Endangered Species are Important to our Planet

There are endangered species found all around the world, in every sort of habitat. Every day, many different creatures are affected, some even going into extinction! This is usually because of human interference. It is a topic of a great importance to us in our day, because these endangered species are important to our planet.

Endangered species come in all different shapes and sizes and are a plant or an animal. Not just land plants and animals, but marine plants and animals as well. To be endangered is where a certain species is almost extinct. That means that their entire species is no longer going to exist. Some of the world's most astounding creatures are endangered. (World Book, Inc.)

Almost all of the species that are endangered or have gone extinct have become that way with human interference. Another reason is that they have a loss of habitat. This includes when humans destroy their habitats for different items found there, including wood (needed by loggers) and fields (needed by farmers and their livestock). Wildlife trade could also be a reason for being endangered or extinct. This is where animals are intentionally captured to become pets, to be put in zoos, for research, and more. Animals are also captured for their skins, tusks, or horns. Some of these animals are poached, which means hunted illegally. This idea overlaps with the fact that they are overhunted. That means they are hunted too much too often. Another main reason is competition with other species, especially invasive ones. Invasive species are different plants and animals that almost completely take over a whole habitat, and push some of the not-so-strong species into extinction. (World Book, Inc.) Yet another reason is disease. The plants and animals of our world don't take antibacterial every time they get sick”they can't! This is why disease is such an important factor in their loss of population. (Dublin)

Every year, it is estimated that around one to five species experience extinction. Having their habitats destroyed is just one of the reasons for why they go extinct. They could also not be getting enough of the resources that they need. Some endangered animals are the black-footed ferret, California condors, cheetahs, giant pandas, Indian elephants, red wolves, snow leopards, and tigers. Some endangered plants are the floating sorrel, the green pitcher plant, the knowlton cactus, the running buffalo clover, and the snakeroot. (World Book, Inc.)

Another example of an endangered animal is the primate. It is estimated that about 60% of all their species are endangered, and around 75% of them have a drop in population. Yet another example is the lizards. It is estimated that of all the lizards, 40% would no longer exist by 2080. Already 20% have gone extinct. Also, many different under-water animals are affected, usually by being unintentionally captured in nets, or wounded by fishermen. This is because, in some areas of the world, the meat and fins of some of the most amazing under-water creatures are highly valued and are considered a rare treat (Dublin). Though it seems to some that the insects' population is increasing, they are also affected. Some plants and animals need insects for their meal or pollination, so we must not let these tiny creatures go extinct. (Fact Sheet: Global Species Decline)

The Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress in1973. It is one of the most successful laws we have passed to protect endangered species. Many Americans support this act. The Endangered Species Act has three parts. It prevents species from being harmed, it protects these species' habitats, and it creates plans to improve the population of the species. It has helped to prevent extinction for some, and some have almost improved after the near-extinction. The Endangered Species Act has reserved and protected many different places where endangered species are found. It was said that the Endangered Species Act has afforded protections to more than 1,400 species in the United States (Protecting the Endangered Species Act).

Without a permit (given by the secretary) that meets with the requirements in the Endangered Species Act no one can take or capture an endangered species. A plan also is created, and they must agree with the Endangered Species Act (Fleming).

Another system made to protect endangered species is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is a treaty that has protected many endangered animals. It was made to control trade that had anything to do with plants and animals. At least 150 of all the countries in the world have agreed with this treaty. Another organization made was the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). It protects many of the species in this world that are endangered. (World Book, Inc.)

The topic of endangered species and how to help has been debated many times. Many want to help, but still not enough is being done. We must do more to help the endangered species of this world. Even though some things have been done that have helped enormously, every year some species still go extinct.

There are many ways to help these creatures, but not all are done. The main one is to preserve their habitats. Another major problem that leads to their endangerment is the fact that there is bad pollution. Whether in the air or in the water, pollution is a problem we must take care of in order to make endangered species' habitats more livable. In order to get rid of pollution out of the water, better piping systems would be needed to filter out all the junk.

Endangered species are very important to our world, so everything in our power must be done to keep them here. We must not let them die off for God has made these creatures. In Genesis 1, it talks about how God created them, and how they were very good. It says in verses 11, 21, 24, and 25, And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was soAnd God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Because God saw that they were good, we should view them as good too.

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