Conserving the Environment | Preserving Biodiversity: An Overview

When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, it declared that endangered wildlife and plants are of “esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value.” Supporters of the law continue to stress the value of individual species. But critics complain that the benefits of protecting species are outweighed by the costs in actual spending, economic disruption and political discontent.

Biodiversity Is Valuable
Biologists write broadly about the benefits of biodiversity in both concrete and less tangible ways. “Biological...

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