What does the Endangered Species Act (ESA) require from federal agencies?

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) mandates that federal agencies ensure that their actions do not put at risk any species that are listed as endangered or threatened, as well as their habitats. This means federal agencies must undertake a careful review of their proposed activities to assess potential impacts on such species. By avoiding actions that may jeopardize these listed species, they play a crucial role in the conservation and recovery of endangered and threatened species, thus preserving biodiversity.

While protecting habitats is important, the specific requirement under the ESA related to federal agency actions focuses primarily on avoiding any actions that could cause harm to these species. For instance, habitat restoration may be encouraged, but it is not an explicit requirement that federal agencies must undertake as part of their mandate under the ESA. Funding species introduction programs or conducting regular population assessments, while potentially beneficial, are not universal obligations laid out by the ESA for federal agencies. The core principle is primarily centered around the need to prevent jeopardy to the existence of endangered or threatened species.