Significance

• American Bald Eagle
  
  According to the Endangered Species Act, "These species of fish, wildlife and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the nation and its people."
  
  

Ecosystems

• The act provides for the conservation of ecosystems that endangered species of plants, fish and wildlife depend on for survival. It provides the authority to acquire land for conservation by purchasing the areas needed with water and land conservation funds. The Conservation Act directs the secretary of Interior to develop and review recovery plans with no preference to any taxonomic group for the listed species.
  
  

List

• The secretary of the Interior is responsible for monitoring all petitioned species that are candidates for listing as a threatened or endangered species. These are placed on the government's endangered species list. There is also a required five-year monitoring period for species that have adequately recovered and been delisted. This ensures that the species is continuing to reproduce in adequate numbers and will avoid being relisted.
  
  

Possession

• Possession of an endangered species of plants, fish and wildlife is prohibited by citizens in order for the ecosystem to reactivate itself properly. The Endangered Species Act also prohibits the taking, sale or transport of species on its endangered list. The act also provides equal authority to the departments of Agriculture and Interior for enforcement of restrictions on importing and exporting listed plants.
  
  

Grants

• The act authorizes cooperative agreements to be established in conservation efforts. Also, grants will be given to states that actively establish and maintain programs for threatened and endangered wildlife and plants.