On Nov. 16, Maine Audubon’s Advocacy Team traveled to Harvard Law School as invitees to a conference called The Endangered Species Act: The Next 50 Years. The event was billed as a place to “bring together scholars, policymakers, and conservationists who will collaborate to assess lessons learned and propose innovative strategies for the next 50 years, focusing on adaptive management, climate resilience, and community engagement.”
The panels, made up of the top Endangered Species Act (ESA) scholars and practitioners, delivered on those promises. Experts discussed the successes—the ESA has prevented the extinction of 99% of all the species it protects since its passage—as well as the challenges and misconceptions that follow the Act. For example, while the Act has been effective at preventing extinction it hasn’t been as successful at building back species stocks, restoring habitats, and keeping common species common. Improving these aspects of the Act was a major topic of discussion during the day.
Maine Audubon has had a broad and extensive experience with the Endangered Species Act. We supported the law’s passage in 1973, and advocated on behalf of the listing of appropriate Maine species, including Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, and more. These listings have led to years of practical experience as well, and Maine Audubon staff have been instrumental in helping listed species recover. Perhaps our most celebrated work has been through our Coastal Birds Project, which works to support populations of Piping Plover and Least Tern in Maine. Piping Plovers are listed as federally threatened and are listed as endangered under our state’s list. Least Terns are listed as endangered on our state’s list. Our organization hits the beaches each summer, working with local biologists, volunteers, state and local officials, towns, and anyone else we can to protect nests and chicks of these beach-nesting birds. Our efforts have paid off, and both of these species have steadily increased their numbers in Maine thanks to our efforts.
But we know that this work is fragile. The Harvard conference was planned before the 2024 election, and the results hung over the proceedings like a dark cloud. The incoming administration has vowed to weaken the Endangered Species Act in a number of ways, including rescinding rules for Critical Habitat and Critical Habitat Exclusions; Abolish the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey; Immediately delist endangered populations of Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf; and take other actions to undermine the world’s most famous environmental law. The political climate is also emboldening to those looking to undercut the ESA in court, including by challenging the very fundamentals of its authority.
The conference panelists were resigned in agreement about the precariousness of the moment. Some joked that perhaps the conference shouldn’t focus on the next 50 years of the ESA but just the next five.
Maine Audubon pledges to fight. This is not, by a longshot, the first time the Endangered Species Act has been in the crosshairs of those looking to weaken it. This is not the first time that political forces have been aligned against wildlife conservation. We have worked to implement our mission to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat for decades, working in and through all manner of political climates.
We will, of course, need your help. Our strength as an organization is derived entirely from the accumulated strength of our members and supporters. Become a member. Sign up for Action Alerts. Donate to help us bring your messages to Augusta and D.C. We look forward to continuing this work alongside you.
