Endangered Species Act Turns 40 on December 28

Contacts:
Gavin Shire, USFWS, 703-346-9123, [email protected]
Fionna Matheson, NOAA, 301-427-8013, [email protected]

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The Endangered Species Act, the bipartisan legislation that is credited with saving hundreds of species from extinction, was signed into law by President Nixon 40 years ago on December 28, 1973.

This landmark law has been the catalyst for fully recovering 31 species, including the bald eagle, eastern population of Steller sea lion, American alligator, Lake Erie water snake and the Virginia northern flying squirrel. It continues to work today to protect and recover in excess of 2,100 animals and plants in the U.S. and around the world.

The U.S.F.W.S. and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have assembled a wide range of resources to enable media to celebrate this historic occasion, including:

• U.S.F.W.S. ESA 40^th Anniversary Webpage containing a decade-by-decade timeline; state-by-state guide with focal species, partnership stories, and additional resources; downloadable copies of the Endangered Species Bulletin newsletter; latest edition of Fish and Wildlife News magazine that focuses on the act; and a full media kit with b-roll, fact sheets and videos.
• N.O.A.A. ESA 40^th Anniversary Webpage, containing an ESA overview and detailed species information pages.
• Quote sheet, including quotes from the Secretary of the Interior, FWS Director, N.O.A.A. leadership and others.

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