The Trump administration has plans to roll back on the ESA (Endangered Species Act) regardless of the risks that this decision creates. The Trump administration claims that they would be modernizing age old regulations during the roll back, however, many conservationists argue that there are species that may not survive without the help of these funds. This act is responsible for protecting and rehabilitating thousands of plant and animal species that are on the verge of extinction due to human interference as well as natural cause. This includes our country’s national bird, the bald eagle.
Species extinction will affect Americans and their daily life whether they realize it or not. Cutting back on ESA funds is a big issue because it is the difference between life and death for a species. If a species dies out then it will affect the ecosystems we depend on for food and clothing. These changes could also cause future endangered species to not get the help and protection their kind truly needs. This roll back would shift the focus from saving plants and animals to how much will it cost to help them. The roll back would also affect accountability for killing plants and animals. Some motives of republican lawmakers who are trying to roll back on ESA are that it hurts businesses and are looking out for the country economically. But the businesses it hurts are mainly mining and drilling, as well as other environmentally damaging businesses. These businesses are one of the main reasons animals are going extinct, and are the cause of oil spills as well as severe disruption of ecosystems. "In the past 500 years, we know of approximately 1,000 species that have gone extinct," according to the Center for Biological Diversity, and this is almost all at the hands of humans. In 1972, President Nixon decided that U.S. conservation efforts could be improved and called on the 93rd Congress to fix that, thus the ESA was born. But President Trump is trying to go back on what President Nixon created. There are many questions regarding this issue but the true question is what is more important, the money or the plants and animals.
Discussion Questions
- What example is President Trump setting by rolling back on ESA when it obviously very important to other leaders?
- Should spending money to protect plants and animals be a priority for the American government?
- Would rolling back on ESA be more beneficial or harmful to endangered and at risk species?
- If bringing back one extinct species was possible would you do it and what species would you bring back?
Sources
I chose to write about this topic because I consider plants and animals very important. Humans have hurt the Earth's ecosystems so we should be trying to fix it. The world depends on animals and with Trump's administration team trying to roll back on ESA some plants and animals may go extinct. Plants and animals are so important to our everyday life and with the advanced technology we have today we should be doing everything in our power to protect and rehabilitate them. The world flourished before human interference and we need to try and help the world get back to the way it once was. Even America's national bird is in danger but Trump's administration team still thinks it is wise to roll back on ESA. Someone needs to put their foot down and speak up for the plants and animals in trouble.
By rolling back the ESA, president Trump is setting a very bad example for his leadership in the United States. By doing this, he is proving that to him and his campaign, money is certainly more important to them than the safety of the wildlife in the U.S. Personally I believe that the government absolutely should be putting more time, money, and effort into protecting the plants and animals that call America their home. As of right now, 1.7 billion dollars are spent a year trying to protect endangered species, and every cent is worth it. Since 1973 when the act was passed, it had saved countless animals. According to CNN, “the law has kept dozens of iconic species from being wiped off the face of the Earth.” And one of these species includes our own national bird, the bald eagle. The bald eagle represents the strength and freedom America has, and it was appropriately chosen by our founding fathers to represent us. Because of this act, we are still able to proudly call the Bald Eagle our national bird. Therefore rolling back on this act would be a terrible idea that President Trump needs to reconsider. Just because it is saving the country money does not mean it is the right thing to do. The republicans reason for all this is because it will hurt mining and drilling businesses, however these businesses too harm the environment. There is an average of 1.3 million gallons of oil spilled into U.S. waters in a typical year, and this is killing off animals as well. These examples are exactly why this act needs to be protected, so we as Americans can protect our wildlife, who have been here longer than any of us have.
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