Conservation Pays How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFEDefenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to

the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.

AUTHORJim Yuskavitch

PROjEcT DIREcTORCindy Hoffman

RESEARcH TEAMfrank Casey

Timm KroegerPaula ManaloHeather rorer

EDITORIAL TEAMKate Davies: editor

Jen lee: Art DirectorPeter Corcoran: Designer

© 2007 Defenders of Wildlife1130 17th street, n.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036-4604202.682.9400

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 BTUs energy not consumed; 510 lbs air emissions not generatedPrinted by MOSAIC

Introduction 2StaghornandElkhornCorals 3 BullTrout 4 PacificSalmon 5 BaldEagles 6 WhoopingCranes 7 Shorebirds 8 LouisianaBlackBears 9 SouthernSeaOtters 10 GrayWolves 11 Manatees 12 HumpbackWhales 13 Conclusion 14

Table of ConTenTs

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

OneofthegreatesttestimonialstoAmerica’sdesiretoprotectitsnativeplantandanimalsandpreserveitswildlifeheritage

istheEndangeredSpeciesAct(ESA).Throughoutthecountry,theESAissafeguarding

ourtreasurednaturalresourcestoensurethattheywillbehereforthebenefitandenjoymentoffuturegenerationsofAmericans.SinceCongresspassedthislandmarklegislationwithbroadcitizensupportin1973,ithasbeenthekeytopreventingendan-geredandthreatenedspeciessuchasbaldeagles,graywolves,manatees,seaottersandotheranimalsfromvanishingforever.

OnebenefitnotwidelyrecognizedinESAsuccessstories,however,istheeconomicone.Savingspeciesfromextinctionpays,notonlyintermsofhealthy,intactecosystemsbutalsoindollars—dollarsthatmayreachintoseveralhundredmillions.Peoplewanttoseeeagles,wolves,manatees,seaottersandotherwildlifeandwillspendlotsofmoneytodoit.Recognizingthis,savvyentrepreneurshavestartedbusinessesrangingfromoperatingwildlifetourstosellingsouvenirscommemoratingendangeredspecies,andsmallcommunitieshaveorganizedfesti-valsandotherspecialeventstocelebraterareanimalsandattracttourismdollars.Insomecases,thepres-

enceofaspeciesistheprimaryreasonvisitorscometoanarea.Inothers,itcomplementsabusinessstrategyandprovideswelcomeextraincome.ThereintroductionofwolvestothegreaterYellowstoneareainthemid-1990s,forexample,hasdrawnwolfenthusiastsfromallovertheworldtothepark.Thesevisitorsaccountforanadditional$35millioninspendingeachyear.InIssaquah,Washington,localsalmonstreamsofferedcommunityleaderslookingtoboosttourisminthissmalltownwithsomethingtocelebrate.Afallfestivalmarkingthesalmonrunisnowapopularannualaffairthatdraws200,000peopleandreapsatotaleconomicbenefitofmorethan$7.5millionperyear.

Datashowingtheeconomicvalueofsavingimper-iledspeciescontinuetomount,whichisgoodnewsforpeopleandwildlife.ThisreportexaminessomeofthesedataandsharesthisgoodnewsinthecontextofadozenESAsuccessstories.Itoffersspecificexamplesofhowbusinessowners,resourcemanag-ers,civicleadersandlocalcitizensthroughoutthecountryareaffirmingtheaesthetic,ecologicalandeconomicvalueofnatureandtheplantsandanimalsintheircommunitiesthatareprotectedbytheESA.Thesecitizensrecognizethatsavingspeciesatriskisnotonlytherightthingtodo,it’sgoodbusiness.

Data showing that saving imperiled species is economically valuable continue to mount, which is good news

for people and wildlife.

Introduction

defenders.org �

Coralreefsareamongthewondersoftheunderwateroceanworld.Composedof

limestoneexcretedbytinylivingcrea-turescalledcnidarians,coralreefsoffernotjustvisualbeautybutalsohabitatformanyotherkindsofsealife.Addawarm,semi-tropicalenvironment,andyouhaveoneoftheworld’sbiggesttouristattractions.

ThecoastalwatersofsouthernFloridaareblessedwithasystemofcoralreefs,includingstaghornandelkhorncoral,whicharealsofoundinthewatersofBahamasandCaribbean.Populationsofthosetwocoralspecieshavedeclinedby90percentsince1980duetodiseaseaggravatedbyhurri-canes,increasingpredation,bleaching,sedimentationandchangesinwatertemperatureandsalinityattributedtogobalwarming.TheywerelistedasthreatenedundertheESAin2006.

DivingandsnorkelingtourismcenteredonsouthFloridacoralreefs,includingboththenaturalandartificialvariety,issubstantial.“It’snotjustthereefs,butthehabitatcreatedbythereefsandthefishthatlivethere,”says

GaryMace,ownerofConchRepublicDiversinTavernierandvicepresidentoftheUpperKeysAssociationofDiveandSnorkelOperators.

Suchunderwaterattractionsresultedin18.15millionreefuser-daysinthesoutheastFloridacountiesofBroward,PalmBeach,Miami-DadeandMonroefromJune2000toMay2001.Thisincludesfishing,diving,snorkelingandboatingtours.Thesevisitorsadded$4.3billiontotheregion’seconomyandcreated70,000full-orpart-timejobsassociatedwithcoral-reef-basedtourismwithapayrollof$1.2billion.1

Billedasthe“divecapitaloftheworld”theFloridaKeysdrawdiversto

explorebothnaturalandartificialreefs.Nevertheless,recreational-usefiguresshowthatbothresidentsandvisitorspreferswimmingamongnaturalreefsbyabouta2:1margin.Forexample,from2000to2001localsspent4.39millionperson-daysexploringartificialreefswhilenaturalreefsrackedup9.35millionperson-days.Out-of-townvisi-torsexploredartificialandnaturalreefsat4.92and8.80millionperson-days,respectively.Salesgeneratedbyvisitorstoartificialreefsweremorethan$1.65billion.Fornaturalreefs,thesalestotalwas$2.7billion.2

Eventhoughartificialreefdivingisconsideredanactivityforthemoreexperienceddiver,Macefindsthatmanyskilled,long-timediversstillprefertoexplorethenaturalreefsandthevariedfishandotheranimalstheyharbor.Atleast23diveshopsintheupperFloridaKeysalonecatertoreef-divingenthusiastsandtwoglass-bottom-boattouringcompaniesservenondivingtouristswhowantalookatthenaturalwondersofthereefs.“ThosediveshopsbringinalotofmoneytotheupperKeys,butnotjustfortheshops,”saysMace.“Theyalsobringinmoneyformotels,restaurantsandotherbusinesses.”Ultimately,itisFlorida’sreefsdrivingthateconomicengine.“WegetmorediversitythantheydoontheGulfCoastbecausewehavethereefs,”Macesays.

