The Endangered Species Act at 50
The Knives Are Out for A Landmark Conservation Law
Happy Holidays!
Jim here, back with our final newsletter of 2023.
For those of you who’ve been following our newsletter for some time, you know that I’m overdue for a deep dive on a public lands issue. So with that in mind, today I wanted to draw your attention to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary next week.
An Imperiled Law For Imperiled Species
Enacted in 1973, the Endangered Species Act was a groundbreaking step in global conservation, reflecting the United States' commitment to preserving its diverse wildlife and habitats. Recognized as one of history's most consequential conservation laws, it inspired similar legislation worldwide. Importantly, the ESA established a comprehensive framework to safeguard numerous plant and animal species from extinction, demonstrating a crucial understanding of our interdependence with nature.
However, as we celebrate this milestone, the ESA unfortunately faces severe underfunding and political challenges. Reminisce with me for a moment, if you will, about a time when the value of our natural heritage was a unifying cause, regardless of political affiliation. No, I’m not going all the way back to Theodore Roosevelt. But I hope you’re sitting down for this. In 1973 the Endangered Species Act passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92-0. The Act then passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 390-12. It was then proudly signed into law by Republican President Richard Nixon who proclaimed, “Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.”
One can’t help but find it disheartening to note the incredibly drastic shift from the ESA’s near-unanimous bipartisan support in 1973 to today’s politically fragmented landscape where it’s seemingly open season on the globally celebrated law. It's a jarring reminder of how bipartisan consensus on common sense environmental protection has thoroughly eroded, making landmark legislation like the ESA almost laughably impossible in today's climate.
This political division has had real costs too, particularly in the funding of the ESA. Despite its achievements, which are many, the ESA has been plagued by significant underfunding for decades. In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), tasked with enforcing the ESA, received a budget of $356.2 million for its Ecological Services program, only around $125 million of which went to funding the ESA. Compare that with the $20 billion in annual subsidies for the oil and gas industry, or $2 billion for corn growers, or whichever bloated subsidy or budget item you fancy. This underfunding not only hampers the act's effectiveness but also reflects a broader societal undervaluing of environmental conservation – one that both political parties are guilty of.
All of this has led to a significant backlog in protecting species that desperately need it. Out of over 5,300 species at high risk of extinction in the U.S., the ESA currently extends its protective umbrella to only about 1,670. This gap isn’t just a number; it represents countless lives and ecosystems hanging in the balance. And USFWS data reveals that among these 1,670 protected species, hundreds receive less than $1,000 each for their recovery annually, with several hundred receiving no funding at all.
Over the past five decades, the ESA has been pivotal in saving numerous species from extinction. Iconic success stories, such as the recovery of the bald eagle and the American alligator, are testaments to the act's effectiveness. These achievements represent major victories in preserving our nation's ecological heritage.
In a political climate where the merits of the ESA are sometimes questioned, we should remember the near unanimous support the law received when it was enacted and the words of President Nixon as he signed it. The ESA should be regarded as a source of national pride, a hallmark of American leadership in global environmental conservation. Its potential weakening or dismantling would not only be a loss for biodiversity but a retreat from our moral responsibility to future generations.
My hope is that we can return to a place where laws like the ESA are no-brainers again.
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My Closing Thoughts
That’s all I’ve got! Enjoy the holidays and we’ll see you next year!
– Jim
Wow!