New Study: Half Of U.S. Endangered And Threatened Species Showed Stable Or Improving Trend, 1988 - 2002
(August 11, 2005 – Washington) A peer-reviewed analysis, posted online this week by the scientific journal Ecology Letters, concludes that more than 50% of U.S. species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) before 2000 and almost two-thirds of species listed for 13 or more years have stabilized or are improving. Further, species whose recovery efforts received significant funding are more likely to be improving.
Rank | Best 25 States | % Endangered Species Stable or Improving* |
1 | Maine | 100.0% |
2 | Rhode Island | 83.3% |
3 | North Dakota | 80.0% |
4 | New Hampshire | 71.4% |
4 | South Dakota | 71.4% |
6 | Montana | 70.0% |
7 (tie) | Alaska | 66.7% |
7 (tie) | Colorado | 66.7% |
7 (tie) | Nebraska | 66.7% |
10 | Wisconsin | 64.3% |
11 (tie) | Massachusetts | 63.6% |
11 (tie) | Wyoming | 63.6% |
13 | Oklahoma | 62.5% |
14 | Arkansas | 61.5% |
15 (tie) | Idaho | 60.0% |
15 (tie) | Louisiana | 60.0% |
15 (tie) | Minnesota | 60.0% |
15 (tie) | New Mexico | 60.0% |
15 (tie) | Vermont | 60.0% |
20 | West Virginia | 58.8% |
21 | Iowa | 58.3% |
22 | Michigan | 57.9% |
23 | Missouri | 54.5% |
24 | New York | 50.0% |
24 | Washington | 50.0% |
Rank | Worst 25 States | % Endangered Species Stable or Improving* |
50 | Pennsylvania | 20.0% |
49 | Maryland | 26.7% |
48 | Indiana | 29.2% |
47 | Alabama | 29.3% |
46 | Hawaii | 29.9% |
45 | California | 33.0% |
43 (tie) | New Jersey | 33.3% |
43 (tie) | Tennessee | 33.3% |
42 | Texas | 33.8% |
41 | Oregon | 36.7% |
40 | Virginia | 37.3% |
39 | South Carolina | 37.9% |
38 | Georgia | 38.0% |
37 | Ohio | 38.1% |
36 | Florida | 38.6% |
35 | Kentucky | 39.5% |
34 | North Carolina | 40.0% |
33 | Mississippi | 42.3% |
30 (tie) | Connecticut | 44.4% |
30 (tie) | Delaware | 44.4% |
30 (tie) | Utah | 44.4% |
29 | Kansas | 45.5% |
28 | Nevada | 46.9% |
27 | Illinois | 48.0% |
26 | Arizona | 48.9% |
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