The rate of human-caused extinction caused by human activities is from 100 to 1000 times as high as the natural rate. The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to contain human actions that could threaten extinction of a species and to proactively plan for recovery of the listed and candidate species. The federal government should declare and describe the critical habitat for threatened and endangered species at the time of listing, based upon sufficient scientific information. Critical habitat is defined as the specific areas within and outside the geographical area presently occupied by the listed species containing features essential to the conservation of the species. Critical habitat designation and revisions of same should be made.
Recovery is a priority of the Endangered Species Act.
Implementation of plans should take place within 90 days of listing. Successful recovery takes place across the available landscape previously occupied by the species. Where private lands are needed, the federal government should either make arrangements for a market value purchase of the lands required, or arrange with willing landowners for easements with no incompatible human activity. In order to achieve uniformity in successful endangered species conservation, the federal government should cooperate with local governing bodies to ensure that no action preempts the containment strategies central to the Act. New and existing Habitat Conservation Plans developed at the state, regional, county and municipal level should follow the guidelines of the Act as described here.