What is the Endangered Species Act?

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a federal law in the U.S. that protects endangered species, threatened species, and their habitats. This law is applicable to all species of plants and animals, including fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. The purpose of the ESA is to conserve the ecosystems upon which species depend, while ensuring the continued existence of these species in their natural state. In California, the ESA prohibits the take, possession, sale, and transport of any endangered or threatened species and their parts. Under the ESA, species listed as ‘endangered’ are at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range, while species listed as ‘threatened’ are considered likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The ESA requires federal agencies to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for implementing and enforcing the ESA in the state of California. The ESA also creates pathways for citizens to get involved in the conservation of endangered species. Any person in the U.S. can submit a petition to list a species as endangered or threatened. These petitions are evaluated by the federal government, and if found to have merit, the species can be added to the list of protected species under the ESA. The ESA provides an important tool in the conservation of species in California and across the U.S.

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