In Brazil’s Atlantic coastal forest, farmers are finding they can make more money by protecting the trees than from agriculture. The golden lion tamarin, a rare monkey, makes its home in this forest and attracts ecotourists from around the world. Scientists have relocated monkeys who are barely surviving in small isolated forest patches to larger,Continue reading “Tantalizing Tamarins”
Author Archives: admin
Ecosystem Management:
One of the Clinton administration’s first major environmental policy initiatives was to call for a shift to ecosystem management. In a nutshell, ecosystem management means that the federal government makes protection or restoration of the health, integrity, and sustainability of ecosystems the primary goal of its activities. The Forest Service, for example, now intends toContinue reading “Ecosystem Management:”
Driving and Density
One technique proposed for combating “urban sprawl” is increasing population densities. Government planners are beginning to require new residential developments to house more people per acre. Even existing low-density suburbs are supposed to be rebuilt to higher densities. The “smart growth” plan for Portland, Oregon, considered a model for anti-sprawl policies, calls for increasing theContinue reading “Driving and Density”
Land Trusts or Land Agents?
Celebrated by market enthusiasts and conservationists alike, land trusts have become the instrument of choice across the nation for conserving farmland, sensitive habitat, and open space. Recently, however, free market environmentalists have been raising a few questions about them. For years, friends of the market such as PERC associates have cheered trusts because of theContinue reading “Land Trusts or Land Agents?”
Superfund Follies
EPA cleanups of superfund sites cost an average of $12 billion for every cancer case prevented. Most people are aware that we live in a world of scarce resources and act accordingly. Not so with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When it comes to cleaning up Superfund sites around the country, recent research suggests thatContinue reading “Superfund Follies”
Paying to Play: The Fee Demonstration Program
The federal government's program to raise entrance and user fees in national parks and forests is an important step in the right direction, says PERC researcher Holly Fretwell.
Fear Bigger Governments, Not Bigger Populations
Orange County Register October 12, 1999 Fear Bigger Governments,Not Bigger Populations By Richard L. Stroup and Matthew Brown The world’s population surpasses the six billion mark this month, on or about October 12, according to the United Nations. Alarmists are using this milestone to call attention to the dangers of growing population. A study fromContinue reading “Fear Bigger Governments, Not Bigger Populations”
Voluntary Export Restraints on Automobiles
Now we know what a decade of quotas on Japanese cars cost consumers. In May 1981, with the American auto industry mired in recession, Japanese car makers agreed to limit exports of passenger cars to the United States. This “voluntary export restraint” (VER) program, initially supported by the Reagan administration, allowed only 1.68 million JapaneseContinue reading “Voluntary Export Restraints on Automobiles”
Straw Houses Withstand Huffs And Puffs
An accountant with a Washington State paper mill was the unlikely inspiration for a new process to produce recycled newsprint. Although the engineers said it couldn’t be done, Carl Simpson suggested replacing woodchips with office paper and telephone directories in order to provide the fiber content needed for newsprint. Steilacoom’s Abitibi Consolidated is now theContinue reading “Straw Houses Withstand Huffs And Puffs”
Harvest Of Savings
Harvest of Savings An accountant with a Washington State paper mill was the unlikely inspiration for a new process to produce recycled newsprint. Although the engineers said it couldn’t be done, Carl Simpson suggested replacing woodchips with office paper and telephone directories in order to provide the fiber content needed for newsprint. Steilacoom’s Abitibi ConsolidatedContinue reading “Harvest Of Savings”