Protecting Endangered Species in the United States: Biological Needs, Political Realities, Economic Choices

by Edited by Jason F. Shogren , John Tschirhart

• ISBN13: 9780521662109
• ISBN10: 0521662109
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-05-21
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This collection of original essays by economists, biologists and political scientists has a common theme: that protecting species at risk while safeguarding social order is a policy challenge that entangles biology, politics, and economics. Nearly 1200 species are now listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973; only twelve have been removed from the list. Attempts at species recovery on public and private property lead the authors to examine the political realities that define the debate: who should pay the costs and receive the benefits, and how interest group behavior affects the nature of endangered species protection. Although the ESA directs administrative agencies to list and protect species following scientific priorities, the collection addresses the economic choices that still must be confronted. These range from the protection potential of private markets to the design of incentive schemes to encourage conservation by private landowners.

Table of Contents

About the Authors	xi
Acknowledgments	xxiii
Foreword	xxv
Norman Myers
The Nature of Endangered Species Protection	1	(22)
Gregory D. Hayward
Jason F. Shogren
John Tschirhart
PART 1 BIOLOGICAL NEEDS
Endangered Thought, Political Animals	23	(9)
Boyd Gibbons
A Market Solution for Preserving Biodiversity: The Black Rhino	32	(19)
Gardner Brown
David F. Layton
Extinction, Recovery, and the Endangered Species Act	51	(21)
Steven R. Beissinger
John D. Perrine
Some Economic Questions about the Biology of Biodiversity Protection: Comments on Gibbons, Brown and Layton, and Beissinger and Perrine	72	(19)
Thomas D. Crocker
PART 2 POLITICAL REALITIES
Interest Group Behavior and Endangered Species Protection	91	(15)
Amy Whritenour Ando
Beyond Cute and Fuzzy: Science and Politics in the U.S. Endangered Species Act	106	(32)
David W. Cash
Community Politics and Endangered Species Protection	138	(28)
Stephen M. Meyer
On Political Realities: Comments on Ando, Cash, and Meyer	166	(11)
Clifford Nowell
Replies by Authors	173	(4)
PART 3 ECONOMIC CHOICES
PART 3.1 CURRENT APPROACHES
The Endangered Species Act and Critical Habitat Designation: Economic Consequences for the Colorado River Basin	177	(23)
Gary Watts
William R. Noonan
Henry R. Maddux
David S. Brookshire
The Revealed Demand for a Public Good: Evidence from Endangered and Threatened Species	200	(26)
Don L. Coursey
The ESA through Coase-Colored Glasses	226	(24)
Terry L. Anderson
On Current Approaches to ESA Analysis: Comments on Watts et al., Coursey, and Anderson	250	(13)
John B. Loomis
Replies by Authors	258	(5)
PART 3.2 FUTURE INCENTIVES
The Economics of ``Takings'' in a Multiparcel Model with a Powerful Government	263	(49)
Robert Innes
Investment, Information Collection, and Endangered Species Conservation on Private Land	312	(14)
Stephen Polasky
Protecting Species on Private Land	326	(17)
Rodney B. W. Smith
Jason F. Shogren
Compensation for Takings under the ESA: How Much is Too Much? A Comment	343	(22)
Rob Godby
Replies by Authors	357	(8)
PART 4 SUMMARY AND DATABASE
Why Economics Matters for Endangered Species Protection and the ESA	365	(9)
Jason F. Shogren
John Tschirhart
DEMES: Database on the Economics and Management of Endangered Species	374	(7)
David W. Cash
J. R. DeShazo
Andrew Metrick
Stuart Shapiro
Todd Schatzki
Martin Weitzman
Index	381