2023-12-24 00:29:00
At a time when the fragility of our natural environment is more apparent than ever, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a vital piece of legislation. But as we move forward into the 21st century, the question arises: how can this law evolve to effectively combat the growing threats to biodiversity?
Experts are now turning to a mix of technology, economics and human intervention to reshape the conservation landscape.
Looking to the future
Professor Tanya Berger-Wolf and Amy Ando of Ohio State University are at the forefront of integrating technology and economics into conservation efforts.
The researchers shared their ideas in the journal Scienceproviding a new perspective on the future of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its implementation.
Bridging technology and nature
Tanya Berger-Wolf, faculty director of the Translational Data Analytics Institute at Ohio State, emphasized the importance of a “sustainable and trustworthy human-technology partnership.”
“We are in the middle of a mass extinction without even knowing how much we are losing and how quickly,” Berger-Wolf said. However, she also highlighted the potential of technology to change this narrative.
New tools
New technological tools, such as camera traps and smartphone apps, enable large-scale monitoring of animal and plant populations. These tools allow not only scientists but also citizen scientists to contribute to the collection of biodiversity data.
“But even with all this data, we still monitor only a tiny fraction of the world’s biodiversity,” Berger-Wolf said. “Without this information, we don’t know what we have, how different species are doing, and whether our policies to protect endangered species are working. »
Connection with nature
Berger-Wolf warned against over-reliance on technology alone. She advocated for maintaining a strong bond between man and nature. “We do not want to break the link between man and nature, we want to strengthen it. »
She highlighted the need for a conscious partnership between humans, technology and AI in the quest to preserve biodiversity.
The role of the economy
Amy Ando, professor and chair of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at Ohio State University, focused on “Harnessing Economics for Effective Implementation.”
Professor Ando emphasized that while biology and ecology are crucial, economics plays an important role in the successful implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
Radical changes
“Although ESA precludes the use of economic analysis to make enrollment decisions, economic knowledge and tools have helped make ESA-related management and policies more effective and trigger changes radicals in many human behaviors, including logging, development, and water use. » wrote Ando.
“For example, economic research has informed efforts to reduce the perverse incentives for habitat destruction created by the original ESA and helped quantify the impacts, costs, and benefits of the ESA’s protections.
Bioeconomic research
Bioeconomic research, a collaboration between economists and biologists, examines how human behavior affects ecological systems and vice versa.
Professor Ando described innovative approaches such as “snapshot” habitat modification, which involves temporary actions such as removing fences during elk migration or flooding rice fields for shorebirds. These actions, optimized by economic principles, can bring significant benefits to both society and the environment.
Proactive policies
Additionally, Ando emphasized the importance of proactive policies that protect species before they need ESA protection. This involves navigating complex scenarios in which multiple landowners must coordinate efforts to protect habitats.
According to Professor Ando, economists are studying ways to achieve this coordination without imposing burdensome regulations, thereby reducing the cost of conservation while effectively protecting species.
A multidisciplinary approach
Berger-Wolf and Ando’s ideas highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to conservation. By integrating technology and economics within the ESA framework, we can develop more effective strategies to protect our planet’s biodiversity.
This is a reminder that saving endangered species is not just a matter of ecological concern, but a complex challenge that requires technology, economics and human engagement to be effectively resolved.
The Endangered Species Act
“The Endangered Species Act was signed into law on December 28, 1973. It is fitting that this happened in the middle of the winter holiday season, because it is one of the greatest gifts we have ever received. never offered. “It is our nation’s most effective law for protecting endangered animals and plants from extinction, both domestically and abroad,” wrote the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
“Currently, under the Endangered Species Act, more than 1,670 species native to the United States and 698 species from other countries are safeguarded to increase their chances of survival. And so far, the success rate has been exceptional, with 99% of listed species still among us – avoiding extinction and many species slowly progressing towards recovery.
“Scientists estimate that hundreds of species have been saved from the brink of extinction in the United States since the Endangered Species Act took effect. Fifty years later, we reflect on the success of our Bedrock Conservation Act – and continue to work together to ensure it protects the world’s most vulnerable species for another 50 years (and counting!).
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