Thereefsprovideanumberofothereconomicbenefitsbeyonddivetour-ism.Reefsreducebeacherosionbydissipatingtheforceofwavesbeforetheyreachshore.Theyproducesandthathelpsreplenishbeaches,3andsupportfisherieswithanestimatedworthfrom$15,000to$150,000persquarekilometerdependingonthespeciescaught.4ReefsalsoprovidehabitatforotheranimalstouristsenjoyobservingincludingtheendangeredCaribbeanmonksealandhawksbill,greenandleatherbackseaturtles.

Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals

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NATURAL-REEF-RELATEd RECREATION IN sOUThEAsTERN FLORIdA (2000-2001)

ÿ Generated $2.7 billion in retail sales in the region

ÿ Accounted for wage income of $1.2 billion

ÿ Employed 43,320

� Conservation Pays: How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

AnglersarealwayslookingforanewchallengeandinsomepartsoftheWest,they’vefound

oneinthebulltrout,aspeciesthatcanweighfivepoundsormore.Unfortu-nately,thesetroutarediminishinginnumberduetohabitatloss,evenastheygrowinpopularityasagamefish.

Tosurvive,thebulltroutrequiresextremelyclean,coldwater—acommodityinincreasinglyshortsupplythankstoavarietyofhumanactivi-ties.Consequently,thebulltroutwaslistedasthreatenedundertheESAin1998throughoutitsU.S.range,whichincludesCalifornia,Oregon,Idaho,MontanaandNevada.

Despiteitsthreatenedstatus,limitedfishingforbulltroutispermittedunderaprovisionoftheESAthatallowssuchactivityinareaswherethisfishismorecommonandcarefullymanaged,suchasHungryHorseReservoir,LakeKoocanusaandtheSouthForkFlat-headRiverinMontanaandLakeBillyChinookandtheMetoliusRiverinOregon.Intheseandotherareaswithsustainableopportunitiestocatchbulltroutyouwillfindanglerspursuing

them,bringingadditionalincometolocalcommunitiesintheprocess.

“Iseedozenofguyscomingtothisareatofishforbulltrout,”saysJeffPerin,ownerofTheFlyFisher’sPlaceinSisters,Oregon,abusinessbenefit-ingfromthelocalMetoliusRiverbulltroutfishery.“Iconsiderbulltroutfishermentobeanimportantpartofmybusiness.”Perinnotesthathisstore

featuresanentirebinoffliesspecificallyforcatchingbulltrout.Inthebusinessfor20years,hehasseeninterestinbulltroutfishingsteadilyrise.

Arecenteconomicstudyfoundthatarecoveredbulltroutfisherywouldresultin218,000to295,500bulltroutanglingdaysperyearwithintheColumbiaRiverbasinand3,000

to4,000daysperyearintheKlamathRiverbasin.5InMontanaalone,astatewhereanglersspendanaverageof$44perdayfishingandfish11.7daysperyear,thattranslatesinto$9.8to$12.1millionofadditionalincomegeneratedbybulltroutfishing.Withaneconomicmultiplierapplied,thosefiguresbecome$18to$22millionstatewide.6

Comparedtotheoveralltroutfish-ingindustry,thecontributionofbulltrouttotheanglingeconomymayseemcomparativelysmall.7SportfishinginMontanagenerated$312millionin2001,andOregontackle-shopownerPerinestimatesthatonlyabout10percentto15percentoftheanglersontheMetoliusRiverarefocusingspecifi-callyonbulltrout.Still,theexpectedincreasedincomeissubstantialforthesmallcommunitiesandbusinessesthatarelocatedinbulltroutcountry.

ForPerin,thebenefitsofthelocalbulltroutfisheryaretwofold.Bulltroutanglersprovideincomeaboveandbeyondhistypicalrainbowtroutfishingcustomersand,becausethebestbulltroutfishingopportunitiesareduringthewinter,theyalsoextendhisprofit-makingseason.That’sanimportantconsiderationforsmall,seasonalandtourism-dependentbusinessessuchassportinggoods,fishingguidesandboatrentals.“Bulltroutfishingtakesplacemainlyinmyoffseason,soit’sanimportantfisheryforus,”saysPerin.

Actionstakentorecoverbulltroutpopulationsincludeimprovedstreamqualitythatwillleadtodecreaseddrinkingwatertreatmentcostsforcommunitiesandbetterhabitatforothereconomicallyvaluablesportfishthatliveinthesamestreamsandrivers.Asbulltroutrecoveracrosstheirrange,theopportunitiestobringadditionalincometoothercommunitiesnearbulltroutwaterswillincreaseaswell.

Bull Trout

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POTENTIAL INCOmE FROm BULL TROUT ANGLERs IN mONTANA ALONEÿ $9.8 million to $12.1 million

per year

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EntireculturesandeconomieshaveevolvedaroundthesalmonandsteelheadofthePacific

NorthwestandtheColumbiaRiverbasinstocksinparticular.

Today,26stocksofPacificsalmonandsteelhead,including13foundintheColumbia,arelistedundertheESAaseitherendangeredorthreatened.13Over-fishingandthelossoftheriver,estuarineandoceanhabitatessentialtothesalmonlifecyclecontributedtotheirdecline,buttheprimarycauseintheColumbiaRiverBasinistheseriesofdamsontheriveranditstributariesthatimpedethepassageofmigratingfish.

TheColumbia’ssalmon,whichalsorangeupanddownthePacificcoastduringtheoceanphaseoftheirlifehistory,continuetobringeconomicandculturalbenefittothepeopleofthePacificNorthwest,butatalevelfarreducedfromwhatitoncewas.A1996studyestimatedthatiftheColumbiaRiverbasinwerestillproducingsalmonatmid-1800slevels,itwouldgenerateasmuchas$507millioninpersonalincomeandcreateasmanyas25,000jobs.That’sconsiderablylessthanthe1976to1996averageof$31.8millioncreatedbythecurrentColumbiaRiverrunsoftwomillionorfewer—ameretwotothreepercentofhistoricalproductionlevels.Thedifferenceistheequivalentof23,760lostfamily-wagejobs.8Moreover,mostofthecurrentcatchishatchery-raisedatpublicexpense.

“Overthelast20years,theoverallincomeofourresidentshasbeenpropor-tionaltothesizeofthesalmonruns,”saysSteveFick,presidentofFishhawkFisheries,afish-processingbusinessatthemouthoftheColumbiaRiverinAstoria,Oregon.Inthiscitylargelybuiltonthesalmonfishingandprocessing

industry,youcandrivealongthedocksandseewhat’sleftoftheseonce-bustlingsalmon-relatedbusinesses.Still,theColumbiaRiversalmoneconomyishangingon,andthepotentialtorevital-izeitisthere—ifdamsaremanagedtoallowfishtopassmoreeasilyandloggingandgrazingpracticesnotdetrimentaltofishhabitatareadopted.

