Endangered Species

The term endangered species is often used as a blanket category for animals and plants considered seriously at risk of extinction. More specifically, it is a designation given by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), has published an annual "red list" of species every year since 1963. The "Endangered" category is one of several designations of risk, ranging from "Least Concern" to "Extinct."¹ The United States government uses a three-tiered system to define risk: "Endangered," "Threatened" and "Candidate Species." A candidate species is one that is under consideration for inclusion but is not yet listed.²

Fast Facts

1. The U.S. Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973³
2. Roughly 40 percent of the world's species are threatened⁴
3. Most endangered species include: Arakan Forest Turtle, Javan Rhino and Brazilian Merganser ⁵

Endangerment Factors

Species become endangered due to often-avoidable consequences of industrial civilization, including habitat destruction, large-scale harvesting of useful organisms and imbalances caused by disruptions of the global food chain. Better management of resources can help prevent species extinction.⁶

Endangered Species Act Endangered?

On August 11, 2008, the Bush administration announced proposed rules changes to the Endangered Species Act that would allow federal agencies rather than independent scientific reviewers to decide the impact that certain projects would have on the environment. Supporters of the changes believe that the rules will streamline and improve the process while still protecting species. Detractors believe that the proposed rules changes will significantly weaken the act.

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