Delisting a Species - Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act

Delisting a Species - Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act
ESA-Section4-Delisting.pdf436.3 KB

The goal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is to conserve endangered and threatened species. Species are added to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants in order to regulate activities that may impact them. When a species is able to survive on its own in the wild, the species is considered to be “recovered,” and protection of the ESA is no longer necessary.  This document provides answers to questions regarding species recovery and the removal, or "delisting" of recovered species from the  Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Program
A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
A duck flies over a tundra pond.
We use the best scientific information available to determine whether to add a species to (list) or remove from (delist) the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. We also determine whether already listed species should be reclassified from threatened to endangered (uplist...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA