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Myth: The Endangered Species Act doesn't work. Fact: The Endangered Species Act is filled with success stories of species that have been recovered and are on their way to recovery. The creation of the Act has stopped many species from becoming extinct such as the bald eagle, brown pelican, Aleutian Canada goose, peregrine falcon, and Peninsular bighorn sheep and led to the restoration of animals such as the masked bobwhite quail and gray wolf to the wild. Myth: The Endangered Species Act does not recover species; very few species have been taken off the list. Fact: Many species such as the brown pelican, Aleutian Canada goose, and peregrine falcon have recovered. Others, such as the bald eagle have improved to the point that they have been moved from the endangered to the threatened list. Still more plants and animals, such as the Peninsular bighorn sheep, have seen dramatic increases in their number since they were listed and are on the road to recovery. Myth: Extinction is part of the natural order. Fact: The current extinction rate is vastly accelerated mostly because of human development; the rate is estimated to be around 1,000 times higher than what would occur without human interference. Myth: There is too much land designated for Critical Habitat that is not needed for species survival. Fact: Critical habitat is an important tool in efforts to recover listed species. Analysis of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data shows that species with critical habitat designated are twice as likely to be increasing in number than species without designated critical habitat. Less than 2% of the nation's total land area is designated as critical habitat and much of that is on existing protected public lands such as national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. Myth: The Endangered Species Act places animal needs before human needs. Fact: One of the goals of the Act is to maintain healthy lands and waters that are essential to human health and commerce. Healthy ecosystems are very beneficial. They help keep the air clean and take pollutants out of the water by way of water filtration. They also help reduce land erosion and provide beautiful places for tourist to visit and preserve wilderness for future generations. Many listed species, such as wild salmon, also have economic and cultural benefits for people. Myth: The Endangered Species Act is harmful to development. Fact: The Act has protected endangered species without impeding development. Less than 1% of all development projects in the United States are reviewed for harms they might have on endangered species. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, more than two million new homes have been built in the United States in the second quarter of 2005 alone. Myth: The Endangered Species Act only hurts the economy and does not bring any economic benefits. Fact: One of the main goals of the Act is to create healthy ecosystems that provide many economic benefits from tourism and recreation activities. During 2001 alone 39% of the population participated in fish and wildlife recreational activities and spent $110 billion dollars, which is equal to 1.1% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, on these activities. (1) Myth: Agency scientists use "junk" science when making decisions. Fact: The Endangered Species Act requires that agency biologists use the best scientific information and methods available. Additional agency policies set standards for the quality of information that can be used in decision making and subject agency work to peer review.
Photo courtesy USFWS. Up to Top |
