Daniel D.Lamoreux,Outdoor Writer/Photographer

BAD INVESTMENTS

Every year we are informed that the agencies responsible for managing our wildlife and other natural resources are strapped for cash. They simply do not have enough time, manpower or dollars to do everything they are asked to do.

This problem is often addressed in a straightforward manner - raise taxes and charge sportsmen more for the privilege of hunting and fishing. Yet, it never seems to be enough.

It is with this thought in mind that I bring to your attention two articles that crossed my desk during the month of April.

The first story came from National Geographic News under the title “Protected Areas Don’t Protect Many Endangered Species, Study Finds”. Here is the lead paragraph from that article:

The good news is that more than a tenth of the Earth’s land surface is now a designated safe haven for wildlife, exceeding international targets. But the bad news, according to a new study, is that many of the world’s most threatened species don’t actually live in those areas.

The second story came from The Washington Times under the title “Report pegs cost of species protection in billions”. The opening paragraphs from this article went like this:

The yearly cost of enforcing the Endangered Species Act runs into the billions of dollars, not millions as reported to Congress by government agencies, says an audit released yesterday by property rights groups.

Despite the estimated $3 billion per year spent, the government has little to show for its recovery efforts, says the Property and Environment Research Center, which conducted the study for the Pacific Legal Foundation.

The audit reviewed 19 federal agencies that spend “significant” amounts to comply with the act and found that salaries, maintenance and services associated with enforcing the ESAare not reported to Congress.

We are often told that our efforts to save endangered species and to protect the environment as a whole are worthy activities that simply will cost us a great deal of money. We all realize that there are times when reaching lofty goals may require sacrifice. But what about those times when our sacrifices do not produce positive results?

Here is another excerpt from the second article:

Brian Kennedy, spokesman for the House Resources Committee, says the report shows “either a success rate of 0.01 percent, or a failure rate of 99.9 percent in helping endangered species recover enough to be removed from the list.

The costs to taxpayers in general, and sportsmen in particular, are staggering. Factor in the success generated by these dollars and the sensation of nausea can be overwhelming. But there is another set of costs to consider. Here is another excerpt: The economic impact of the Endangered Species Act is not reported to Congress. The report says $300 million a year in federal efforts and regulations to protect the habitat of the California gnatcatcher bird also caused a one-year delay on construction of a high school, costing an additional $1 million locally. Farmers in the Klamath Basin of Oregon lost nearly $54 million in crops in 2001 when irrigation water was shut off to protect the shortnose sucker and coho salmon.

Incidents like these are too numerous to mention. In fact, the complete tally will never truly be known. In all of this discussion, no one has even brought up the topic of dollars spent on the state, county or local level. Let alone that burden shared by private industry. Here’s yet another quote:

“The government has no idea what the ESAis truly costing, but it does give us an idea of the enormous human costs of ESAregulation - and it’s often devastating,” said Emma T. Suarez, a lawyer for the Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento, Calif.-based organization that defends property owners against endangered species lawsuits.

“People have lost their jobs, businesses, homes, farms and even their lives to protect plants, insects and fish,” she said.

When we run into financial difficulties in our own homes we recognize the need to prioritize. We often have to eliminate one expense to make room for another.

We have reached that point in regard to the management of our natural resources.

One final quote:

Rep. Richard W. Pombo, California Republican and House Resources Committee chairman, called the report “astounding” and proof that the law “is broken.”

“American taxpayers are spending billion after billion to fund programs that don’t work,” Mr. Pombo said. “That’s like buying a new set of tires every year for a car that doesn’t run. But until Congress reforms the law, this is essentially what will continue to happen.”

I have one serious question: What are we waiting for?

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