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Conservation Pays Conservation Pays How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. AUTHOR Jim Yuskavitch ProJECT DIRECtor Cindy Hoffman RESEARCH TEAM Frank Casey Timm Kroeger Paula Manalo Heather Rorer EDITORIAL TEAM Kate Davies: Editor Jen Lee: Art Director Peter Corcoran: Designer © 2007 Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-4604 202.682.9400 www.defenders.org Cover Photo: Southern sea otter in kelp bed, Monterey Bay, California ©Franz Lanting/Minden Pictures This report was printed using 100% post-consumer-waste, process-chlorine- free recycled paper manufactured with wind power creating the following environmental benefits: 10.61 trees preserved for the future; 30.63 lbs waterborne waste not created; 4,506 gallons wastewater flow saved; 499 lbs solid waste not generated; 982 lbs net greenhouse gases prevented; 7,514,000 Printed by MOSAIC BTUs energy not consumed; 510 lbs air emissions not generated TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 2 Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals 3 Bull Trout 4 Pacific Salmon 5 Bald Eagles 6 Whooping Cranes 7 Shorebirds 8 Louisiana Black Bears 9 Southern Sea Otters 10 Gray Wolves 11 Manatees 12 Humpback Whales 13 Conclusion 14 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Introduction Data showing that saving imperiled species is economically valuable continue to mount, which is good news for people and wildlife. ne of the greatest testimonials to America’s ence of a species is the primary reason visitors come desire to protect its native plant and to an area. In others, it complements a business animals and preserve its wildlife heritage strategy and provides welcome extra income. The Ois the Endangered Species Act (ESA). reintroduction of wolves to the greater Yellowstone Throughout the country, the ESA is safeguarding area in the mid-1990s, for example, has drawn wolf our treasured natural resources to ensure that they enthusiasts from all over the world to the park. These will be here for the benefit and enjoyment of future visitors account for an additional $35 million in generations of Americans. Since Congress passed spending each year. In Issaquah, Washington, local this landmark legislation with broad citizen support salmon streams offered community leaders looking in 1973, it has been the key to preventing endan- to boost tourism in this small town with something gered and threatened species such as bald eagles, to celebrate. A fall festival marking the salmon run gray wolves, manatees, sea otters and other animals is now a popular annual affair that draws 200,000 from vanishing forever. people and reaps a total economic benefit of more One benefit not widely recognized in ESA success than $7.5 million per year. stories, however, is the economic one. Saving species Data showing the economic value of saving imper- from extinction pays, not only in terms of healthy, iled species continue to mount, which is good news intact ecosystems but also in dollars—dollars that for people and wildlife. This report examines some of may reach into several hundred millions. People these data and shares this good news in the context want to see eagles, wolves, manatees, sea otters and of a dozen ESA success stories. It offers specific other wildlife and will spend lots of money to do it. examples of how business owners, resource manag- Recognizing this, savvy entrepreneurs have started ers, civic leaders and local citizens throughout the businesses ranging from operating wildlife tours country are affirming the aesthetic, ecological and to selling souvenirs commemorating endangered economic value of nature and the plants and animals species, and small communities have organized festi- in their communities that are protected by the ESA. vals and other special events to celebrate rare animals These citizens recognize that saving species at risk is and attract tourism dollars. In some cases, the pres- not only the right thing to do, it’s good business. explore both natural and artificial reefs. Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals Nevertheless, recreational-use figures show that both residents and visitors prefer swimming among natural reefs by about a 2:1 margin. For example, from 2000 to 2001 locals spent 4.39 million person-days exploring artificial reefs while natural reefs racked up 9.35 million person-days. Out-of-town visi- tors explored artificial and natural reefs at 4.92 and 8.80 million person-days, respectively. Sales generated by visitors to artificial reefs were more than $1.65 billion. For natural reefs, the sales total was $2.7 billion.2 Even though artificial reef diving is considered an activity for the more experienced diver, Mace finds that many skilled, long-time divers still prefer to explore the natural reefs FLORIDA KEYS © RICK POLEY/VISUALS UNLIMITED and the varied fish and other animals oral reefs