Ecological Services

Species Conservation
Recovery and Delisting of Endangered Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—Fisheries (also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service) are the two agencies charged with the administration and implementation of the Endangered Species Act. The goal of the Endangered Species Act is the recovery of listed species to levels where protection under the Act is no longer necessary. The Fish & Wildlife Service has active recovery programs for the species in which our office has the lead responsibility.

What exactly do we mean by recovery? Recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats removed or reduced so that the species' survival in the wild can be ensured. The goal of the ESA is the recovery of listed species to levels where protection
under the ESA is no longer necessary.

• Why, when and how are species removed from the list?
• Endangered Species Act-related Policies and Guidance



• Would you like to know which species have been removed from the list? And why? Check out our report, Species that have been delisted.