In my last From the Murphy Center column, I wrote about the dwindling number of Atlantic right whales and the need for increased conservation efforts. There’s more to explore on this policy issue.
Shortly after I wrote the article, I learned about a wildlife campaign from the non-profit organization One Hundred Miles, urging the Biden Administration to issue expanded protections for right whales. As a conservationist, I support these actions enthusiastically, but as a policy analyst I am also thinking about the ‘why’ in our policy actions.
The question of why we should protect a critically endangered species might feel like an obvious one. We can’t just let them die off, right?! What a sad and unfortunate future that would be. For many of us, avoiding extinction is simply the right thing to do. While avoiding the extinction of a large charismatic species might tug at our heartstrings, however, policymakers often need pragmatic reasons.
In all policy decisions – in the development of laws, regulations, and agency rules – we are challenged with balancing competing interests. Expanding the habitat zone where vessel speeds must be reduced and increasing the number of vessels included in the rule will reduce vessel strikes and protect more whales (including right, humpback, fin, and sei whales), but it can also impact the maritime transport industry. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), for example, contends that an expanded rule could put more than 810,000 jobs and nearly $230 billion in economic contributions at risk.
Given such a huge potential impact, what is the case for protecting the whales beyond the moral case alone? How does extinction impact us? Put simply, everything is tied to everything else. The interconnectedness of ecosystems means that the loss of a species can fundamentally change the ecosystem services available to us. The health of the marine ecosystem has far-reaching economic effects, especially on the food chain. In the case of the Atlantic right whale, effects would be seen in phytoplankton populations. Whale excrement is a nutrient source for these tiny ocean plants, which are vital for producing oxygen (about 50% of our earth’s oxygen) and sequestering carbon dioxide. They are also primary producers in the marine food web and impact fisheries. A decline in whales would result in a decline in phytoplankton which in turn impact fishery production. Will all the phytoplankton die suddenly if the right whale goes extinct? No. But that ecosystem will become less stable, less healthy, and less productive.
Just this month a study published in the journal Science highlighted that conservation efforts are not only highly effective in reducing biodiversity loss but also provide excellent economic returns. The study, a meta-analysis of 186 different studies and 665 trials, evaluated the impact of conservation interventions globally over the past century. The analysis revealed that more than half of the world’s total GDP, approximately $44 trillion, is moderately or highly dependent on ecosystem services. Investment in the conservation of these services proves to be highly beneficial; for every dollar spent on conservation, there is an estimated return of $100 in ecosystem services. Conservation works and it has the potential to improve both environmental and economic conditions.
Protecting the Atlantic right whale and other endangered species makes sense both economically and environmentally. Ecosystem health is closely tied to the survival of species. The interconnectedness of our ecosystems means that the loss of a single species can have cascading effects on biodiversity and the services these ecosystems provide. The recent study in Science underscores the significant economic returns on investment in conservation. By prioritizing conservation, we are safeguarding our natural resources and ensuring a healthier, more productive future.
Dr. Heather Farley is Chair of the Department of Business and Public Administration and Associate Professor of Public Management at the College of Coastal Georgia. She is an associate of the College’s Reg Murphy Center for Economic and Policy Studies and an environmental policy scholar. The opinions found in this article do not represent those of the College of Coastal Georgia.
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