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 more than 2,100 animals and plants in the U.S. and around the world.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have assembled a wide range of resources to enable media to celebrate this historic occasion, including:
- USFWS ESA 40th 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.
- NOAA ESA 40th Anniversary Webpage, containing an ESA overview anddetailed species information pages.
- Quote sheet, including quotes from the Secretary of the Interior, FWS Director, NOAA leadership and others.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels at www.noaa.gov/socialmedia.
