ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the political dynamics behind the emergence of concern for preserving non-human species in the U.S. It begins by detailing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) passed in 1973 that forbade harm to protected species regardless of economic costs, thus articulating an impressive commitment to stewardship. The history of U.S. protections for wildlife nevertheless shows that despite early efforts at preservation, a utilitarian ethos dominated U.S. government actions. A combination of forces led to the ascendance of intrinsic appreciation of certain species over others. Scientists have tried to broaden this attachment to entire ecosystems rather than focus on individual species; however, with the ESA’s implementation, its costs to humans became apparent and since then, there have been consistent battles between industries whose profits are threatened by the ESA and conservationist groups. At the state level, there are major institutional forces that have favored consummatory values of groups such as ranchers, the energy industry, farmers, and hunters over conservationist interests. Nevertheless, the persistence of the ESA in the face of constant attacks for more than forty-five years has resulted in notable achievements – a clear commitment to stewardship.
