Defenders' Experts
Endangered Species Act
ESA under attack
Sept. 24, 2008 - Jamie Clark, Defenders' Executive Vice President, testifies before the Senate explaining how the Bush proposal to change the Endangered Species Act would harm threatened and endangered species.
For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has helped prevent the extinction of our nation’s wildlife treasures including beloved symbols of America such as the bald eagle, the Florida manatee and the California condor.
Only nine of the more than 1800 plants and animals currently protected by the act worldwide have been declared extinct, an astonishing success rate.
The Endangered Species Act provides added benefits to people by maintaining healthy natural systems that provide us with clean air and water, food, medicines and other products that we all need to live healthy lives.
We owe it to our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of the environment and leave behind a legacy of protecting endangered species and the special places they call home.
ESA Under Attack from Bush Administration Proposal
On August 11, 2008 the Bush Administration announced a new attack on the Endangered Species Act. Bob Irvin, Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs, says, "The so-called “narrow revisions” are just wide enough to ensure that agencies can go ahead with projects without being subject to checks and balances, or consultation."
Jamie Clark's testimony before Congress (9/24/2008)
Bob Irvin's complete statement
Editorials written in response to this attack
Fact Sheets
Get the facts about these proposed changes straight from
Defenders' experts, Jason Rylander and Robert Davison.
Bush Administration's 11th Hour Proposed Changes to ESAThe Bush administration's 11th hour regulation proposal for the Endangered Species Act removes safeguards for endangered species.
Details about Proposed Changes to Section 7 of the ESAA close look at how the Bush Administration's proposed regulations put endangered species at risk.
