Doesn’t the federal Endangered Species Act protect species from extinction?
A. Few, if any, federal laws or programs address protection of plants, animals, and ecosystems before they become imperiled. While the federal government can regulate interstate commerce and has developed several environmental laws beyond the Endangered Species Act (e.g., Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, etc.) under the U.S. Constitution, individual states bear most of the responsibility for managing wildlife within their borders. Although federal programs provide some protection to species, states are better able to identify species loss and conservation needs within their borders. We need more than the minimum reactionary federal protections provided by the Endangered Species Act. States can heed the early warning signs and take a proactive stance to protect animals and plants before they become federally listed.
