by David Langhorst

About the author: David Langhorst is an executive at the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has produced a remarkable string of successes. In its history, it has stabilized or improved the conditions of hundreds of plant and animal species that had been in serious decline. In my own work, I have seen large numbers of concerned citizens work with the ESA to help bring about the recovery of the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies ecosystem. By educating communities about the importance of the wolf to the health of the ecosystem and using the ESA’s flexible provisions, we are successfully restoring this wonderful animal to the wild in a manner sensitive to local economic interests.

The gray wolf recovery effort is a model of how diverse groups of local citizens can work together...