Endangered Species

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) became law in 1973 and has changed little since that time. There are currently 1,925 plant and animal species in the U.S. listed as threatened or endangered. Protecting and conserving the diversity of species is essential to maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem.

The Endangered Species Act has struggled to accomplish its mission by neglecting to enlist the assistance of private landowners in the recovery of species. NACD believes that protections for listed species should consider the social and economic values of private enterprise, respect the rights of private landowners and work in cooperation with states and local governments. Greater incentives are needed that would improve landowner involvement in the recovery of threatened and endangered species and safe harbor provisions should be included in legislation. Together, with a combined effort of agencies, research organizations and individual private landowners, the U.S. can maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem through protecting the diversity of species.

A comprehensive approach to endangered species reform legislation that emphasizes total resource management will ensure habitat protection for all species and minimize the need to list additional species with a focus on recovery. Improvements to the ESA should enhance wildlife habitat, while providing greater incentives for landowner involvement.