The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1973. The purpose of the ESA is to protect and conserve endangered and threatened species and their habitats. The ESA provides legal protection for listed species, and it also establishes a process for listing new species as endangered or threatened.
Under the ESA, a species can be listed as endangered or threatened. An endangered species is a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A threatened species is a species that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
The ESA has been successful in preventing the extinction of many species. For example, the ESA has helped to protect the bald eagle, the California condor, and the black-footed ferret from extinction. The ESA has also been instrumental in protecting the habitat of endangered and threatened species.
The ESA is a controversial law. Some people argue that the ESA goes too far in protecting species, and that it is too costly. Others argue that the ESA is not doing enough to protect species, and that it should be strengthened.
Despite the controversy, the ESA is an important law that has helped to protect many species from extinction.