Insect Conservation Under the Endangered Species Act
26 Pages Posted: 19 Oct 2007 Last revised: 1 Mar 2015
Abstract
While the rate of extinction is the same for insects and other animals, insects are underrepresented in the Fish and Wildlife Service's list of threatened or endangered species. Insect conservationists have argued that the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Service are biased against insects, despite the importance of insects in our lives. The reality, however, is that there is only minimal bias inherent in the provisions of the Endangered Species Act or in regulations promulgated by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The main cause of the low number of insect species listed under the Endangered Species Act is a lack of qualified biologists to file and review listing petitions. Until sufficient information about insect conservation is available, petitioners could use surrogate species to protect threatened or endangered insect species.
Keywords: insects, Endangered Species Act, bias, conservation, endangered species
JEL Classification: K32, K19, K30, K39, Q20, Q29
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation