This handbook is a guide to the federal Endangered Species Act, the primary U.S. law aimed at protecting species of animals and plants from human threats to their survival. It is intended for lawyers, government agency employees, students, community activists, businesspeople, and any citizen who wants to understand the Act--its history, provisions, accomplishments, and failures.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 helps conserve plant & animal species facing extinction as well as their habitats. The Dept. of the Interior delegated its responsibility for the Endangered Species Act to the Fish & Wildlife Service, which established an endangered species program (ESP) within its ecological services program to implement the requirements of the act. This is a review of several aspects of the Service's implementation of the endangered species program. This report provides info. on: (1) how the Service budgets & allocates its ESP funds; & (2) how field office staff spent their time in the ESP in FY 2001. Certain factors were identified that affected the implementation of the endangered species program.