Endangered Species - Causes of Endangerment :: essays papers

En risk of exposureed Species - Causes of EndangermentThe term exist is used by international and national organizations to define plants and animals currently in danger of becoming extinct. Although the term menace is universally used, the definition of an endangered species is greatly varied. In most cases, the factors causing an organism to become endangered are human- related. When discussing the causes of endangered species, it is important to understand that individual species are not the only factors involved in this dilemma. Endangerment is a broad issue, one that involves the habitats and environments where species live and interact with one another. Although about measures are being taken to help specific cases of endangerment, the universal problem cannot be solved until humans protect the natural environments where endangered species dwell. Back in the fall of 1973 Congress passed the Endangered Species work, the point of which was to identify the plants and ani mals in the most trouble and come up with plans for saving them. The effort has probably been as moot as it has been successful (Institute of Advanced Studies 39). Of the more than 1,400 species designated as endangered, only 18 have recovered to the point where theyve been taken off the list. Upon signing the Endangered Species Act on December 28, 1973, President Nixon stated Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our demesne has been blessed (Environmental Protection Agency). And now that scientists have cloned the last surviving member of a rare breed of cow, some fear that the publics sense of urgency regarding vanishing species baron fade. Why not just clone more owls, the thinking goes but that, say wildlife experts, would be only a quick fix. Cloning would provide us with individual animals but not the home to introduce them to in the wild, says Jeff Flocken, endangered species outreach coordinator at th e National Wildlife Federation. Whatevers causing a species to decline, whether its exploitation or destruction of a habitat, would continue to put that species at risk of being exterminated (National Wildlife Federation ). Today there are currently 1246 species of plants and animals that are either on the endangered or threatened list in the United States and 1804 worldwide. Of the 1804 endangered species worldwide, only 975 of them have approved recovery plans (Endangered Species Coalition).