Introduction:

“I am Dr. Andrew Carter, and I am the Director of Conservation Policy at Defenders’ Center for Conservation Innovation, where we work on developing innovative policy, science, and technology solutions to the biodiversity crisis. I’ve worked at Defenders for a little over five years.

My team’s work focuses on the Endangered Species Act, climate change, and other biodiversity policy issues. We evaluate existing programs, develop new plans to conserve biodiversity, and work with our colleagues at CCI and across Defenders to defend our country’s natural heritage.”

 

What should people know about the state of the Endangered Species Act?

“The ESA is probably more at risk now than it ever has been in its 50-year history. Numerous bills have been introduced in Congress to weaken the ESA’s core protections, to legislatively circumvent the Act’s requirement to use the ‘best available science,’ and to make it easier for federal projects to negatively impact listed species.

The current administration is not only gearing up to weaken how it is implemented but also slashing critically needed staff at already underfunded agencies, staff that have a critical role in conserving imperiled species.

While the ESA is sometimes described as ‘controversial,’ it’s actually an extremely popular and well-supported law with the American public. Americans believe in the Act in large numbers, and that cuts across regions and political ideologies, with an overwhelming majority of liberals, moderates, and conservatives supporting the law and wanting to see it preserved.”

 

What would you say to someone looking to volunteer or pursue a conservation career?

“If you want to help with conservation locally, there are usually volunteer opportunities through local governments and non-profit organizations, working on things like invasive species removal and trash pickup. The National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System also accept volunteers to help with their missions. Another good opportunity for those who want to engage more deeply in conservation is through a state Master Naturalist program. Most states have these programs, which give residents the opportunity to gain a really strong, hands-on grounding in natural history and ecology, which can give them the expertise to work on ecological restoration and research projects in their areas, as well as serve as nature interpreters for their community.

For people who are interested in a career in conservation, this is unfortunately a challenging time to enter the field, particularly now that we are seeing so many cuts at agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. There is of course a real need for scientists, advocates, and natural resource managers to help fight against the biodiversity crisis. But there is also a need for people in other professions to carry out their work. These organizations cannot function without staff working in fields like finance and accounting, human resources, communications, and operations, who are critically important to their missions.”

 

What do you wish people understood better about wildlife?

“Nature has inherent value in itself and as part of our heritage, and the ESA recognizes that in its very text, stating that imperiled species are of “ecological value.” But nature and biodiversity are also the foundations for our entire society and our economy. The ecosystem services provided by nature provide trillions of dollars in economic benefits to the United States. This includes filtering our air and water, protecting our coastlines from extreme weather, and the literally billions of dollars in value agriculture provided by natural pollinators like bees and butterflies.

We become poorer spiritually, culturally, and economically as species and ecosystems slip away.”

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