The United States’ Endangered Species Act (ESA) is based on societal values, not science. For practical as well as political reasons, the ESA should remain an active, Federal statute. However, many modifications can be made in the language of the ESA to greatly improve its implementation and enforcement. Some proposed changes are minor; others will have major impact on the law.
My intentions for suggesting these changes are:
- To make the ESA more reasonable, effective and accepted (by the regulated public).
- To make recovery efforts and the money spent actually benefit the listed species.