Theimpetusisthere,too:Consumerpreferenceforwildcaughtsalmonoverfarmedfishisgrowing.“Thereisatremendousmarketforwildsalmonandthatdemandismakingthevaluehigh,”saysFick.Fouryearsagocommercialsalmonproducersweregetting20or30centsperpoundforcohosalmon.Nowit’supto$1.25perpound,andprizedColumbiaRiverchinooksalmonisgoingfor$1.35perpound.9

ThecommercialsalmonindustryalsohelpsdriveAstoria’stourismindustry.Out-of-townerscometoeatataseafoodrestaurant,sightseealong

aworkingdockandpurchasefreshsalmonatalocalmarket.

WestoftheCascades,Issaquah,Washington,atownabout20mileswestofSeattle,hasturnedthemerepresenceofsalmonintoaprofitcenter.SeveralimportantPugetSoundsalmonspawn-ingstreamsflowthroughthecity,soin1970whenthecommunitywaslookingtocreateaspecialeventtoboosttour-ism,thechoiceofasalmoncelebrationseemedobvious.

TheIssaquahSalmonDaysFestival,timedtocoincidewiththeannualsalmonspawningruninearlyOctober,isafour-dayextravaganzathatattractsasmanyas200,000peopleandbringsabout$7.5milliontothecommunityeachyear,includingmorethan$1.5millionspentatthefestivalalone.About2,000localcitizensvolunteertohelpplanandruntheevent,donatingmorethan12,600hoursoftheirtime.Inaddition,67nonprofitorganizationsthatsupportthecommunityofIssaquahalsoparticipate.10

“OurcommunityconsiderstheIssaquahSalmonDaysFestivaltobeanimportantasset,”saystheIssaquahChamberofCommerce’sdirectoroffestivalsRobinKelley.ThefestivalcombinesfunandopportunitiestolearnmoreaboutPacificsalmonandtheenvi-ronment.There’sliveentertainmentfromfourstages,severalhundredvendorswhosellarts,craftsandfood,aparade,golftournament,activitiesforchildrenandboothsforlocalnonprofitorganizations.

AlthoughmostSalmonDaysattend-eesaredayvisitors,themanyvendorsintowntoselltheirwaresfillthehotelsandrestaurants,givinglocalbusinessesanadditionalboost.

WhileitisunlikelythatthePacificsalmonpopulationswilleverreturntohistoricalnumbers,thesheervalueofrestoringthemtosustainablelevels—estimatedtobeasmuchas$475millionintheColumbiaRiverbasinalone—makesitwellworththeeffort.11

Pacific Salmon

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IssAqUAh sALmON dAys FEsTIvAL ÿ Attracts roughly 200,000 visitors ÿ Brings about $7.5 million to the

community, including $1.5 million from the festival alone

� Conservation Pays: How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

OneoftheEndangeredSpeciesAct’smajorsuccessstories,thebaldeagleisasymbolof

Americanfreedom,strengthandideals.Thephysicalfeaturesofthisgreatbird—itsimpressivesizeandstrikingplum-age—alsomakeitabirdthatAmericanswanttoseeandcelebrate.Asaresult,formanycommunitiesblessedwitheaglepopulations,thisgreatraptorisasymbolofAmericaneconomicprosperity.ItisalsoanAmericansuccessstory.

By1963,thebaldeaglepopulationinthelower48stateshadplummetedtojust417nestingpairs.In1967,thebaldeaglewasprotectedthroughoutmuchofthelower48statesunderaprecur-sortotheESA.Captivebreedingandreintroductionprograms,steppeduplawenforcementtocurtailillegalkillingofeagles,habitatprotectionandthebanningofthepesticideDDTin1972resultedinitsremarkablecomeback.Todaythereare7,066nestingeaglepairsinthelower48states.

CommunitiessituatedonbaldeaglemigrationroutesorwinteringareashavefoundfertileopportunitiestocelebratethecomebackofthisgreatAmericanbirdwhileattractingsignificanttourismdollars.EaglefestivalsandorganizedeaglewatchesarepopularalongtheMississippiRiver,wheresome2,500baldeaglesspendthewintermonthsandtensofthousandsofpeoplecometoviewthem.12

OneexampleisEagleWatchingDays,heldinSaukCityandPrairieduSac,Wisconsin,eachJanuary.Theeventfeaturesabanquet,educationalprogramsabouteaglebiologyandconservation,entertainment,children’sactivities,foodbooths,toursandtheopportunitytoseeliveeagles.In2004,about11,600peoplevisitedtheareatoseeeagles,with78

percentsayingthateaglewatchingwastheprimaryreasontheycame.Nonresi-denteagletouristsspentmorethan$1.14millionintheareathatyear,representinga21percentincreaseineagletourismincomesince1994.13

InIowa,theClintonEagleWatchdemonstrateshowmanysmalltownscapitalizeontheirlocalwinteringeaglestogarneradditionalincome.Thisannualeventoffersamixofprogramsandeaglewatchingtoursandin2006generatedjustunder$57,560tothiscommunityofabout28,000residents.14“Anothereagleevent,QuadCityBaldEagleDays,attractsasmanyas20,000attendees15toanareathatincludesDavenportandBettendorf,IowaandRockIslandandMoline,Illinois.“Wehavehadalongloveaffairwitheagles,”saysJoeTaylor,presidentoftheQuadCitiesConven-tionandVisitorsBureau,aboutthismid-Januaryfestivalthatmarkedits40thanniversaryin2007.

Taylorpointsoutthatbaldeaglesareeasyforcasualobserverstoseebecauseoftheirsizeandthefactthattheydon’tmovearoundmuchinthewinterinordertoconserveenergy.Thismeansthateaglefestivalsandwatchesattracttouristswhoarenotnecessarilydedicatedbirders,therebyincreasingthepotential“customerbase.”AccordingtoTaylor,thebenefitsofhavingeaglesinthecommu-nitygoesbeyondthefestival.“Theeaglesareasourceofcommunitypride,”hesays,“andmanycommunitygroupsandbusinessesusetheeagleintheirmarket-ingandadvertising.”

AneaglefestivalheldinEssex,Connecticut,eachFebruaryisoneofanumberofEastCoasteagleevents.OntheWestCoast,oneofthemostwell-knowneagleeventsistheUpperSkagitBaldEagleFestival,inConcrete,Washington,asmalltownthatdrawsanestimated10,000peopletoviewtheeaglesthatwinterinthearea.Thefesti-val,whichattractsabout4,000people,turns21in2007.16

“Theeaglesbringinlotsofdaytrip-perstothecommunityandafewwhostayonovernight,”saysVickiJohnson,oneofthefestivalboardmembers.ManyothercommunitiesintheUnitedStatesarecapitalizingonlocaleaglepopulationstoattractmoretouristdollarstotheirareas,provingthatoneofAmerica’sgreat-estbirdsisalsogreatforlocaleconomies.

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EAGLE-RELATEd TOURIsm IN sOUTh-CENTRAL WIsCONsIN (2004)

ÿ Attracted 11,600 nonresidents— 78 percent mainly to see eagles

ÿ Accounted for $1.14 million in direct expenditures (food, lodging, etc.)

