PERC Reports: Summer 2021
Shawn ReganThis issue of PERC Reports features the work of several past and present fellows and shows how their ideas are informing and shaping some of today’s most pressing environmental issues.
Fix America’s Forests: Reforms to Restore National Forests and Tackle the Wildfire Crisis
Holly Fretwell, Jonathan WoodThis report recommends actionable reforms that can help the Forest Service work better with states, tribes, and private partners to fix America’s forests.
Pushing for Civilian Climate Corps Highlights Underlying Obstacles to Restoring Public Lands
Tate WatkinsEstablishing a new corps program will not resolve fundamental obstacles that hinder broad conservation and restoration work.
Western Drought Highlights Need for Action to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Jonathan WoodStates, tribes and the private sector are stepping up to restore America’s forests and reduce wildfire risks. Policy reforms could empower them to go even further.
Public Comment on American Prairie Reserve Bison Grazing
Hannah DowneyAllowing APR to graze privately-owned bison on its federal allotments respects APR’s rights and, ultimately, honors all landowners’ rights to exercise their grazing privileges while promoting the health of federal lands.
Jonathan Wood Joins PERC as Vice President of Law and Policy
Kat DwyerPERC announces Jonathan Wood as vice president of law and policy.
How Markets Adapt to Climate Change
Matthew E. KahnMarket responses to emerging threats help cope with an uncertain future.
Trading Water, Saving Water
Richael YoungWater markets help the West cope with supply-side shocks and evolving demands.
About PERC
Founded in 1980 in Bozeman, Montana, PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is the home of free market environmentalism. Our research is dedicated to harnessing the power of markets and property rights to improve environmental quality.
Research Areas
Public Lands
C-SPAN: Reduce Regulatory Barriers to Mitigate Wildfire Risk
PERC research fellow Holly Fretwell appears on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss how we can foster resilient forests and mitigate wildfire risk.
Private Partners Can Help Foster More Resilient Forests
A podcast on the need for forest restoration to foster more resilient, healthy forests.
Americans Can Unite Around America the Beautiful
In an era where there is much disagreement and acrimony, the desire to conserve our country’s natural wonders, sacred spaces, and working lands is a point of consensus.
Wildlife
Hybrids, Humans, and the Future of Conservation
A conversation with ecologist Peter Kareiva.
Cars Get Safer in a ‘Landscape of Fear’
New research shows how wolves are generating large benefits by keeping deer out of headlights.
Public Comment on the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Incentive Program
The BLM and the Wild Horse and Burro Program should focus their efforts on assuring and enhancing the integrity of the Adoption Incentive Payment program through enforcement, rather than heeding calls to dismantle the program as a whole.
Water
Protecting Wetlands: Environmental Federalism and Grassroots Conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region
Scaling back federal regulation over isolated wetlands reduces conflict between regulators and private landowners, aligning economic incentives with voluntary conservation objectives.
Water Markets Can Rescue the Great Salt Lake
By recognizing water conservation as a beneficial use, Utah can promote cooperation that can help restore the Great Salt Lake.
The Clean Water Act’s Permitting Process is Mired in Red Tape
The federal Clean Water Act is a notoriously complex statute, imposing federal permitting on a wide variety of land uses, industrial activity, and conservation projects based on turbid regulatory standards.
Private Lands
Critical Habitat’s ‘Private Land Problem’: Lessons from the Dusky Gopher Frog
Critical habitat designations can penalize landowners for conserving habitat features, thereby disincentivizing habitat maintenance and restoration.
A Strong Start for America the Beautiful
As a starting point, the preliminary principles of the America the Beautiful campaign focus on collaboration, voluntary efforts, incentives, local leadership, and honoring property rights.
Testimony before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Forum on the 30 by 30 Initiative
Brian Yablonski testifies before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Forum on the 30 by 30 Initiative.
Hunters and Anglers
Misinformation About Trophy Hunting Threatens Conservation
Banning trophy hunting without viable alternatives would imperil biodiversity and undermine local communities.
Thank a Hunter
It’s incredibly important that we actively support hunting and angling not only because they’re a part of Montana’s identity, but because our wild places need the resources.
PERC Research Fellow Testifies on Wildlife Conservation and Zoonotic Disease Risks
Catherine Semcer testifies before the U.S. Senate on the importance of habitat conservation in preventing disease transmission from wildlife to humans.
Fisheries
Markets, Not Ill-Fitting Regulatory Mandates, Are the Solution to Bycatch
Markets can overcome the technological challenge by giving fishers and others the incentive to develop new ways to reduce bycatch.
Markets and Property Rights are Improving the Environment
A podcast on free market environmentalism and its track record around the world.
A Different Shade of Green
Markets and property rights are working to solve a variety of environmental problems.
Publications
Volume 40, No.1, Summer 2021
Fix America's Forests: Reforms to Restore National Forests and Tackle the Wildfire Crisis
A Better Way to Fund Conservation and Recreation
Enhancing the Public Lands Recreation Fee System
Fixing National Park Maintenance For the Long Haul
Elk in Paradise: Conserving Migratory Wildlife and Working Lands in Montana's Paradise Valley
Volume 38, No.2, Winter 2019
Prospecting for Pollution: The Need for Better Incentives to Clean Up Abandoned Mines
Volume 38, No.1, Summer 2019
The Road to Recovery
Volume 37, No.1, Summer 2018
