UNITED STATES — Thursday, Dec. 28, marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and government agencies are commemorating the occasion.
President Richard Nixon signed the ESA on Dec. 28, 1973.
“Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed,” Nixon stated at the time. “It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans. I congratulate the 93d Congress for taking this important step toward protecting a heritage which we hold in trust to countless future generations of our fellow citizens. Their lives will be richer, and America will be more beautiful in the years ahead, thanks to the measure that I have the pleasure of signing into law today.”
The ESA currently protects more than 1,660 species in the U.S. Local endangered species include the grizzly bear, wolverine and Whitebark pine.
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation in honor of the milestone, calling the ESA “one of the world’s most critical conservation laws.”
“This law has safeguarded the incredible biodiversity across our nation, supported the recovery of imperiled species and conserved the habitats they depend on,” Biden said in the proclamation. “As we observe this anniversary, my Administration recommits to conserving America’s flora and fauna for generations to come.”
Of course, the legislation has not gone uncriticized in its 50 years of existence. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis voiced her disapproval of parts of the ESA earlier this year.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shared five ways to help endangered species in honor of the golden anniversary, including planting a pollinator garden with native plants, volunteering on public lands or with local nature organizations, making front and back yards more hospitable to wildlife, stopping the spread of invasive species and helping to educate others about endangered and threatened species.
The National Park Service acknowledged the anniversary with a Facebook post.
“National parks are home to awe-inspiring landscapes and iconic wildlife, including habitat for threatened and endangered species,” the post said. “When passed in 1973, it recognized that our rich natural heritage is of ‘esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational and scientific value to our Nation and its people.’ It further expressed concern that many of our nation’s native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct.”
Similarly, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Facebook post called the ESA “instrumental in preventing the extinction of numerous imperiled species and safeguarding the environments in which they thrive.”
“From the peregrine falcon to the island fox, we are thankful for the species this law has helped recover and save,” the post said. “While we have made significant progress in safeguarding species on the verge of extinction, many face challenges to recovery, including habitat loss and climate change…As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ESA today, we look to the next 50 years and beyond with a renewed commitment to species conservation. It is up to all of us to continue the success of the ESA so future generations may experience the natural heritage we all cherish.”
