SEC. 2.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares that—
(1) various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States have
been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and development
untempered by adequate concern and conservation;
(2) other species of fish, wildlife, and plants have been so depleted in numbers
that they are in danger of or threatened with extinction;
(3) these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational,
historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its
people;
(4) the United States has pledged itself as a sovereign state in the international
community to conserve to the extent practicable the various species of
fish or wildlife and plants facing extinction, pursuant to—
(A) migratory bird treaties with Canada and Mexico;
(B) the Migratory and Endangered Bird Treaty with Japan;
(C) the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in
the Western Hemisphere;
(D) the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries;
(E) the International Convention for the High Seas Fisheries of the
North Pacific Ocean;
(F) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora; and
(G) other international agreements; and
(5) encouraging the States and other interested parties, through Federal
financial assistance and a system of incentives, to develop and maintain conservation
programs which meet national and international standards is a key
to meeting the Nation’s international commitments and to better safeguarding,
for the benefit of all citizens, the Nation’s heritage in fish, wildlife, and
plants.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems
upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved,
to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and
threatened species, and to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the
purposes of the treaties and conventions set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) POLICY.—(1) It is further declared to be the policy of Congress that all Federal departments and agencies shall seek to conserve endangered species and threatened
species and shall utilize their authorities in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
(2) It is further declared to be the policy of Congress that Federal agencies shall
cooperate with State and local agencies to resolve water resource issues in concert
with conservation of endangered species.
*As amended by P.L. 94-325, June 30, 1976; P.L. 94-359, July 12, 1976; P.L. 95-212, December 19, 1977; P.L.
95-632, November 10, 1978; P.L. 96-159, December 28, 1979; P.L. 97-304, October 13, 1982; P.L. 98-327, June
25, 1984; and P.L. 100-478, October 7, 1988; P.L. 107-171, May 13, 2002; P.L. 108-136, November 24, 2003. |