Lacey Act
Definition
The Lacey Act is a United States law that prohibits the trade of illegally sourced plants and wildlife. It makes it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, or purchase any plant or animal species taken in violation of U.S. or foreign laws.
Analogy
Think of the Lacey Act as a security guard at the border who checks every item coming in and out of the country. If something is found to be illegally obtained, it gets confiscated and the person responsible faces consequences.
Related terms
Endangered Species Act (ESA): A U.S. law that protects endangered and threatened species by conserving their habitats and regulating activities that may harm them.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): A U.S. law that requires federal agencies to consider environmental impacts before making decisions on projects or actions.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): An organization that assesses the conservation status of species worldwide and provides guidelines for their protection.
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