Rent-Seeking in Protecting At-Risk Species

Saving species from extinction as called for by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) can be a public good. If attention is directed to those species that have reasonable recovery potential and the costs are not too great, then the resources might be well spent. If they are devoted to those that have little chance for recovery, then the exercise may be less beneficial. Proponents argue that all species deserve a chance, but because real resources are involved, people are affected. They must support funding and costly resource-use restrictions over very long periods to list, protect, and enhance at-risk species. There are opportunity costs and tradeoffs. The process of endangered species protection then ought to be a reasoned one that weighs costs and benefits. There is no avoiding the challenge. Unfortunately, as detailed in this chapter, protecting endangered species has not been a reasoned process. It is contentious and combative. The record of success is extremely sparce. Rent-seeking undermines chances for long-term recovery for prospective species.