As we often say, conservation is conservative, and it always has been. Case in point: The landmark Endangered Species Act was signed into law by a Republican, President Richard Nixon, in 1973.

There’s no question the ESA was a watershed moment in the history of conservation, and we should be proud of the fact that it has helped dozens of species recover—including America’s iconic bald eagle. However, the overall recovery rate since it was enacted stands at just 3 percent, and enforcement often ends up triggering unnecessary litigation and targeting property owners, many of whom are conservationists themselves. Could we do better?