Endangered Species Act Basics: 50 Years of Conserving Endangered Species

When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 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.

This document provides information on implementation of the ESA, and the tools in place that help us work with our diverse network of partners to deliver meaningful conservation.

Publication date
Type of document
Fact Sheet
Program
Close up of a California condor. Its pink featherless head contrasts with its black feathers.
We provide national leadership in the recovery and conservation of our nation's imperiled plant and animal species, working with experts in the scientific community to identify species on the verge of extinction and to build the road to recovery to bring them back. We work with a range of public...
Subject tags
Endangered and/or Threatened species