National Parks Traveler Podcast · Kurt Repanshek

National Parks Traveler Podcast | Revisiting the ESA

·45 min·3 clips

Stephanie Adams says the Endangered Species Act is “not a magic wand,” but a tool that needs resources and staff.

1. National Parks Traveler revisits the Endangered Species Act and its changing politics with Jake Lee and Stephanie Adams. 2. Kurt Rapincheck hosts Jake Lee, a vice president with Defenders of Wildlife, and Stephanie Adams, the director of wildlife at the National Parks Conservation Association. 3. The episode asks whether the ESA can still protect species and public lands when Congress and the Trump administration keep attacking it. 4. Jake Lee says many species decline for decades before listing, so recovery cannot happen overnight. 5. He says endangered species work in the United States is “very, very, very” underfunded. 6. He gives one concrete figure: less than 30% of the money needed for recovery is available through federal and state government. 7. Jake also argues that the ESA has become political even though people across the spectrum care about wildlife. 8. He says endangered mussels and freshwater darters can signal pollution problems in waterways. 9. Stephanie Adams says a recent analysis found 84% of Americans support the Endangered Species Act and opposition remains low. 10. She says support stays high across the political spectrum and the rural-urban divide. 11. Adams says the disconnect comes from a narrative that environmental laws are for liberals only. 12. She says the loudest criticism often comes from people affected by critical habitat, drilling, ranching, or mining. 13. Adams says the ESA can increase visitation to places where species have been restored, which can help local economies. 14. She says the law also benefits recreation areas where people hunt, fish, hike, or ski. 15. Jake says a 10-year-old study of nearly 100,000 federal permits found very few projects were outright stopped by the ESA. 16. He says most projects were modified to reduce harm while still allowing highways, energy projects, transmission lines, and agriculture to continue. 17. The tone is explanatory and policy-focused, with long back-and-forth exchanges rather than a rapid interview format. 18. The pace stays measured, and both guests use examples from national parks, private land, and federal agencies. 19. Best for listeners interested in wildlife policy and national park conservation. 20. Skip if you want short, story-driven park reporting.

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