Endangered Species

With one-third of our nation’s wildlife at risk of extinction, and the impacts of climate change accelerating, the time is now to find new and better ways to protect our natural heritage. Innovations must be found, not only for the wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend, but also for the current and future human generations who are inextricably linked to the natural world. State endangered species laws are one tool that can be used to this end. The goal of this report is to highlight what is and isn’t working across states and to spotlight innovative case studies of species recovery. Actions taken before a species becomes endangered can also save the lives of individual species, in addition to saving considerable money, time, and effort.

With one-third of our nation’s wildlife at risk of extinction, and nearly every American county containing threatened or endangered species of plants or animals, state legislators have been looking at ways to protect these species and stem the tide of extinctions. This report contains the lessons learned by state legislators across the country who have worked tirelessly to craft and pass legislation to help secure our country’s invaluable wildlife…

The world is losing countless species every day. Three billion birds alone have disappeared from North America since just 1970. State wildlife agencies are doing their best to combat this crisis, but they are significantly constrained by a lack of funds. Often, only a select number of species of greatest conservation need can be prioritized and conserved by state agencies. The protection of numerous species must be sacrificed, which leaves them at risk of extinction in our lifetimes. Preventative funding can blunt the daunting challenge of the work to recover endangered and threatened species, as well as species of greatest conservation need. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, or RAWA, would provide states with crucial funding to support the protection and recovery of our biodiversity.

Invasive species (IS) are any type of living organism that are not native to an ecosystem and cause harm. IS are found in all 50 states, and are characterized by their tendency to outcompete native species due to rapid reproduction rates and their ability to withstand threats that native species cannot. Invasive species can occur on land (terrestrial) or in water (aquatic). Some common examples of IS are: lionfish (aquatic), Russian olive tree (terrestrial), zebra mussels (aquatic), and Burmese pythons (terrestrial). With over 50,000 non-native species and growing in the United States, the threats to the environment and the economy are spreading fast.

Illegal ivory and rhino horn trafficking is an escalating global issue. Elephants and rhinos may soon be driven to extinction by poaching. The demand for elephant ivory and rhino horn, driven by China, Japan, the Philippines, the United States and other countries, has created a massive international market that has detrimental economic, social and environmental impacts in Africa. Poaching is now a sophisticated international crime racket and a national security threat with terrorist organizations using profits to finance attacks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently instituted a near ban on ivory and rhino import and domestic interstate trade. But the states must regulate in-state sales. Many states have enacted or introduced a ban on ivory and rhino horn trades in their jurisdictions. This briefing book includes a fact sheet, an FAQ, and a matrix of bill provisions.

Illegal ivory and rhino horn trafficking is an escalating global issue. Elephants and rhinos may soon be driven to extinction by poaching. The demand for elephant ivory and rhino horn, driven by China, Japan, the Philippines, the United States and other countries, has created a massive international market that has detrimental economic, social and environmental impacts in Africa. Poaching is now a sophisticated international crime racket and a national security threat with terrorist organizations using profits to finance attacks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently instituted a near ban on ivory and rhino import and domestic interstate trade. But the states must regulate in-state sales. Many states have enacted or introduced a ban on ivory and rhino horn trades in their jurisdictions.

Over 60% of land in the United States is in private ownership. These lands support over two-thirds of the species listed under the Endangered Species Act, with 10% of listed species occurring only on private lands. Many landowners feel proud to have endangered species on their land, and are eager to steward and recover listed species and help prevent future listings. Options for supporting private landowners to engage in endangered species stewardship include management agreements, financial payments, and tax incentives.