Should the Endangered Species Act Be Strengthened
Should the Endangered Species Act Be Strengthened? Most of us do not realize how much we take for granted, but there are some out there who feel as I do when it comes to strengthening the Endangered Species Act. This law is essential to present and future generations, although we may not realize it. Humankind is lucky to live in such a variety of ecosystems, but unfortunately, we all happen to leave some type of mark on the Earth and share in the destruction of many species, as well as their habitats. Timber companies cut down thousands of acres of natural forests for the wood and to make room for more many different uses of the land, such as agriculture or city expansion. Because of this many species have become endangered, or close to extinction from our hands. It is up to us to do what we can to stop the damage and to reverse what impacts we can. The purpose of this comparison essay is to establish points on both sides of this controversial issue, along with the support of professional opinions on of this issue from each viewpoint.
The Endangered Species Act was signed in December 1973 by then, President Richard Nixon, and it replaced the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. In the past thirty years, the ESA has protected endangered species of fish, plants, and wildlife. Some 1,950 species who are on the Endangered Species List have received protection from the ESA. Of those, 1,375 reside partly or fully within the United States. Because of this law, many species’ habitats were saved by destruction and degradation from human activities, such as logging, real estate and other industry development, mining, and global warming. “The Endangered Species Act is very important, because it save our native fish, plants, and wildlife from going extinct. Once a species are gone, there is no way to bring them back. Losing even a single species can have disastrous impacts on the rest of the ecosystem, because the effects will be felt throughout the
The Endangered Species Act was signed in December 1973 by then, President Richard Nixon, and it replaced the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. In the past thirty years, the ESA has protected endangered species of fish, plants, and wildlife. Some 1,950 species who are on the Endangered Species List have received protection from the ESA. Of those, 1,375 reside partly or fully within the United States. Because of this law, many species’ habitats were saved by destruction and degradation from human activities, such as logging, real estate and other industry development, mining, and global warming. “The Endangered Species Act is very important, because it save our native fish, plants, and wildlife from going extinct. Once a species are gone, there is no way to bring them back. Losing even a single species can have disastrous impacts on the rest of the ecosystem, because the effects will be felt throughout the
References: Cunningham, William P. & Cunningham, Mary Ann. (2009). Principles of environmental science: Inquiry and applications. (5th ed). McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc: USA. Crowley, Sean. (1996). EDF offers ways to strengthen the ESA on private land. Retrieved April 23, 2011 from http://www.edf.org/pressrelease.cfm. Czech, Brian & Krausman, Paul R. (1997). Public opinion on species and endangered species conservation. Retrieved April 23, 2011 from http://www.umich.edu. Easton, Thomas A. (2009). Taking sides: Clashing views on environmental issues. (13th ed). McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.: USA. National Wildlife Federation. (1996). Endangered species act. Retrieved April 23, 2011 from http://www.nwf.org.