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EachSeptember,NorthAmerica’slargestwadingbirdisthestarofTheWhoopingCraneandWild-

lifeFestival,agreatexampleofhowlocalpeoplehavecombinedsupportforanendangeredspeciesrecoveryprogramwithafestivalthathashelpedputtheircommunityonthemapandadditionalincomeinthebank.

Fewspecieshavebeenclosertothecliffofextinctionthanwhoop-ingcranes.Namedfortheirthroaty,“whooping”call,anestimated1,400ofthesebirdslivedthroughoutNorthAmericainthemiddleofthe19thcentury.Butby1942,duelargelytohuntingandthelossofwetlandstofarminganddevelopment,only15indi-vidualssurvived.Thewhoopingcranewasdesignatedasendangeredthrough-outitsrangein1967underthelawthatprecededtheESA.

Tosavethisbirdfromitsprecariousperch,acaptive-breedingprogramwas

instituted.Byrecentcounts,thereisonewildself-sustainingwesternpopulationofabout200birds,58nonmigratorywhoopersplusareintroducedeasternmigratoryflockof40inFlorida,andanother125birdsdistributedamongeightcaptive-breedingprogramsites.17

Oneofthosesites,NecedahNationalWildlifeRefuge,servesasaflightschoolforyoungFlorida-boundcranes.Therefugeencompasses43,656acresofmarshesandpondsincentralWisconsin,astatethathistoricallywasoneofthewhoopers’summerhomes.FromlateJunetoearlyJuly,youngcaptive-bredbirdshatchedatothersitesarebroughttotherefugeandtrainedtofollowultra-lightaircraft.Beginninginearly

October,theaircraftleadthemonthe1,000-mileflighttoFloridawheretheyspendthewintermonths.Comefall,thehopeisthattheywillmigratenorthagainontheirown,swellingtheranksofthereintroducedeasternmigratorypopulation.

TheresidentsofthevillageofNece-dahandthestaffofthewildliferefugeputonthefirstfestivalmarkingthedepartingfallflightofwhoopingcranesin2000.Fivehundredpeopleshowedup.By2002ithadgrowntoabout3,600attendeesfrom15statesandeightforeigncountries.In2005,about4,000peoplewereonhandfortheparty.Visitorshailedfrom23statesandasfarawayasNewZealandandRussia.Morethanaquarteroftheattendeesstayintheareaformorethanoneday,spend-ingmoneylocallyonmotels,camp-grounds,restaurantsandshopping.18

Thefestivalnowconsistentlybringsinmorethan$40,000eachyear,animportanteconomicshotinthearmforacommunityoffewerthan900residents.19“ThefestivalhasdefinitelyhelpedoureconomyandputNece-dahonthemapbothnationallyandinternationally,”saysDaveArnold,thefestival’sgeneralchairman.“HadtheynotselectedNecedahforthewhoop-ingcraneprogram,alotofpeopleherewouldhavebeenverydisappointed.”

Publicityaboutthewhoopingcraneprogramhasalsoincreasedvisitationtotherefugebypeoplewhowanttoseethebirdsandwhospendtheirmoneyatareabusinesses.Therefugehostsabout150,000visitorseachyear.20

ThetownofPortAransas,Texas,whereanotherwildflockofwhoopingcranesspendsthewinter,hasbeenhold-ingitsownfestivaleachFebruarysince1996.BilledastheAnnualCelebrationofWhoopingCranesandOtherBirds,itfeaturesexcursionstoseethecranesinthewild.AnumberofPortAransastouroperatorsofferguidedwhoopingcraneviewingtripsaswell.

Whooping Cranes

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WhOOPING CRANE FEsTIvAL, NECEdAh, WIsCONsIN (2005)

ÿ drew about 4,000 people to this village of less than 900

ÿ Accounted for an additional $42,610 in revenue

� Conservation Pays: How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

SandyHook,NewJersey,boastsoneoftheEastCoast’slargestpipingplovernestingcolonies

andattractsdrovesofpeoplewhocomespecificallytoseethesediminutivebirds.Listedasthreatenedin1985—andnowendangeredinsomepartsoftheirrange—thepipingploverbelongstotheshorebirdfamily.Shorebirdsarereveredbythededicatedbirderswhotraveltheworld’sbeaches,estuariesandmudflatstoseethem.

Birdingingeneralisbigbusinessthesedays,butshorebirdwatchersarethehighrollersofthebreed,spendingmorethanfourtimesmoreonbird-ingequipmentthangeneralistbirders.Anywherelargeconcentrationsofplovers,pipersandothershorebirdsgather,youwillalsofindflocksofshorebirdwatchers,binocularsaroundtheirnecks,walletsintheirpockets.Forexample,anestimated390,000birdersvisitNewJerseytoviewshore-birdseachyear.21Another74,000traveltoneighboringDelawaretowatchthesecoastalbirds.22

OneofthehottestviewingareasisonNewJersey’sDelawareBay,wherethousandsofmigratingshorebirdsstoptoeattheeggsdepositedonthebeachbyhorseshoecrabseachyearbetweenlateAprilandearlyMay.Thesebirds,theat-riskredknotamongthem,attracthordesofbirdersfromallovertheworldwho

spendbetween$2.8millionand$4.6millioninthebayarea.Thetotalimpact,asthatmoneycirculatesthroughtheeconomy,is$5.6millionto$9.3millionannually.23Throughouttheyear,shore-birdwatchersspendbetween$6millionand$10milliononbay-areabirdingtrips,

foratotaleconomicmultipliereffectof$12millionto$20million.24

“Weencouragebirderstoweartheirbinocularsaroundandtellbusinessownersthattheyaretheretoseetheshorebirds,”saysPatSutton,programdirectorfortheNewJerseyAudubonSociety’sCapeMayBirdObserva-tory.“Localbusinessesareawareoftheeconomiccontributionthebirdersmake.”

Coastalpreserves,refugesandnaturecentersalsoattractshorebirdwatch-ersandtheirdollars.“Shorebirdsarealargedrawforus,”saysPeteBacinski,directoroftheSandyHookBirdObservatory,whichoffersbirdingtoursthroughoutthearea.Astudyconductedbetween1993and1994inMassachusettsontheParkerRiverNationalWildlifeRefuge—afavoritespotforviewingpipingploversandothershorebirdsinwinter—foundthatmostvisitorscamespecificallytowatchbirdsandestimatedthatrefugevisitorsannuallycontributebetween$609,000and$1.5milliontothearea’seconomy.25

ShorebirdwatchinganditseconomicbenefitsarenotconfinedtotheEastCoast.CommunitiesontheWestCoastalsorecognizethebirds’valueforattract-ingvisitors.TheLongBeachPeninsulaVisitorsBureauinWashingtonstate,forexample,promotesbirding,includingshorebirdwatching,onitsWebsiteandrecommendslocalcharterboatoperatorsthatofferbirdingtours.

