The passage from one millennium to another is a natural time to take stock of the past while planning for the future. A quarter-century ago, Congress took the far-sighted step of creating the Endangered Species Act, widely regarded as the world's strongest and most effective wildlife conservation law. It set an ambitious goal: to reverse the alarming trend of human-caused extinctions that threatened the ecosystems we all share.

Like an animal adapting to a changing environment, the Act has evolved to allow new approaches for conservation. Amendments and adminstrative changes ensure a strong scientific basis for decisions on endangered species, facilitate large-scale planning to accommodate land use and wildlife habitat, and promote innovative public/private partnerships.

Lessons from Leopold in Assessing the ESA

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