Endangered Species Get Federal Backing

[Audio] Hello. I am Walter Grzesik with the American Military University. Today I am presenting Endangered Species Get Federal Backing to EVSP508 Environmental Ethics Summer Session I, 2023..

[Audio] In a world where the dominating species, humans, continuously further their development it puts every other species at risk. Wildlife has served a purpose throughout mankind's history, and this does not show any sign of changing. This has greatly affected multiple species, to the point where some no longer exist and more are on their way out. This has become an environmentally ethical concern needing the United States government to intervene and alter their current courses to make an equally moral position. This is attempted to be accomplished through the worldviews of biocentrism, the perspective of all life deserving equal standing and deep ecology, the idea that humans must change their standing with nature to recognize its inherent value..

[Audio] The first federal law that began this process was established by the United States Department of the Interior, the section of the government that dealt with the management of public lands, minerals, national parks, wildlife, and other environmental aspects at the time, was the Lacey Act in 1900. This established that it was unlawful to transport illegally taken wildlife, fish, or plants. This has since been amended to add more species and extended broader ranges of protection. This aligns with the worldviews as it helps to prevent diseases that target wildlife, attempts to prevent unlawful taking of species and the nuisance of potential invasive species. The next federal law developed focused on the protection of migrating birds but came from multiple governments' concern. The United States, Canada, and Great Britain had concern of migratory birds and their plummeting number to protect the many species there were. This would be known as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and would stop the killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport of protected species without authorization beforehand by the Department of the Interior. As these species were highly sought after, they were protected, which walked hand and hand with both worldview topics to change action and find some equality of preservation..

[Audio] Another federal law that focused on the preservation of Americas national bird, the bald eagle. It is known as the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, and does exactly as it suggest, provide national protection the species from any further taking of any manner. The Department of the Interior combined with the Bureaus of Fisheries and Biological Survey to establish the Fish and Wildlife Service section within the department this same year. With the insight from both newly merged departments, they specifically focused on penalizing any person who take, offer to sell, purchase, possess, sell, purchase, barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald or golden eagles, alive or dead, or any part to include nest, eggs, and even feathers. This action was required as the species was hunted for decades, to the point of endangerment, for sport and to protect fishing areas but can now recover without possible harm as their lives are seen as equally important to life..

[Audio] One of, if not the greatest federal laws the United States Department of the Interiors Fish and Wildlife Service in relations to coverage of species, was the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. This act amended the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, but not only listing which species are able to be listed but now full conservation efforts and protection of threatened species domestically could be acted upon. This gave every species an equal chance of survival and changed how humans interacted with listed species. However, this was further amended in 1973 by the Endangered Species Act which promoted, protected, and assisted species that came in any risk of extinction worldwide..

[Audio] The United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has continuously show to improve upon the environmentally ethical concerns of wildlife species. When concerns of species becoming less populated over the course of many years, actions had to take place in order to preserve the species as they play a role in their environments. This was done by creating federal laws to ensure the protection and longevity of species, as their values were seen with time going on. Humans have treated these threatened species with more respect as they have life within them that are as equally important. As time progressed, more care and concern went into all species that may become listed, showing how the United States government used the worldviews of biocentrism and deep ecology towards this environmental ethical concern..

References. Desjardins, J. R. (n.d.). Biocentrism. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/biocentrism Madsen, P. (n.d.). Deep Ecology. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/deep-ecology U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Lacey Act. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/fsc-lacey-act.pdf U.S. Department of the Interior. (2020, April 26). Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/law/migratory-bird-treaty-act-1918#:~:text=The%20Migratory%20Bird%20Treaty%20Act%20(MBTA)%20prohibits%20the%20take%20(,U.S.%20Fish%20and%20Wildlife%20Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.-a). Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act#:~:text=The%20Bald%20and%20Golden%20Eagle,)%2C%20nests%2C%20or%20eggs. U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.-b). Endangered Species Act Milestones: Pre 1973. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/node/266462#:~:text=The%20Endangered%20Species%20Conservation%20Act,Act%20of%201973%20(ESA)..