Recommendations to Improve Recovery of Endangered Species in the United States

Abstract

The institutional framework of entitlements set forth by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has played an unintended but significant role in hampering species recovery efforts. Whereas the ESA explicitly designates the rights and duties of individuals and government agencies with regard to the protection of listed species, it leaves the implementation of recovery efforts largely to the discretion of the landowner. Such a designation of rights creates numerous perverse incentives that hinder the implementation of recovery efforts. Flexible incentive programs could be used to address this gap in endangered species conservation by rewarding the implementation of recovery efforts of private landowners. Research into the human dimensions of species recovery would allow the formulation of policies and incentives designed to reduce the barriers to species recovery and take advantage of the positive attitudes much of the public has of the intrinsic value of species.