In a proclamation today, President Biden proclaimed Dec. 28, 2023 as the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and called upon Americans to “honor all the progress we have made toward protecting endangered species and to work together to conserve our Nation’s incredible biodiversity.”
In doing so, Biden said that the ESA has prevented 99% of all fish, wildlife, and plants under its protection from going extinct. Noting his administration’s recommitment to “conserving America’s flora and fauna for generations to come,” Biden also noted his decision to establish the country’s “first-ever National Conservation Goal” to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, calling the goal “the heart of my ‘America the Beautiful initiative,’” and cited his initiatives related to nature-based solutions and the first National Nature Assessment.
He added that in his first year in office, the administration “protected more lands and waters than any American President since John F. Kennedy,” and noted efforts to designate multiple new national marine sanctuaries, including the proposed Hudson Canyon, Chumash Heritage, and Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuaries.
