Using the United States Endangered Species Act for Global Turtle Conservation.

The United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a powerful tool for protecting imperiled species globally, yet it is currently underutilized for the conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises. Species listed under the ESA receive meaningful protections that can include a ban on killing and collection in the United States, critical habitat designation to help curtail habitat loss and fragmentation, federal funding for habitat protection and conservation projects, and a ban on exports and imports into the sizeable US market. Here we present a primer on the ESA to encourage scientists and conservationists to engage in the ESA process to enhance global turtle conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]