1. Chapter 10: Biodiversity Section 10.2: Public Policy

2. Many countries have laws and regulations designed to prevent the extinction of species. Desert Yellowhead

3. In the U.S., the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was passed. Layne’s Butterweed

4. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 represented America’s concern about the decline of many wildlife species around the world. Florida Skullcap

5. The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to conserve “the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend” and to conserve/recover listed species. Dwarf Naupaka

6. The law is administered by the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Harperella

7. Current Number of Endangered and Threatened Species in the U.S. Total Endangered – 986 (388 animals, 598 plants) Total Threatened – 276 (129 animals, 147 plants) Total U.S. Species - 1262 Maguire Primrose

8. Under the law, species can be listed as: Endangered: means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened: means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. Winkler cactus

9. Threatened Species

10. Endangered Species

11. Extinct

12. There are four main provisions of the Endangered Species Act:

13. 1. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service must compile a list of all endangered and threatened species.

14. 2.Endangered and threatened animal species may not be caught or killed. Endangered or threatened plants on federal lands may not be up rooted. Endangered or threatened species may not be sold or traded.

15. 3. The federal government may not carry out any project that jeopardizes endangered species.

16. 4. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must prepare a species recovery plan for each endangered and threatened species. Ute Ladies’-tresses

17. Several international organizations work to protect endangered/threatened species. 1. World Wildlife Fund: works to preserve biodiversity by encouraging sustainable resources. 2. Friends of the Earth: lobbies governments and disseminates information to the public. 3. Greenpeace International stages dramatic protests to help stop the destruction of endangered species.

18. One of the most ambitious efforts to tackle environmental issues on a global scale was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development – also known as Earth Summit. Pamakani

19. One of the agreements it established was the Biodiversity Treaty, which encourages wealthier nations to give monies to poor nations for the protection of potentially vulnerable species. Relict Trillium