Friday, May 15, 2009 is Endangered Species Day – a day to reflect on all the living beings that are threatened with extinction. A day to honor the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and all programs that conserve America’s threatened and endangered species. And most of all, it’s an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions they can take to help protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining open space.
In 1973, when Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) into law, it recognized that our rich natural heritage is of “esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our Nation and its people.” We can’t think of a better way to say it—nor any more compelling reasons to work to protect our natural, biological environment here in Nevada and beyond.
In the United States, there are 611 animals in the U.S listed as threatened or endangered, and 746 plant species. Nevada has 37 listings, among them the desert tortoise (pictured) and many fish species that are found nowhere else in the world. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our government agency charged with upholding the Endangered Species Act, has a wealth of information on their website about U.S. species and habitats, as well as many around the world. You can see it by clicking here.
The Endangered Species Act is the most comprehensive wildlife conservation law in this country, and many species have been saved from extinction as a result of this landmark legislation. Bald eagles are at the top of this list, and they prove that when we humans get serious about habitat and species conservation, we can do a world of good. Quite literally.
So let’s honor and seize the day. The Endangered Species Coalition website has a useful—and resource rich—list of 10 easy things people can do at home to help protect endangered species. It’s definitely worth a visit. See it here.
