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The California Endangered Species Act (CESA, CA Fish & G. Code § 2050 et seq.) is a California law designed to protect and recover plant and animal species that are endangered or threatened with extinction. CESA was passed by the California State Legislature in 1984 and generally parallels the provisions of the United States Endangered Species Act. In 1997 legislation was signed by Governor Pete Wilson strengthening and making several significant changes to the law.

CESA prohibits the import, export, "take", possession, purchase, or sale of any part or product of a species that is designated by the California Fish and Game Commission as threatened, endangered, or candidate (CA Fish & G. Code § 2080). "Take" means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or to try to do any of those things (CA Fish & G. Code § 86).

Under CESA the California Department of Fish and Game may authorize the take or possession of listed-species for scientific, educational or management purposes; if the take is "incidental to otherwise lawful activities"; or under other circumstances (CA Fish & G. Code § 2081). If the California Department of Fish and Game authorizes take that is incidental to otherwise lawful activities, then the take must be minimized and fully mitigated, adequate funding must be guaranteed for the mitigation, and the activity must not jeopardize the continued existence of the species.