What is the Endangered Species Act?

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a federal law enacted in 1973 in the United States. This act is a powerful conservation law that works to protect and conserve threatened and endangered species, along with their habitats. The ESA is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. In California, the act has been implemented to help protect a wide variety of species, including the California condor, bald eagle, Pacific leatherback sea turtle, and the California red-legged frog. These species are considered endangered or threatened due to loss of habitat, environmental degradation, and human activities. The ESA seeks to protect these species by providing them with special legal protections and regulations. It prohibits any person or company from harassing or killing any listed species, or trading, selling, or possessing listed species, including their parts. It also requires any person proposing to use public or private land for activities that may affect listed species to apply for consultation and receive approval from the government. The ESA works to make sure that any activities that might threaten endangered species or their habitats be avoided or minimized. Through its conservation and protection efforts, the ESA works to help prevent species from becoming extinct and to secure their survival and recovery.

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What is the Endangered Species Act?

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