236 



THE ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE OF PRESERVING SPECIES 

 FROM EXTINCTION 



The Economic Rationale Behind 

 Endangered Species Acts 



Written submission to the House Merchant Marine 

 and Fisheries Committee 



by Glen H. Spain, 



Northwest Regional Director of the Pacific Coast Federation 



of 



Fishermens' Associations (PCFFA) 



P.O. Box 11170, Eugene, OR 97440-3370 



(503)689-2000/FAX: (503)689-2500 



August 10th, 1993 

 Portland, Oregon 



SUMMARY: Economists have long recognized that natural resources 

 have, in and of themselves, an ascertainable (and often very 

 large) present day economic value. There is, therefore, no 

 fundamental conflict between environmental conservation and 

 economics. Preserving biological diversity is in fact the most 

 fundamental basis of all economic wealth. Preservation of 

 biological diversity, (as for instance through protections to 

 prevent species extinction) therefore should be given the highest 

 priority as an economic issue. Public policies that encourage the 

 maintenance of biological diversity preserve the economic wealth 

 resources of society upon which future industries can be built. 