Consideringthemoneybirderscontributetolocaleconomies,anycommunitywithshorebirdsinthevicin-ityhasreasontocelebrate—andmanydo.SanDiego,California;Clearwater,Florida;GrandIsle,Louisiana;OceanCity,Maryland;Hoquiam,Washington;GreatBend,Kansas;Homer,Alaska;Milton,Delaware;andKiptopeke,Virginia,arejustafewofthecommuni-tiesthatholdannualbirdingfestivalsfeaturingshorebirds.

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EsTImATEd ECONOmIC ImPACT OF BIRdWATChERs vIsITING dELAWARE BAy FOR sPRING shOREBIRd mIGRATION ÿ $5.6 million to $9.3 million

per year

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Onceuponatime,manyfolksinSt.MaryParish,Louisiana,consideredtheLouisiana

blackbearanuisance.ButthatchangedwhenresidentsofFranklin,theparishseat,joinedforceswiththeBlackBearConservationCommittee,agroupofloggers,farmers,conservationists,governmentofficials,researchersandothersinstrumentalindevisingarecov-eryplanforthisthreatenedbear.Inanefforttoprotectthebearandrallythecommunity,theycreatedtheBayouTecheBearFestival,anannualAprilaffairtheLouisianaAssociationofFairsandFestivalsnamed“bestnewevent”in2004.

TheLouisianablackbear,asubspe-ciesoftheAmericanblackbear,oncerangedthroughoutthebottomlandhardwoodforestsofeasternTexas,Loui-siana,MississippiandsouthernArkan-sas.Bytheturnofthe20thcentury,mostweregone.Onahuntingexpedition

in1902,PresidentTheodoreRooseveltrefusedtoshootaLouisianablackbearthatothershadcapturedandtiedtoatree.Anewspapercartoonistdrewacaricatureoftheincidentwith“Teddy’sBear”representedasafuzzystuffedcrea-ture,andteddybearswereborn.

Theincidentwasaboontotoymakers,butdidlittletobenefitLouisianablackbears.Populationsstayedlowthroughtheensuingdecades.By1992,whenthefederalgovernmentproposedaddingittothethreatenedspecieslist,habitatdestruc-tionandhuman-causedmortalityfrompoachingandmotor-vehiclecollisionshadreducedtheirnumberstoafewhundred.26

Today,withESAprotectionLouisianablackbearsaremakinganimpressivecomeback.BayouTecheNationalWildlife

Refugeharborsarelativelyrobustpopu-lation,makingFranklin,locatedjustsouthoftherefuge,theperfectplacetohonortherarebearwithafestival.

“WeusethefestivalasabuildingblocktogetpeopletoappreciatetheLouisianablackbearandasatourismpromotiontool,”saysfestivalmanagerLauraGoulas.In2001,wildlifewatchinginLouisianahadatotaleconomiceffectofnearly$370million,andthefestival’sorganizersseegreatpotential.The5,000to7,000peoplewhoattendthefestivallearnaboutthebearthroughseminarsanddisplaysandenjoyshoppingforartsandcrafts,foodbooths,activities,aparadeforchildrenandmore.27Theeventhasbeenturningaprofitsincedayone.Thesecretistooffersomethingforeveryone.“Whetheryouhave$100inyourpocketor$1,youcanhaveagoodtime,”saysGoulas.

OthertownsinLouisianablackbearcountryhavejoinedinthefun.InRoll-ingForks,Mississippi,intheheartofLouisianablackbearcountry,theGreatDeltaBearAffairenticesasmanyas6,000peopletotakeinwildlifeeduca-tionseminars,tournearbywildareas,exploreIndianmoundsandlearnaboutLouisianablackbearconservation.Aneweventisthe“wildlifeOlympics”forkidsthatinvolvesbothphysicalandacademicactivities.28

WithDeltaNationalForestandYazooNationalWildlifeRefugenearby,RollingSpringsandSharkeyCountyhaveexcellentwildlifeviewingoppor-tunitiesandthefestivalishelpingtogetthewordout.“We’repositioningourselvesasawildlifetourismdestina-tionandthefestivalisgreatpublicity,”saysfestivalcoordinatorMegCooper.

AsthepopulationofLouisianablackbearsincreases,sowillbear-viewingopportunitiesandthetourismdollarswildlifewatchersbringtocommunitiesneargoodbearhabitat.

Louisiana Black Bears

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LOUIsIANA BLACk BEAR FEsTIvAL ATTENdANCEÿ Bayou Teche Bear Festival

(Louisiana): 5,000 to 7000ÿ Great delta Bear Affair

(mississippi): 6,000

10 Conservation Pays: How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

IfyouaskedvisitorstoCalifornia’scoasttonametheanimaltheymostassociatewiththeregion,mostwould

probablysayitisthesouthernseaotter.Thissymbolofthenear-shoreoceanenvironmentiswidelyfamiliartotheAmericanpublicanddrivesasignificantnumberoftouriststovisitCalifornia’soceansidecommunities,makinganimportanteconomiccontributiontothosedestinations.

OncerangingalongtheWestCoastfromWashingtontoMexico,southernseaotterswerenearlyextirpatedbythemid-1800s,primarilyduetotherelent-lesseffortsoffurhunters.ListingasthreatenedundertheESAin1977helpedbringthesouthernseaotterpopulationuptocurrentlevels,whichoverthelastthreeyearsaveraged2,751otters—just17percentoftheestimatedhistoricalpopula-tionof16,000.29

ForthecityofMontereyanditsenvirons,theseaotterservesasanunof-ficialmascotand,accordingtosomelocaloutfitters,attractsasignificantnumberofpeoplewhocomespecificallywiththe

hopeofseeingtheseanimalsfloatingandfrolickinginthebayandsurf.

“Wetalkalotabouttheseaotterasanicon,”saysKenPetersonoftheMontereyBayAquarium.“TheyarehugeasavisiblesymboloftheCaliforniacoastandplayamajorroleinpeopledecidingtocomeheretovisit.”PetersonnotesthattheseaotterexhibitisoneoftheMontereyBayAquarium’smostpopular.

Evidenceoftheseaotter’spopularityisapparentthroughouttheMontereyBayarea,wheretheirimageadornseverythingfrombannersandT-shirtstomugsandposters.Sea-otter-relatedgiftandsouvenir

itemsaccountformorethan20percentofsalesattheaquarium’sgiftshop.30

Whilevisitorscanwatchseaottersfromshore,andevenfromthewindowsofdocksiderestaurants,manypeoplewanttogetclosertotheseanimals.Anumberoflocaloutfittersservethismarket.“Whenwerentkayaks,aleadingquestioncustomersaskusiswherethebestplaceistoseeotters,”saysAnjanetteAdams,generalmanagerofMontereyBayKayaks.SheaddsthatseaottersaresowidelyassociatedwithMontereyBaythattouristsarevirtually“pre-programmed”towanttoseeonewhentheyvisit.Whale-watchingtouroperatorsarealsoincludingopportunitiesfortheircustom-erstoobserveseaottersasinterestintheseanimalshasgrown.

