Endangered Species Act of 1973

1. Endangered Species Act of 1973 JJ Ryan Dylan Roush Zach Michel

2. What is the Endangered Species Act? • Created an endangered species protection program in the US Fish and Wildlife Service • The law required the government to actively protect each of the hundreds of species listed as endangered, regardless of the economic consequences for the areas that were the habitats of the species

3. History • The predecessor of the ESA was the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 • There was an amendment to this act in 1969 that broadened the species included and strengthened defensive powers • Eventually, President Nixon called for a new reform in environmental protection claiming the current acts were inadequate, which gave birth to the Environmental Protection Act of 1973

4. Conservative Viewpoint • Economic consideration should be taken while listing an animal, not just when designating the habitat after its listed • The act is outdated and needs to be reworked to fit the 21st century • For example the DSL was added to the list, even though it resides in Texas, a major producer of oil—57% of our oil is already foreign • In conclusion: conservatives are for protecting wildlife against human consumption and action, but this act is outdated and its lack of scientific data and concern for our troubled economy during implementation suggests a need for reform

5. Liberal Viewpoint • Oppose Conservatives on the idea that animals should be monopolized for their resources • Reject choice between healthy economy and healthy environment • Believe that the Act should be updated in certain areas so that it protects more animals

6. United States and Global Animal Trade • America makes up of 30% of global trafficking • "We know illegal animal trade is a multi-billion industry annually and the United States is a significant player in that problem."- Craig Hoover, deputy director of TRAFFIC, which monitors wildlife trading for World Wildlife Fund

7. Environmental Policy • Environmental policy sprang up during the 60’s and 70’s as congress created the EPA, as well as, passed laws regulating air and water pollution. • Environmental policy is a federal governmental action to regulate activities that have a lasting impact on the United States. • The goal is to protect the environment for the future generations while interfering as little as possible. • Due to the high costs of these policies, there has been a backlash from the right.  Since the 1970s, despite frequent legislative gridlock, there have been significant achievements in

8. Resolution (Part 1) • Strongly encourages Congress to take appropriate measures to • prevent and combat illicit trafficking in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, • including the adoption, where appropriate, of the necessary legislation for the • prevention, investigation and prosecution of such illicit trafficking, in accordance • with the Environmental Protection Agency

9. Resolution (Part 2) • Further encourages Congress to take appropriate measures to prevent the illicit trafficking of endangered animal species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 • Such as, but not limited to: • Federal fines for land owners who actively partake in the trading and buying of endangered animal pelts • Fines for land owners who knowingly buy a endangered animal for purposes to re-sell or kill, other than those mentioned in the Lacey Act • The creation of a legal punishment, whereas, the person in question would serve a minimum five year prison sentence and pay a monetary fine • Doubling the agents at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 200 to 400 solely used to combat illicit trafficking and create more awareness at a local level • The creation of various media campaigns targeted to the youth and broadcasted by major news sources.

10. Works Cited • Act, Endangered Species. "Endangered Species Act and the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Endanger Our Economy - Mywesttexas.com: Top Stories." Mywesttexas.com: West Texas News and Community. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.mywesttexas.com/business/oil/top_stories/article_77cf0cf6-10a9-11e1-88ee-001cc4c002e0.html>. • http://usliberals.about.com/od/environmentalconcerns/a/Env2Agenda.htm

11. Article • http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/business/global/as-affluence-spreads-so-does-the-trade-in-endangered-species.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=animal%20trafficking&st=cse • How does this article change your view on increased endangered animal protection, if at all? • Where is most demand for ivory coming from? Why? • How has the illegal animal trade increased in the past year and why?