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(2) other species of fish, wildlife and plants have been so depleted in numbers that they are in danger of or threatened with extinction, and (3) these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the United States and its people. The intended purpose of the Act is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend may be conserved and to provide a program for the conservation of those species. Important components of the
Endangered Species Act include:
Section 7 requires all Federal agencies to consult with the Service for all actions they authorize, fund, or carry out; Section 9 prohibits take of listed species and provides penalties for violations; and Section 10 allows the Service to issue permits for incidental take of listed species for scientific purposes, or through the development of habitat conservation plans (HCP's) by non-Federal entities. The Tennessee Field Office is actively involved in Section 7 consultations and Section 4 listing and recovery activities. Tennessee currently or historically has provided habitat for over 90 species of threatened or endangered plants or animals. A distribution of species by county can be viewed. Questions concerning endangered species can be addressed to Mr. Jim Widlak (james_widlak@fws.gov), Mr. Geoff Call (geoff_call@fws.gov), or Ms.Stephanie Chance (stephanie_chance@fws.gov). |