Status of the Recovery Mandate Under Section 7(a)(1) of the U.S. Endangered Species Act

The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) is widely considered to be one of the strongest laws for protecting imperiled wildlife, with nearly all species protected under law still existing today. Among ESA's provisions, at least as written, requirement section 7(a)(1) that federal agencies use their authorities help recover species. New initiatives like 30 x 30, campaign conserve 30% lands and waters by 2030, offer opportunities reinvigorate expand programs play a significant role in biodiversity conservation. To gauge current status plans assess effectiveness, we collected materials available public through internet searches direct requests agencies. We evaluated scope found despite clear potential benefits strong programs, has been significantly underused Further, show are highly inconsistent content style, trace inconsistency lack policy guidance creation implementation. Based on these findings, recommend five strategies improving implementation: establishment formal from wildlife agencies, tailored other them meet obligation, dedicated funding, integration into opportunities, top-level executive branch coordination cooperation.