According to the General Accountability Office (GAO) report, requested by U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, along with several Members of the House and Senate, the conservation tools provided by the ESA have been successful. 

 “This report reiterates what we have already known for some time – the Endangered Species Act  works.  Only nine of the approximately 1,300 domestic species listed have gone extinct.  Clearly, species have been, and continue to be, recovering under the Act,” said Rep. Rahall. 

The report also reaffirms the long-held belief that a secure habitat is critical to the continued viability of species.  Of the 31 species reviewed by the GAO, more than half have recovered or are scheduled to be taken off the endangered and threatened species list as a result of recovery plans that have been in place.

Additional tools provided by ESA – such as implementation of habitat conservation plans, safe harbor agreements, habitat acquisition, and habitat restoration – have assisted in speeding up the recovery process and conserving critical habitats.

 “These findings are further evidence that the law is working.  But sufficient funding and a real long-term commitment to saving species are needed to truly improve upon the ESA’s impressive record of success.  We need to provide America’s endangered wildlife with more protection, not less, if we want to support their continued recovery,” said Rep. Rahall.