AstheseaotterpopulationexpandsalongthecoastadjacenttoSantaBarbaraandVenturacounties,economistspredictsea-otter-relatedtourismwillprovideanadditional60to320jobsandanaddi-tionalincomeof$1.5to$8.2million,notincludinganymultipliereffectsasthoseincomedollarscirculatethroughoutthecommunity.Southernseaottersalsoprovideanumberofeconomicallyimpor-tantnonmarketservices.BasedonwhatCalifornianssaytheyarewillingtopaytohaveseaottersalongtheircoast,thatvalueisasmuchas$21.4million.31

Seaottersplayacriticalecologicalroleaswell.Bycontrollingseaurchinpopulationsthatfeedonkelp,theyhelpkeepkelpforestshealthy.Properlyfunc-tioningkelpforestsprovideecologicalservicesvaluedatabout$7,600peracreperyear.Theseincludeerosionreduc-tion,habitatformussels,clamsandotherinvertebratesandanumberofspeciesoffish,andcarbonstoragethatcanhelpreduceglobalwarming.

IfsouthernseaottersarepermittedtoexpandtheirnumbersandrangetotheirbiologicalcapacitythroughouttheCaliforniacoastalenvironment,morethan$100millioninadditionaleconomicbenefitcouldberealized.

Southern Sea Otters

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PROjECTEd TOURIsm-RELATEd BENEFITs OF CALIFORNIA sEA OTTER POPULATION ExPANsION IN sANTA BARBARA ANd vENTURA COUNTIEsÿ 60 to 320 jobs ÿ $1.5 million to $8.2 million in

additional income

defenders.org 11

Priortothemid-1990s,theremoteLamarValleywasoneoftheless-visitedpartsofYellowstone

NationalPark.Today,thevalleybustleswithvisitorsbecauseitisthebestplacetoseetheanimalsthatarethesecondbiggestdrawforpark-goersaftergrizzlybears:graywolves.WolveswerereintroducedinYellowstoneNationalParkin1995and1996.In2005,about90,000peoplevisitedtheGreaterYellowstoneAreaspecificallytoseewolves.32

Notsolongago,exceptforseveralsmallpopulationsintheupperMidwest,wolveswerenowheretobeseeninthelower48states.Bythe1930s,graywolveswereallbutextirpated,victimsofaU.S.government-sponsorederadicationcampaign.Graduallyattitudestowardwolveschangedandtheirecologicalvaluewasrecognized.CurrentlythereareprotectionsforgraywolfpopulationsinthenorthernRockiesandtheSouthwest,andtheGreatLakespopulationhasrecentlyrecovered.

Today,inadditiontotheirvitalandvaluedroleasatoppredator,recentstud-ieshavefoundthatwolvesareanimpor-tanteconomicdriveraswell.Yellowstone’s90,000wolfwatchers,forexample,addednearly$35millioninadditionalincometobusinessesintheregionofIdaho,MontanaandWyomingthatsurroundsthenationalpark,includinggasstations,hotels,restaurants,guideservicesandcarandequipmentrentalsalongwithincreasedsalesofwolfT-shirts,stuffedtoywolves,booksaboutwolvesandotherwolf-relatedsouvenirs.Asthese“wolfdollars”circulatethroughcommunities,theyleveragethetotaleconomicimpacttoabout$70millionperyear33–definitelysomethingtohowlabout.

Anestimated151,000peopleperyearseewolvesintheYellowstoneareaand

manymorewouldliketo.34Asaresult,localwildlife-watchingbusinesseshaveadaptedtoservethegrowingdemandtoviewwolvesinthewild,whichincludescoupleswillingtopay$1,000ormoreforatwo-dayguidedexcursion.

OnesuchbusinessisYellowstoneSafariCompany,basedinBozeman,Montana.“Wolvesfitintoourbusinessreallywell,”saysSusiSinay,whoco-ownsthecompanywithherhusband,Ken.TheSinaysactivelypluggedwolfwatchingontheirWebsite.AswordgotaroundthatYellowstonehadwolves,customersbegantocallspecificallyaboutwolf-viewing.“Thewolfisaveryspecialanimalthatpeoplewanttosee,”shesays.

Wolvesareeasiesttoobserveduringthewintermonths,typicallyfromNovemberthroughJanuary.BeforewolveswerereintroducedtoYellowstone,

winterwasaslowtimeofyearformanytouroperators.Withthegrowinginterestinwolfviewing,touroperatorsareabletoextendtheirincome-generatingseasonthroughthewinter.TheSinays,forexam-ple,haverecentlyincreasedthenumberoftheirwinterwolftoursby50percent.

They,likeothertouroperators,alsobookcabinsandmotelroomsfortheirguests,spreadingtheeconomicbenefitsofwolfwatchingtootherlocalbusinesses.“Wereallyfeelthewolvesareamajoreconomicbenefit,”saysSinay.“Wehavemoreincomeandthatmeanswecanhiremoreemployees.”

WolvesintheupperMidwestalsomeanblackinkonthebalancesheet.OnethirdofthetouristswhovisitEly,Minnesota,stopattheInternationalWolfCenter.Thecenter’sretailstoregenerated$120,000innetrevenuesin2004thateventuallymadeitswayintothelocalcommunity.Thecenterbringsinasmuchas$3millionperyeartoElyandprovidesnearly70jobsintourismandrelatedbusinesses.35

Aswolvescontinuetoestablishthem-selvesintheWest,moreandmoreruralcommunitieswillfind—as70percentofresidentssurveyedintheGreaterYellow-stoneAreadid—thattheeconomicbenefitsoftheseanimalsfaroutweighanydrawbacks.36

Gray Wolves

WOLvEs IN ThE yELLOWsTONE AREA (2005)

ÿ drew an additional 90,000 visitors to yellowstone National Park

ÿ Generated direct expenditures of $35 million

ÿ had a total economic impact of $70 million

12 Conservation Pays: How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

Lumpyandhomely,themanateehasapotatofacethatjustabouteverybodyseemstolove,and

peoplefromthroughouttheUnitedStates—andeventheworld—traveltoFloridajusttoseeit.Thosevisitorsspendmorethan$20millioneachyearattwoFloridamanatee-viewinghotspots.

ManateesrangefromVirginiatoTexas,butareconcentratedmainlyinFloridaduringthewintermonths.Theseslow-movingandgentleherbivoresliveinslack-waterrivers,coastalareasandsaltwaterbays.Vulnerabletomotor-boats,asignificantnumberofmana-teesarekilledeachyearincollisions,althoughhabitatlossistheprimaryreasontheywerelistedasendangeredthroughouttheirrangein1967.Currently,onlyabout3,000WestIndianmanateesremainintheUnitedStates.37

TherearetwoprimarylocationsinFloridawherethepubliccanseemana-teeswithrelativeease:BlueSpringStateParknorthofOrlandoandHomosassaSpringsWildlifeStateParkontheGulfCoastnorthofTampa.Themanateestendtoconcentrateatthesespringsduringthewinter,attractedtowatertemperatureswarmerthaninnearbyriversandbays.Thatconcentrationofmanateesattractsaconcentrationofmoney-spendingtouristsaswell.

