01/16/2023
“If the reason of ’why’ we protect endangered species was so obvious 50 years ago, and to scientists past and present, why then has the Endangered Species Act become so reviled and conflicted?” asks Baier at the start of this revelatory volume, an invaluable one-tome-history answering just that. Baier covers how the ESA was conceived and enacted, how it’s been enforced and contested over a half century, how in the name of biodiversity it challenges other fundamental American rights, and how it might be improved upon. Protecting that act is “our charge to keep,” Baier argues, making a persuasive case throughout. The bulk of this exhaustive study, though, lays out the story of how the ESA came to exist, the ceaseless wrangling over its implementation, both in public perception, and behind the scenes, in the halls of government.
Baier offers thorough, richly illustrated accounts of crises of conservation throughout American history, from the bison to the bald eagle, and up-close surveys of what it took to get the law (and its less-sweeping predecessors) passed, implemented, and on-occasion amended. Original interviews supplement a wealth of sources as Baier pays welcome attention to the shifting cultural and political contexts of the last 50 years, from surprises like “Hardship Safaris” game hunters took to bag endangered game before the law went into effect, to the continuing conflicts between developers and endangered species that have fueled outrage and litigation ever since: the snail darter fish, the spotted owl, and wolves, among others.
Baier’s history will appeal to readers of environmental and policy history, of course, but its sweep, depth, authority, clarity, and engaging prose mean it should likewise command the attention of anyone eager to understand contemporary America itself, especially the complex question of what the nation values. Case studies and a federalist “road map” for the future—"smaller stick, a larger carrot, and a more balanced endangered species program”—are as illuminating as the narrative history.
Takeaway: The urgent, revelatory history and possible future of the Endangered Species act.
Great for fans of: Brian Czech and Paul R. Krausman’s The Endangered Species Act, Dorceta E. Taylor’s The Rise of the American Conservation Movement.
Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: A Editing: A Marketing copy: A
With the finesse of General Ulysses S. Grant moving pieces across battlefield maps, legendary conservationist Lowell Baier has ably recounted how the Endangered Species Act of 1973 became the law of the land in this exemplary book.. . Baier’s book is not only a chronological history but a clarion call to action. It will take the engagement of every American to muster the collective will to save our wildlife resources in perpetuity.
Lowell Baier’s comprehensive and well researched treatise is a masterful disassembling of the Goridan knot known as the Endangered Species Act. This book is a must read for students, administrators, academicians, attorneys, and anyone who tries to navigate the complexities of the Endangered Species Act. Lowell’s conversations with those who were directly involved with the development and evolution of the ESA lend a “behind the scenes” view of one of the most misunderstood and impactful statues of our generation. It provides a powerful explanation of an approach to sustain the world’s biodiversity.
When I served as Deputy Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, I sat down and read the entire legislative history of the Endangered Species Act to prepare to address a matter. I wish I had this wonderful work within my grasp at that time. This series is a great baseline for someone looking to learn more about the ESA or for old hands looking to reminisce and think about the future. A great read.
Lowell Baier’s account of the Endangered Species Act – its origins, implementation, and prospects for the future – is expansive in scope and rich in detail. It is a vital addition to the growing literature on this cornerstone environmental law.
Baier’s Codexof the Endangered Species Act is a sorely needed history of this incredibly important act. It strips away much of the disinformation about the Endangered Species Act that has materially harmed the nation’s ability to have a civil discourse about the act. Using it as a guide, we should be able to relearn how to collaborate and reach common goals for all us.
The Endangered Species Act is one of the most powerful laws in the United States and has evoked gladiatorial conflict in the management of natural resources. Lowell Baier has magnificently captured the original intent, challenges and evolution through its 50-year history.
The impeccable writing and extensive research of Lowell Baier’s latest book, Codex, provides yet another history of a law few understand, yet is the most celebrated, and condemned, of all environmental laws. The story of the Endangered Species Act’s 50 year history, based on original sources and first-hand accounts, is a major contribution to conservation history. It’s a book of epic proportion articulated in a straight forward style that emphasizes collaboration over conflict in the application and administration of the Endangered Species Act. Lowell’s Codex will provide the definitive reference guide for decades to come.
Baier offers thorough, richly illustrated accounts of crises of conservation throughout American history, from the bison to the bald eagle, and up-close surveys of what it took to get the law (and its less-sweeping predecessors) passed, implemented, and on-occasion amended. Original interviews supplement a wealth of sources as Baier pays welcome attention to the shifting cultural and political contexts of the last 50 years, from surprises like “Hardship Safaris” game hunters took to bag endangered game before the law went into effect, to the continuing conflicts between developers and endangered species that have fueled outrage and litigation ever since: the snail darter fish, the spotted owl, and wolves, among others. Baier’s history will appeal to readers of environmental and policy history, of course, but its sweep, depth, authority, clarity, and engaging prose mean it should likewise command the attention of anyone eager to understand contemporary America itself, especially the complex question of what the nation values. Case studies and a federalist “road map” for the future—"smaller stick, a larger carrot, and a more balanced endangered species program”—is as illuminating as the narrative history.
2023-02-08
Attorney and conservationist Baier provides readers with a detailed look at the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The ESA was a 20-page law when it was first enacted, with an additional 30 pages of regulations set forth by the United States government to protect animal and plant life in imminent danger of extinction. Fifty years later, it has grown immensely; it’s now a 50-page law, connected to thousands of regulations. How the ESA got to this point is a complex story of politics, ecology, and differing opinions about the government’s responsibility to endangered species. The book begins with views on wildlife in the pre-ESA United States: Hunting, for example, was once guided by a “sportsmen’s code of conduct,” but by the late 1800s, “overharvesting” was threatening many species, including birds hunted for their colorful plumage, and bison, whose numbers were greatly thinned by overhunting. It became clear that conservation efforts were necessary, but it took decades for the ESA to come to be, which provides protection for certain species and allows them to be delisted in certain circumstances. This exhaustive book ably captures all the twists and turns in the development and enforcement of the ESA, up to and including the Biden administration. It features numerous citations, photos, and court cases, as well as appendices and an extensive bibliography. A section on migrating animals, for instance, includes information on the “nine distinct elk populations in Yellowstone National Park,” revealing how the wildlife in question are just as complex as the politics that govern their existence. These partisan politics can prove dizzying; much of the Trump administration’s agenda, for instance, seemed to focus on “reversing Obama’s accomplishments.” On the other side of the debate, Chief Justice Warren Burger pointed out that it’s vital to protect diverse species because “they are keys to puzzles which we cannot solve, and may provide answers to questions which we have not yet learned to ask.” Overall, this is a measured look at what the ESA means for the country and effectively shows how it came to its current state.
A lengthy but thorough investigation of a long-debated American law.
