This document discusses the process by which species are listed as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. It explains that any person can petition to have a species listed, and that the decision is supposed to be made based solely on science. However, politics sometimes influences listings of species that are controversial. It also describes "candidate species" that remain on a candidate list for many years without a determination due to lack of funding or political pressure.
3. Listing of Endangered Species
A declining species has to be added to the official list of endangered and threatened species before it receives
any federal protection. But just getting on the list can be the hardest part. The Fish and Wldlife Service
maintains a current list of endangered and threatened species online.
How Does A Species Get "Listed?"
Any person may petition the government to list a species as either endangered or threatened.The decision to
list a species is supposed to be based solely on science, not politics. The listing process is designed to take n
more than 27 months. (In some limited circumstances an expedited or emergency listing may be given
temporarily
4. What Is A Candidate Conservation Agreement?
A candidate conservation plan is
supposed to help implement needed
conservation measures for declining
wildlife before they need federal
protection. Unfortunately, the Fish and
Wildlife Service and the National Marine
Fisheries Service sometimes use
candidate conservation agreements to
avoid needed listings when a species is
politically controversial. There's an
obvious problem with relying on future,
unenforceable promises when a species
needs to be listed immediately.
What Is A Candidate Species?
Unfortunately, many species sit
on the "candidate" list for years
and years owing to adverse
political pressure or funding
constraints. If there is enough
evidence that the species needs
to be listed, but there is
inadequate funding to finish the
process, the Service usually
declares the species' listing
"warranted but precluded." For
example, the Florida Black Bear
has waited on the candidate list
since 1992.
6. 1. Habitat destruction.
2. Introduction of Exotic Species.
3. Overexploration.
4. Disease.
5. Pollution
6. Limited distribution.
7. Deforestation.
8. Ilegal hounting.
9. Global climate change.
10. (Ect...)
a) Our planet is continually changing, causing
habitats to be altered and modified. Natural
changes tend to occur at a gradual pace, usually
causing only a slight impact on individual species.
b) These species are introduced into new
environments by way of human activities, either
intentionally or accidentally. Exotic species also
seriously disrupt delicate ecological balances and
may produce a plethora of unintended yet harmful
consequences.
c) A species that faces overexploitation is one that
may become severely endangered or even extinct
due to the rate in which the species is being used.
Due to the trade in animal parts, many species
continue to suffer high rates of exploitation. Even
today, there are demands for items such as rhino
horns and tiger bones in several areas of Asia.
7. Plants and animals hold medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and aesthetic/recreational value.
Endangered species must be protected and saved so that future generations can experience their presence
and value.
Medicinal=>Plants and animals are responsible for a variety of useful medications. In fact, about forty
percent of all prescriptions written today are composed from the natural compounds of different species.
Agricultural=>There are an estimated 80,000 edible plants in the world. Humans depend upon only 20
species of these plants, such as wheat and corn, to provide 90% of the world's food.
Ecolocigal=>Plant and animal species are the foundation of healthy ecosystems. Humans depend on
ecosystems such as coastal estuaries, prairie grasslands, and ancient forests to purify their air, clean their
water, and supply them with food
Aesthetic/Recrational=>Plant and animal species and their ecosystems form the basis of Americas multi-billion
dollar, job-intensive tourism industry. They also supply recreational, spiritual, and quality-of-life
values as well.
Our quality of life and that of future generations depends on our preservation of plant and animal species.
9. Ways you can help!
Here are some ways that you can get involved.
Conserve Habitiats.
Make Space For Wildlife.
Recycle,Reduce,Reuse.
Plant Native Plants.
Control Introducet Plants And
Animals.
Join An Organization.
Make Your Voice Heard.
Donate If You Can.
Wake Up,Be Smart.
10. WHAT KIDS CAN DO TO HELP ENDAGERED
1S. PDErawC pIicEturSes =A>DNrawD a pTicHturEe oIf Rthe HaniAmaBl anIdT tAheT biSgge.st threats to its survivial.
2. Write a letter =>You can write a short letter to the people who are in charge of E.S.A(Endagered
Species Act)
3. Make masks and costumes =>Based on a picture of an endangered species, make a mask or a
costume using paper mache, paper bags, construction paper, or whatever you can find.
4. Make puppets =>create a puppet that looks like your favorite endangered animal.
5. Make a Storybook =>Write anything you now about endagered species.
6. Personal reading =>Read and learn as much about endangered species as you can.
7. Local species resarch =>Research to determine if there are any endangered species in your
hometown.
8. Tell others!=>Share your new knowledge with others. Tell them about endangered species and
explain why they are endangered.
13. The Kakapo parrot of New Zealand is a
unique creature in several ways. Not
only is it the worlds heaviest parrot,
weighing up to 9 pounds (4 kilograms)
but it is the worlds only only flightless
parrot, as well as the only nocturnal
one. The bird was once common on
both of New Zealands main islands.
However, by the early 1970s it was
thought to have been driven into
extinction by such prolific human-introduced
invasive predators as rats
and cats, which killed the helpless
young birds in their nests on the
ground. Tiny populations were later
found on a couple of smaller, more
remote islands. Despite an intensive
program of breeding and protection by
the New Zealanders, currently there are
fewer than 150 kakapos left in the
wildso few that almost all of them
have names given to them by
conservationists.