Why Save Species?

Congress answered this question in the preamble to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, recognizing that endangered and threatened species of wildlife and plants "are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people."

Some of the many specific reasons to invest money and effort into actions to conserve species threatened by extinction include: benefits of natural diversity, contributions to medicine, biodiversity and agriculture, environmental monitors, ecosystem services, other economic values and intangible values.

To learn more about each benefits, click here.