species through habitat requirements and prohibitions on harm, it also protects international species by regulating trade, as seen in the recovery of the red kangaroo. However, the document warns that 2019 regulatory changes by the Trump administration weaken the ESA by reducing science-based decision-making, removing automatic prohibitions for future threatened species, and limiting the designation of critical habitats, which complicates preparations for climate change threats.

• The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is described as highly effective, with 99% of species on its protected list having avoided extinction since the law's passage in 1973. To date, 46 species, including bald eagles, humpback whales, and grizzly bears, have been listed as recovered.
• The ESA provides protection for both domestic and international wildlife. For US native species, it prohibits killing or harming them, bans imports/exports, requires critical habitat protection, and mandates recovery plans. For overseas species, it regulates or prohibits trade in live animals and their products across US borders, which aided the recovery of the red kangaroo in Australia by 1995.
• Regulatory amendments announced by the Trump administration on August 12, 2019, are argued to undermine the ESA by removing automatic prohibitions on harming or trading future threatened species and eliminating the ability to designate critical habitats. These changes are said to increase political and economic influence over listings while decreasing science-based decision-making.
• The 2019 regulatory changes are expected to impact species across the Americas and Asia, particularly those native to the US, including polar bears, monarch butterflies, and giraffes. Specifically, the new rules make it harder to prepare for wildlife threats caused by climate change.

APA

WWF International (2023). The Endangered Species Act Q&A. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/the-endangered-species-act-qa/

Chicago

WWF International. The Endangered Species Act Q&A. 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/the-endangered-species-act-qa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=The Endangered Species Act Q&A |date=15 November 2023 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/the-endangered-species-act-qa/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2023endangered, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{The Endangered Species Act Q\&A}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/the-endangered-species-act-qa/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }