Section 9 of the Act describes the protection of endangered plants. A number of protective measures concern transport and trade. The import or export of endangered plants from the United States is prohibited, as is the receipt, supply or sale in interstate or foreign trade. Another set of protective measures is to collect or damage. It is forbidden to remove and take possession of plants threatened in the state or to damage or destroy them maliciously. It is illegal for private land to collect, damage or destroy endangered plants in violation of any state law, including the State Intrusion Act. Very few states prohibit landowners from collecting or destroying endangered plants on their own private property, so threatened plants on private property have minimal protection. The protection of threatened plants is similar to that of threatened plants, but the protection was created by regulations published by the Fish and Wildlife Service, rather than being specified directly in the law. This convention (better known by its acronym CITES) is an agreement between governments around the world to ensure that international trade in wildlife and animals does not endanger their survival. CITES began in 1975 with 80 participating countries. Today, 169 countries participate and the agreement protects more than 30,000 plant and animal species. Article 3 of the Act defines different terms. Species are defined to include named subspecies and plant varieties, as well as complete species.
For example, the subspecies Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pinnatisecta and the variety Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleri on the list of threatened plant species. Endangered is defined as any species threatened with extinction in all or a significant part of its range. Threatened is defined as any species that may become an endangered species in all or a significant portion of its range for the foreseeable future. Critical habitat is defined as specific areas that are essential to the conservation of a species and may require special management or protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identifies these areas on maps as part of a formal process.
Once identified, critical habitat is more protected than other areas. Federal and state laws governing wildlife in the United States have their origins in ancient English customary law, where the king and parliament owned wild animals and prescribed how ordinary citizens could harvest them on any public or private land. Conversely, plants were considered part of the land on which they grew, and therefore plants on private land were treated as the private property of the owner. This difference in ownership has continued in the different ways in which plants and animals are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Endangered Species Regulations – List of Threatened and Endangered Species Comprehensive information about endangered species in the United States: NatureServe In the 1960s and early 1970s, the public became increasingly concerned about the decline of various plants and animals due to human exploitation and/or habitat destruction. Previous congressional laws had protected some wildlife, but the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was the first federal legislation to protect endangered plants. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been given primary responsibility for fulfilling the mandates of the Act. The full law is available on the Fish and Wildlife Service website. The following paragraphs summarize some important aspects of the law regarding plants.
CITES-protected species are listed on one of three lists (appendices) based on the extent to which international trade threatens their existence: The Endangered Species Act (« ESA ») prohibits the import, export, removal, possession, sale and transport of threatened and threatened species (with a few exceptions). The ESA also provides for the identification of critical habitat and prohibits the destruction of such habitat. The provisions of the ESA are enforced through the use of citizen actions, imprisonment, fines and confiscation. The Endangered Species Act provides additional benefits to humans by maintaining healthy natural systems that provide us with clean air and water, food, medicine and other products that we all need to lead healthy lives. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of the environment and to leave a legacy of protecting endangered species and the special places they call home. Recovery Plan In addition to the identification of critical habitat, listing usually requires the development of a plan outlining the research and management activities required for recovery. Recovery plans shall specify the measures to be taken if necessary; anticipated recovery costs; and the planned recovery schedule. This science-based approach is the best way to ensure that species are put on a path to long-term persistence and recovery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for classifying plants as endangered or threatened (section 4 of the Act). These decisions are based solely on the best available scientific and commercial information. Areas with critical habitat may also be identified in conjunction with the listing.
In 2006, 747 plants were classified as endangered or threatened. There are 117 endangered or threatened plants in national forests and grasslands. Short profiles are available for each of these systems. When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, it recognized that our rich natural heritage is « an aesthetic, environmental, educational, restorative, and scientific value to our nation and its people. » He also expressed concern that many of our country`s native plants and animals were threatened with extinction. ESA`s objective is to protect and restore endangered species and the ecosystems on which they depend. The Department of the Interior`s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Department of Commerce`s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) administer ESA. The FWS has primary responsibility for terrestrial and freshwater organisms, while the responsibilities of the NMFS are primarily marine animals such as whales and anadromous fish such as salmon. According to the ESA, the species can be classified as endangered or threatened. Endangered means that a species is threatened with extinction throughout its range or in a significant part of its range.
« Threatened » means that a species is likely to be endangered for the foreseeable future. All plant and animal species, with the exception of insect pests, can be classified as endangered or threatened. For ESA purposes, Congress has defined species as including subspecies, varieties and, in the case of vertebrates, different population segments. As of January 2013, the FWS had identified 2,054 species worldwide as endangered or threatened, 1,436 of which are listed in the United States.To Read more about this bulletin commemorating the 40th anniversary of www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/ESA_basics.pdf Congress has imposed strict legal bans on the « removal » of endangered species, but gave the Interior and Trade Ministers the discretion to: apply these prohibitions to endangered species. « Taking » includes activities such as harassment, injury and murder. « Damage » to a listed species is further defined by the regulations as including a significant change in habitat. While ESA can protect listed species from significant harm, it does not directly require or force individuals to take positive conservation action on behalf of these species. Non-federal landowners and administrators may obtain a permit to « take » a listed species if the extraction is related to another legal activity, such as . B.dem plough a field, build a shopping mall or issue building permits.
These random removal permits are issued in conjunction with three different types of agreements: populations are monitored over time to determine if a particular species is recovering. .