“ManateesarehugeatBlueSpringStatePark,”saysparkbiologistMegKeserauskis.“Visitorsaskaboutseeingmanateesallthetime.”About200manateesspendthewinteratthepark,whichoffersobservationdecksforviewing.Theparkreceivesnearly220,000visitorsyearlyfromoutsidethecountywhospendabout$10millionandcreate174directlyrelatedjobsforapayrollofnearly$2.4million.Inaddi-tion,theparkdrawsmanyday-visits

fromnearbyresidentswhocomespecifi-callytoseemanatees.

HomosassaSpringsWildlifeStatePark,whichfeaturesthe“FishBowl,”afloatingobservatorythatallowsvisitorsanunderwaterviewofmanateesandotheraquaticlife,attractslargenumbersofmanateeenthusiastsaswell.Theparkreceivesnearly170,000visitsfromout-of-countyresidentsyearly.Directexpendituresbythosevisitorsareabout$13.6million.The206tourism-relatedjobscreatedproducealocalpayrollofmorethan$3.1million.38

Localentrepreneurshavelearnedhowtocashinonallthisinterestinmanatees.Forexample,BillandDianeOestreich,ownersofBirdsUnderwa-terinCrystalRiver,havebeentakingpeopleonmanateeviewingandsnorkel-ingtourssincethelate1980s.People

fromallovertheworldpatronizethebusiness,includingonecouplefromTokyo,whomadeathree-daywhirlwindtriptoCrystalSpringsjustforamanateetour.Anumberofotherdiveshopsandkayakrentalbusinessesalsocatertomanateewatchers.AndtheManateeToyCompanysells“productsformanateeloversofallages.”

CrystalRiver,asmallout-of-the-waycommunityofabout3,500people,hascapitalizedontheuniqueandspecial-izedbusinessopportunitythepresenceofmanateesoffers.“ThemanateesarethereasonpeoplecometovisitCrystalRiver,”saysOestreich.

ThestoryisthesamefromtheperspectiveofJannSnellings,curatoroftheManateeObservationandEducationCenter,situatedonatradi-tionalmanateemigrationrouteatFortPierceonFlorida’seastcoast.Sheisconstantlysurprisedbyhowmanypeoplecometothecenterfromallovertheworldtoseemanatees.

“Manateescontributealottotheeconomy,”shesays.“Visitorscometothecenterbecausewearelistedintheguidebooksandtheyknowtheycanseemanateeshere.”Inadditiontotheircleareconomiccontribution,manateesalsobenefitlocalcommunitiesbycontrollingaquaticweedsandmosquitoes,assistinginnutrientrecyclingandservingasanindicatorofoverallecosystemhealth.

Manatees

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mANATEE WATChING IN TWO FLORIdA sTATE PARks (2002) ÿ Attracted 389,244 out-of-

county visitorsÿ Generated $23.6 million in

direct expendituresÿ Accounted for wage income

of $2.38 millionÿ Created 380 jobs

defenders.org 1�

ApodofhumpbackwhalesspoutinginthewatersoftheHawaiianIslandswasoncethe

signalforfactorywhalingshipsbristlingwithharpoonstoreadytheirfire.Today,theboatsplyingHawaii’swatersarefilledwithtouriststhrilledbythepros-pectofseeingthesemostacrobaticofthegreatwhalesandreadilydepositingmillionsofdollarsintothecashregistersoflocalbusinesses.

Originallyprotectedin1970undera1969precursortotheESA,hump-backwhalesarelistedasendangeredthroughoutallU.S.coastalwatersafterbeinghuntedbycommercialwhal-ersnearlytoextinctionbythe1960s.Currentthreatstotheworld’spopula-tionof30,000to40,000humpbackwhales—representingabout30percentofthehistoricalpopulation—includeillegalwhaling,entanglementindriftandgillnetsandmarinepollution.39Fortunately,tourismisservingasanimpetusforprotectingthem.

Thehumpbackwhales’mid-Decem-berarrivalintheircoastalHawaiianwinterfeedinggroundsdovetailsperfectlywiththeislands’touristhigh

season,providinglocaltouroperatorsandotherbusinessesthatservethetouristtradewithadditionaleconomicopportunities.Thattranslatesintomorethan$11millioninticketspurchasedby370,00peopleforhumpback-whale-watchingexcursionseachyear.Morethan50boatsand270jobsarededi-catedtothehumpback-whale-watchingbusinessfromthetimethewhalesarriveinHawaiianwatersinwintertotheirdepartureinlateApril.Inaddition,some62,000visitorstakewhale-watch-ingsnorkelingtrips,addinganother$4.5milliontothepot.40

Eachyear,theentirewhale-watchingindustryinHawaii,includingviewingthesmallerwhalespeciesanddolphins,

generatesinexcessof$16millioninboat-excursionticketsales.Totalannualexpendituresonothertouristservicesbysome448,000whalewatchersisesti-matedat$19to$27million.41

AccordingtoDanMcSweeney,ownerofKona-basedDanMcSweeney’sWhaleWatchingAdventures,thepopularityofhumpbackwhalesamongthepublicstemsfromallthepublicityandmediaattentiontheyhavereceivedovertheyearscoupledwiththefactthattheycanbeseenfromtheHawai-iancoastline.Thatvisibilityoftenmotivatesvisitorstobuyticketsforawhale-watchingcruiseandthepromiseofseeingwhalesclose-up.

McSweeneyhasnocomplaintsthatthehumpbacksshowupduringHawaii’swinter“gravyseason”becauseitmeansthatheandotherwhalewatch-ingtourprovidershaveaready-madecustomerbaseofvacationingtouristsratherthanhavingtospendmoneyonadvertisingtoattractthemtotheislandsspecificallytoseewhales.“Alotofpeopleherecapitalizeonthehump-backwhalesandtherevenuetheygener-ate,”hesays.“It’sawin-winsituation.”

Humpback Whales

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hUmPBACk WhALE WATChING IN hAWAII (1998-1999)

ÿ Attracted 370,000 participantsÿ Occupied 52 boats and

created 277 jobsÿ Generated $11.2 million in

boat ticket sales

Whetherit’ssnorkelingthecoralreefsoftheFloridaKeys,watchingwolvesinYellowstoneinwinter,orcheering

onthegiantsalmonfloatatasmall-townparade,Americanscareaboutwildlifeandarewillingtoputmoney—bigmoney—wheretheirheartsare.

Aswehaveseeninthesepages,entrepreneursandcivicleaderswhorecognizethiseconomicpotentialcanattracttouristsandfashionprofitablebusinessesbasedonlocalwildliferesources,generatingcash

andjobs.Theycanevenmakeananimalpartofthecommunity“brand,”bringingrecognitionandvisi-torswhomaynototherwisecome.Andtheycanhelpsavespeciesfromslidingintooblivionintheprocess.

