What is the Endangered Species Act of 1973?

In your opinion how should the Endangered Species Act of 1973 be changed?

• I am wrighting a speech on endangered species and this is the law right now: •defined “endangered” and “threatened” [section 3]; •made plants and all invertebrates eligible for ...show more

• Answer:

  Not sure about the Act per se, however in protecting endangered species under law the issue I have found is that the whole picture sometimes can be neglected (usually the criteria is quite defined and doesn't allow for landscape management solutions). E.g. for my work we had to reserve a wetland, but it was only the wetland's fringe that was in a good condition. The actually "body" of the seasonal wetland was in a poor condition and therefore didn't need protection. The issue is that without the "body" of the wetland the fringe will eventually change vegetation types (and no longer be a wetland). The reason for this is that their legislation classifies the wetlands on condition, and protection is then determined on this condition. The "whole" picture can not be considered as the legislation is cut and dry (that is the "body" would be a subjective area, and can not be clearly delineated). This is the same issue with endangered species. For example a bird's nest or breeding area may be conserved, but their hunting/foraging range may not be reserved (some buffers will be introduced, but they may not be scientifically valid ... that is based on average home ranges or the like, or the actually species they eat are not within this range). These are hard to include in legislation, and tend instead to be included guidelines and management plans (however not always the case).