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species & habitat

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In This Section
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Fish & Wildlife
Quick Facts about the Endangered Species Act

  • Year the endangered species act became law: 1973
  • Purpose of the endangered species act: "[t]o provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species, and to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the purposes of [international] treaties and conventions.."

  • Approximate number of u.s. Species currently listed as Threatened or endangered under the endangered species act: 988 endangered, 276 threatened

  • Average number of years species have been listed: 15.5

  • Average length of time species recovery plans say it will take to recover listed species: 30 to 50 years

  • Number of listed species with recovery plans: 1,082

  • Number of listed species with designated critical habitat: 464

  • Approximate total acerage of designated critical Habitat in the united states: 43 million acres

  • Ratio by which species with designated critical Habitat are increasing in number according to analysis of us fish and wildlife service reports: 2 : 1

  • Approximate number of habitat conservation plans that have been approved: 405

  • Number of species that have been declared "recovered" and delisted under the endangered species act: 15

  • Percentage of species that have gone extinct while listed under the endangered species act: 0.58%

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