Humpback whales, bald eagles and wolves are recovering thanks to the Endangered Species Act. But as they prepare to leave office, the Bush Administration is planning one last gift for its industry allies: gutting the Endangered Species Act from top to bottom. If they succeed, over a thousand endangered species will be threatened with extinction without recourse. Recovery successes like the bald eagle and grizzly bear will be a thing of the past.

A leaked draft of the plan shows Bush's intent to do away with the requirement to recover species.  Bush's plan also gives states veto power over reintroduction programs and allows the destruction of critical habitat areas. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has provided critical protections for America's wildlife and the ecosystems upon which they depend. It has saved hundreds of species from extinction and put many more on the road to recovery.