Conservationists in New York and nationwide are celebrating the 51st anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which is officially on Saturday. Since its passage in 1973, more than 16-hundred species in the U-S have been protected by this law. New York’s piping plover and numerous other grassland birds have seen their populations rebound, and backers credit this legislation. Susan Holmes with the Endangered Species Coalition says bald eagles are a great example of the law’s conservation impacts.
“There are, in New York State, 425 breeding pairs – which means that if you’re taking the Amtrak north to say Croton or going north along the Hudson, there’s a good chance that you’ll see a bald eagle,” said Susan Holmes with the Coalition. “And all of this is thanks to the Endangered Species Act.”
Beyond funding, Holmes feels more people getting involved in wildlife conservation can help strengthen the law. When it first passed, it had overwhelming bipartisan support from Congress and the public. Though public support for the Endangered Species Act remains high, Holmes says lawmakers’ support has waned.
Holmes said, “We’ve seen some polarization around the Endangered Species Act itself. That’s not reflected by the public’s concern for wildlife nor the public support for the law. So, I think it’s true, we are not seeing the same kind of support among Republicans for endangered species protection that we saw back in 1973.”
For 2025, Holmes says threats from climate change and habitat loss will linger. But she’s hopeful there will be a recommitment to fully funding the Endangered Species Act to ensure more threatened plants and animals are able to thrive.
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