are among the Gary Mace, owner of Conch Republic they harbor. At least 23 dive shops in wonders of the underwater Divers in Tavernier and vice president the upper Florida Keys alone cater to ocean world. Composed of of the Upper Keys Association of Dive reef-diving enthusiasts and two glass- Climestone excreted by tiny living crea- and Snorkel Operators. bottom-boat touring companies serve tures called cnidarians, coral reefs offer Such underwater attractions resulted nondiving tourists who want a look at not just visual beauty but also habitat in 18.15 million reef user-days in the the natural wonders of the reefs. “Those for many other kinds of sea life. Add southeast Florida counties of Broward, dive shops bring in a lot of money to a warm, semi-tropical environment, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Monroe the upper Keys, but not just for the and you have one of the world’s biggest from June 2000 to May 2001. This shops,” says Mace. “They also bring in tourist attractions. includes fishing, diving, snorkeling and money for motels, restaurants and other The coastal waters of southern boating tours. These visitors added $4.3 businesses.” Ultimately, it is Florida’s Florida are blessed with a system of billion to the region’s economy and reefs driving that economic engine. coral reefs, including staghorn and created 70,000 full- or part-time jobs “We get more diversity than they do elkhorn coral, which are also found in associated with coral-reef-based tourism on the Gulf Coast because we have the the waters of Bahamas and Caribbean. with a payroll of $1.2 billion.1 reefs,” Mace says. Populations of those two coral species Billed as the “dive capital of the The reefs provide a number of other have declined by 90 percent since 1980 world” the Florida Keys draw divers to economic benefits beyond dive tour- due to disease aggravated by hurri- ism. Reefs reduce beach erosion by canes, increasing predation, bleaching, dissipating the force of waves before sedimentation and changes in water NATURAL-REEF-relateD they reach shore. They produce sand 3 temperature and salinity attributed RECREATION in SoutHeaStern that helps replenish beaches, and to gobal warming. They were listed as support fisheries with an estimated FloriDA (2000-2001) threatened under the ESA in 2006. worth from $15,000 to $150,000 per ÿ Generated $2.7 billion in Diving and snorkeling tourism square kilometer depending on the retail sales in the region centered on south Florida coral reefs, species caught.4 Reefs also provide ÿ including both the natural and artificial Accounted for wage income habitat for other animals tourists enjoy variety, is substantial. “It’s not just the of $1.2 billion observing including the endangered reefs, but the habitat created by the ÿ Employed 43,320 Caribbean monkseal and hawksbill, reefs and the fish that live there,” says green and leatherback sea turtles. defenders.org 3 to 4,000 days per year in the Klamath Bull Trout River basin.5 In Montana alone, a state where anglers spend an average of $44 per day fishing and fish 11.7 days per year, that translates into $9.8 to $12.1 million of additional income generated by bull trout fishing. With an economic multiplier applied, those figures become $18 to $22 million statewide.6 Compared to the overall trout fish- ing industry, the contribution of bull trout to the angling economy may seem comparatively small.7 Sportfishing in /VISUALS UNLIMITED Montana generated $312 million in 2001, and Oregon tackle-shop owner errmann H Perin estimates that only about 10 ichard © R percent to 15 percent of the anglers on the Metolius River are focusing specifi- nglers are always looking for them, bringing additional income to cally on bull trout. Still, the expected a new challenge and in some local communities in the process. increased income is substantial for the parts of the West, they’ve found “I see dozen of guys coming to this small communities and businesses that Aone in the bull trout, a species that can area to fish for bull trout,” says Jeff are located in bull trout country. weigh five pounds or more. Unfortu- Perin, owner of The Fly Fisher’s Place For Perin, the benefits of the local nately, these trout are diminishing in in Sisters, Oregon, a business benefit- bull trout fishery are twofold. Bull number due to habitat loss, even as they ing from the local Metolius River bull trout anglers provide income above and grow in popularity as a gamefish. trout fishery. “I consider bull trout beyond his typical rainbow trout fishing To survive, the bull trout requires fishermen to be an important part of customers and, because the best bull extremely clean, cold water—a my business.” Perin notes that his store trout fishing opportunities are during commodity in increasingly short supply the winter, they also extend his profit- thanks to a variety of human activi- making season.
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