WASHINGTON, March 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has initiated status reviews for 22 animal and 34 plant species to ensure their classifications under the Endangered Species Act remain accurate.

Federal law requires these assessments every five years. The agency uses the best scientific and commercial data to determine if a species should be removed from the list, changed from endangered to threatened, or if no change is needed.