Final answer:
North America faces significant challenges in wildlife conservation with many species on the endangered list, mainly due to habitat loss and pollution. Conservation efforts include legislation like the Endangered Species Act and international treaties like CITES, but they are often hampered by practical difficulties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage indicates that a high number of animals are on the endangered species list in North America, suggesting that the continent has become a challenging environment for wildlife. Habitat loss, pollution, and limited wilderness areas are significant threats to these species.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other conservation efforts, like the Biodiversity Action Plan, aim to protect these species, though challenges such as underfunding and insufficient staffing persist. Some success has been reported with animal reintroductions in U.S. National Parks, exemplifying proactive measures to conserve biodiversity. Species protection is further complicated by international trade, as treaties like CITES attempt to manage this aspect of wildlife conservation. Despite these efforts, the status of many species remains uncertain, pointing to the necessity of continued and enhanced conservation measures.