ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT & RED LIST - ACTIVITY

The Endangered Species Act (ESA for short) was enacted by Congress in 1973. Under the ESA, the federal government has the responsibility to protect:

• Endangered Species - species that are likely to become extinct throughout all or a large portion of their range.
• Threatened Species - species that are likely to become endangered in the near future.
• Critical habitat - vital to the survival of endangered or threatened species.

The Endangered Species Act has lists of protected plant and animal species both nationally and worldwide. When a species is given ESA protection, it is said to be a "listed" species.
As of October 2009, 1,361 plants and animals in the United States were listed as threatened or endangered. There are many additional species that are currently being evaluated for possible protection under the ESA, and they are called “candidate” species.

THE RED LIST

The Red List is the world's most comprehensive inventory on the global conservation status of plants and animals. 

Every 5 years the IUCN (The International Union for the Conservation of Nature) evaluates the population status of each species and the threats to each one's survival. 

The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction.

According to IUCN (1996), the formally stated goals of the Red List are:

(1) to provide scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at a global level

(2) to draw attention to the magnitude and importance of threatened biodiversity

(3) to influence national and international policy and decision-making

(4) to provide information to guide actions to conserve biological diversity.

Based on that information the IUCN (The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)) assigns each species a category. These categories are:

Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups set through criteria such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation.

• Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
• Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
• Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
• Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
• Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
• Least Concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
• Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
• Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

• Conservation Status
  By risk of extinction
  Extinct
  Extinct (list) Extinct in the Wild (list)
  Threatened
  Critically Endangered (list) Endangered (list) Vulnerable (list)
  At lower risk
  Conservation Dependent (list) Near Threatened (list) Least Concern
  Other
  Data Deficient (list) Not Evaluated
  See also IUCN Red List International Union for Conservation of Nature Lists of organisms by population

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ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT ACTIVITY - PART 1

Click on this site to help answer your questions -  ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT -

• Answer the following 5 Questions (in detail).  
•  Use this site  “ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT” to help you with your learning.   
• Write the questions & answers on notebook paper.    
• Due:  Monday, March 24.

1)  Who decides which species get Endangered Species Act protection?

2)  How does a species get on the Endangered Species List?

3) When deciding whether a species should be added to the       Endangered Species List, the following criteria are evaluated:

4)  What does Endangered Species Act protection mean?

5)  Why should we protect Threatened and Endangered species? 

Endangered Species Act Activity - Part II

• Choose three (3) of the ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCCESS STORIES
• 
  
• Click on a state from the map - 
• Read & take notes to share with your class mates
• DUE:  Wednesday, March 26

Endangered Species Day

Endangered Species Day is a day to celebrate endangered species success stories and learn about species still in danger.  Endangered Species Day is held on the 3rd Friday of each May. You can support Endangered Species Day by raising awareness in your community about a local threatened species or by helping to clean up a wildlife refuge or park. Events will be happening around the country, so be on the lookout this coming May!