ThesuccessstorieshighlightedinthisreportmakeitclearthatspeciesprotectedundertheESAareavaluableeconomicasset.Conservationpays,andresourcemanagersandpolicymakersshouldpayattention,sothatAmerica’speopleandnaturalheritagecanprospertogether.

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...species protected under the ESA are a valuable economic asset.

Conclusion

defenders.org 1�

1.Johns,G.M.,V.R.Leeworthy,F.W.BellandM.A.Bonn.2003.Socioeconomic Study of Reefs in Southeast Florida 2000-2001: Final Report.”FinalreportsubmittedtoBrowardCounty,PalmBeachCounty,Miami-DadeCounty,MonroeCounty,FloridaFishandWildlifeConservation.http://www.marineeconomics.noaa.gov/Reefs/02-01.pdf

2.Ibid.

3.UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme,WorldConservationMonitoringCentre.2006.Inthe front line: shoreline protection and other ecosystem services from mangroves and coral reefs.Cambridge,UK.33pp.http://www.unep.org/pdf/infrontline_06.pdf

4.Talbot,F.andWilkinson,C.1999.Coral Reefs, Mangroves and Seagrasses: A sourcebook for managers. AustralianInstituteofMarineSciences,Townsville.

5.U.S.FishandWildlifeServiceandU.S.CensusBureau.2003.2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation: Montana.Washington,D.C.

6.AmericanSportfishingAssociation.2006.State and national economic impacts of fishing, hunting, and wildlife-related recreation on U.S. Forest Service-managed lands. ReportpreparedforWildlife,Fish,andRarePlants,U.S.ForestService,January23,2006.

7.AmericanSportfishingAssociation.2002.Sportfishing in America. http//www.asafishing.org/asa/images/statistics/economic_impact_eco_impact.pdf

8.TheInstituteforFisheriesResources.1996.The Cost of Doing Nothing: The Economic Burden of Salmon Declines in the Columbia River Basin.

9.Fick,S.,FishhawkFisheries.Personalcommunication.September7,2006.

10.Kelly,R.,IssaquahChamberofCommerce.Personalcommunication.August30,2006.

11.TheInstituteforFisheriesResources.1996.The Cost of Doing Nothing: The Economic Burden of Salmon Declines in the Columbia River Basin.

12.U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,NaturalResourceManagementSection,RockIslandDistrict.Bald Eagle Days [on-line];availablefromwww.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/

13.Hall,K.2005.The Ecological Needs and Economic Benefits of Bald Eagles Wintering in South Central Wisconsin.Master’sThesis,UniversityofWisconsin,DepartmentofWildlifeEcology.

14.Schmidt,A.,ClintonCommunityCollege.Personalcommunication,June28,2006.

15.Taylor,J.,QuadCitiesConventionandVisitorsBureau.Personalcommunication.August24,2006.

16.Johnson,V.,UpperSkagitBaldEagleFestival.Personalcommunication.August25,2006.

17.JourneyNorth,Whooping Crane Total Population (Figures as of June 2006)[on-line];availablefromhttp://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/PopulTotals.html

18.Arnold,D.,GeneralChairman,NecedahWhoopingCraneandWildlifeFestival.Personalcommunication.August24,2006.

19.Ibid.

20.U.S.FishandWildlifeService.Necedah National Wildlife Refuge[on-line];availablefromwww.fws.gov/midwest/Necedah/

21.U.S.FishandWildlifeandU.S.CensusBureau.2003.2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation: New Jersey.Washington,D.C.

22.U.S.FishandWildlifeandU.S.CensusBureau(2003).2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation: Delaware.Washington,D.C.

23.Eubanks,T.L.,J.R.StollandP.Kerlinger.2000.Wildlife-Associated Recreation on the New Jersey Delaware Bayshore.ReportpreparedforNewJerseyDivisionofFishandWildlife.

24.Ibid.

25.Gilbert,L.A.,E.F.JansenJr.,J.M.Halstead,andR.A.Robertson.1994.Economic and Social Impact of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and its Piping Plover Management Program.NewHampshireAgriculturalExperimentStation,UniversityofNewHampshire,Durham.

26.Bowker,B.andT.Jacobson.1995.Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) Recovery Plan.PreparedfortheSoutheastRegion.U.S.FishandWildlifeService,Atlanta,Georgia.

27.Goulas,L.,BayouTecheBearFestival.Personalcommunication.August24,2006.

28.Cooper,M.,GreatDeltaBearAffair.Personalcommunication.August25,2006.

29.U.S.GeologicalSurvey,WesternEcologicalResearchCenter.Spring Counts of Southern Sea Otters, 1983-2006[online];availablefromhttp://www.werc.usgs.gov/otters/ca-surveydata.html

Endnotes

1� Conservation Pays: How Protecting Endangered and Threatened Species Makes Good Business Sense

30.Aldrich,K.,J.CurtisandS.Drucker.2001.A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Public Law 99-625: Sea Otter Shellfish Conflicts in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.GroupThesis,DonaldBrenSchoolofEnvironmentalScienceandManagement,UniversityofCalifornia-SantaBarbara.

31.Loomis,J.2006.EconomicrecreationandexistencevaluesofseaotterexpansioninCaliforniausingbenefittransfer.Coastal Management.34(4):387-404.

32.Duffield,J.W.2006.Wolves and people in Yellowstone.Presentationgivenat18thAnnualNorthAmericanWolfConference,ChicoHotSprings,Pray,Montana,April4-7,2006.

33.Ibid.

34.Stark,Mike.“UM economist: Wolves a big moneymaker.”Billingsgazette.com.April7,2006

35.TheBiodiversityPartnership.Wolf Ecotourism Fact Sheet: Conserving Wildlife and Boosting Local Economies [on-line];avaialablefromhttp://www.biodiversitypartners.org/econ/report/ecotourism_fs.shtml

36.Stark,M.UM economist: Wolves a big moneymaker.Billingsgazette.com.April7,2006

37.SavetheManateeClub.Manatee Facts[on-line];availablefromhttp://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm

38.Bonn,MandF.Bell.2003.Economic Impact of Selected Florida Springs on Surrounding Local Areas. ReportpreparedforFloridaDepartmentofEnvironmenatlProtection,DivisionofStateLands,FloridaSpringsTaskForce.

39.AmericanCetaceanSociety.Fact Sheet: Humpback Whale [on-line];availablefromhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htm

40.Hoyt,E.2001.“Whale Watching 2001: Worldwide tourism numbers expenditures, and expanding socioeconomic benefits.”InternationalFundforAnimalWelfare,YarmouthPort,Massachusetts.

41.Utech,D.1999.Valuing Hawaii’s Humpback Whales: The economic impact of humpbacks on Hawaii’s ocean tour boat industry.ReportpreparedforHawaiianIslandsHumpbackWhaleNationalMarineSanctuary.

DefenDers of WilDlife1130 17th street, n.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036-4604202.682.9400

www.defenders.org