The Endangered Species Act - Is The Endangered Species Act Enough?

Other critics argue, on the other hand, that the ESA is not enough. In May 2005 a group of ten prominent scientists sent a letter to the U.S. Senate in which they urged strengthening of the Act. The letter was spearheaded by Professors E. O. Wilson of Harvard University and Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University. It warns that Earth is facing an "extinction crisis" and that large numbers of species could be lost over the next few decades. The scientists note the importance of the ESA in U.S. efforts to preserve biological diversity and conclude, "Viewing our looming extinction crisis as a crisis for humans as well as wildlife, the importance of the Endangered Species Act takes on even greater significance. In the face of this crisis, we must strengthen the Act and broaden its protections, not weaken them" (http://www.edcnews.se/Research/Extinction.html).

In March 2006 more than 5,700 U.S. scientists signed a letter to the U.S. Senate regarding concerns of the scientific community about proposed changes to the ESA. The letter highlights the historical successes of the Act as encouraging signs that progress is being made against the loss of imperiled species. It argues that the Act does not need a substantial overhaul, but a greater emphasis on implementation and use of objective scientific information in decision-making. The scientists wrote: "For species conservation to continue, it is imperative both that the scientific principles embodied in the Act are maintained, and that the Act is strengthened, fully implemented, and adequately funded" (http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/restoring/science-in-the-endangered.html).