Currently, over 1,600 species are listed as either endangered or threatened in the United States under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The number of candidate species continues to grow and many species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and mollusks, and butterflies appear to be in decline.  

Since its adoption, many have debated the costs and effectiveness of recovering species under ESA’s inflexible and stringent requirements.  The national costs for recovering species are significant and estimated to be well over $1.2 billion annually.  Fortunately, there is a growing bipartisan consensus that state wildlife agencies can do more to keep species off the ESA list by actively monitoring and managing at-risk species, including encouraging more innovative techniques, tools, and partnerships.