August 25, 2025
TO: Members of the United States Congress, House Natural Resources Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
We, the undersigned American citizens, urgently call upon Congress to defend and preserve the Endangered Species Act in its current form and reject any attempts to weaken this critical environmental protection law.
What Is the Endangered Species Act?
The Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in 1973, is one of America’s most successful and important environmental laws. The ESA protects plant and animal species at risk of extinction by:
- Listing species as endangered or threatened based on scientific evidence
- Protecting critical habitat necessary for species survival and recovery
- Prohibiting harmful actions such as killing, harming, or harassing listed species
- Requiring federal agencies to ensure their actions do not jeopardize listed species
- Creating recovery plans with concrete steps to restore populations
The law recognizes that species have intrinsic value and that biodiversity is essential to healthy ecosystems that all Americans depend upon.
The ESA’s Remarkable Success: 99% Effective
The Endangered Species Act has been extraordinarily successful, preventing the extinction of 99% of species under its protection. This is an unparalleled conservation achievement that has saved hundreds of species from disappearing forever.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has saved 99% of the species it has protected from extinction, which is estimated to be approximately 291 species. The act has helped recover 46 species and currently protects over 1,600 domestic species.
Marine Success Stories
Gray Whales: Once hunted to the brink of extinction, Eastern Pacific gray whales have recovered so successfully under ESA protection that they were removed from the endangered list in 1994. Their population rebounded from fewer than 2,000 individuals to over 20,000, demonstrating that protection works when given time.
Southern Sea Otters: These charismatic marine mammals were reduced to just 50 individuals by the fur trade. ESA protections have helped their population grow to approximately 3,000 animals along California’s coast. Sea otters play a crucial role in kelp forest ecosystems, which support countless other species and protect coastlines from erosion.
Hammerhead Sharks: Several hammerhead shark species recently received ESA protection due to overfishing and finning. These protections limit international trade and require fisheries to minimize bycatch, giving these ecologically important predators a chance at recovery. Hammerheads help maintain healthy ocean ecosystems by keeping prey populations in balance.
Humpback Whales: Most humpback whale populations have recovered remarkably under the ESA, with some populations increasing from a few hundred to over 20,000 individuals.
Green Sea Turtles: Once decimated by hunting and egg collection, green sea turtles have made significant comebacks in Florida and Hawaii thanks to ESA protections, with nesting populations increasing dramatically.
Critical Habitat Protection
The ESA’s habitat protection provisions have been equally vital. By designating and protecting critical habitat—the specific areas essential for a species’ survival—the Act has:
- Preserved vital breeding, feeding, and migration areas
- Maintained ecosystem connectivity and wildlife corridors
- Protected watersheds that provide clean water for both wildlife and communities
- Conserved forests, wetlands, and grasslands that sequester carbon and buffer against climate change
- Safeguarded coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other marine habitats that support fisheries
These habitat protections benefit entire ecosystems, not just listed species, creating healthier environments for all wildlife and people.
The Threat: Who Benefits from Weakening the ESA?
Current efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act are driven by narrow economic interests that prioritize short-term profits over long-term ecological and economic health:
Extractive Industries: Oil, gas, mining, and logging companies seek to exploit resources in sensitive habitats without environmental review or mitigation requirements.
Development Interests: Real estate developers want to build in critical habitat areas without restrictions, maximizing profits regardless of environmental consequences.
Industrial Agriculture: Large-scale agricultural operations oppose restrictions on pesticides, water diversions, and land clearing that harm listed species.
Commercial Fishing Operations: Some fishing interests resist measures to reduce bycatch of protected marine species, despite sustainable alternatives.
These groups have lobbied extensively to:
- Remove scientific standards for listing decisions
- Eliminate critical habitat protections
- Reduce public participation in conservation decisions
- Prioritize economic considerations over species survival
- Limit federal agency responsibility to protect species
The Devastating Consequences of Weakening the ESA
Rolling back Endangered Species Act protections would have catastrophic and irreversible consequences:
Species Extinctions
Without robust ESA protections, dozens of species currently recovering could face extinction, including:
- Florida manatees
- North Atlantic right whales (fewer than 350 remain)
- Pacific leatherback sea turtles
- Orcas (Southern Resident population)
- Smalltooth sawfish
- Elkhorn and staghorn corals
Once a species goes extinct, it is gone forever. We cannot bring back the unique genetic heritage, ecological roles, and intrinsic value these species represent.
Ecosystem Collapse
Species do not exist in isolation. Their loss triggers cascading failures:
- Predator removal causes prey overpopulation and vegetation destruction
- Loss of pollinators devastates plant reproduction
- Disappearance of keystone species destabilizes entire ecosystems
- Coral reef death eliminates habitat for thousands of species
Economic Losses
Weakening the ESA would harm American economic interests:
- Tourism: Wildlife watching generates $75 billion annually and supports 600,000 jobs
- Fisheries: Healthy marine ecosystems support a $244 billion fishing industry
- Property Values: Coastal properties protected by healthy ecosystems (mangroves, reefs, wetlands) maintain higher values
- Climate Resilience: Ecosystems protected under the ESA provide natural infrastructure worth billions in storm protection and flood control
Moral and Ethical Failure
We have a moral obligation to future generations to preserve the natural heritage of our planet. Allowing preventable extinctions represents an abandonment of our responsibility as stewards of the Earth.
Irreversible Loss to Science and Medicine
Many medical breakthroughs come from studying wildlife. Species we drive to extinction may hold cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, or future pandemics. Once lost, these opportunities vanish forever.
Our Demands
We call upon Congress to:
- REJECT all legislative efforts to weaken, defund, or dismantle the Endangered Species Act
- PRESERVE scientific integrity in listing decisions and critical habitat designations
- MAINTAIN strong habitat protections that safeguard ecosystems
- STRENGTHEN enforcement and provide adequate funding for species recovery
- RESIST industry pressure to prioritize short-term profits over species survival
- UPHOLD the ESA as written, honoring the bipartisan conservation legacy it represents
The Endangered Species Act works. It has prevented hundreds of extinctions and is steadily recovering vulnerable populations. We must not sacrifice this remarkable success to special interests.
The species we save today will be here for our children and grandchildren. The species we allow to go extinct are gone forever.
We urge you to stand with science, stand with conservation, and stand with the 99% success rate of the Endangered Species Act.
Sign the Petition
Name: _______________________________
Address: _______________________________
City, State, ZIP: _______________________________
Email: _______________________________
Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________
This petition will be delivered to your Representatives, Senators, the House Natural Resources Committee, and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Together, we can protect America’s natural heritage for generations to come.