Loss of biodiversity is of national and international significance. An endangered species is a plant or animal that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct. Although extinction is a natural process, in recent years the rate of extinction has reached epidemic proportions. We are losing 1 to 100 species each day. The acceleration of the extinction rate is directly linked to overconsumption, overdevelopment and the pollution of our environment by corporations.
More products mean more pollution.
Corporations alter or destroy habitat through strip mining, logging, overgrazing, water diversion projects, agricultural runoff and toxic waste which often conflict with species' ability to find suitable food and shelter, and raise their young. Today, Congressional riders join the list of threats to the Endangered Species Act. Once a species is identified as being in trouble, it is put on a list of threatened and endangered species. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is then responsible for developing a plan to recover the species, and ensuring that all government agencies do not harm the imperiled species. Today the ESA protects more than 1000 species, yet there are another 3000 candidate species that still need protection.