The U.S. federal government owns and manages more than one-fourth of the nation’s acreage. The bulk of it rests in the West. In fact, more than half of the West is federally owned. Yet the acts that enabled states to be a part of the nation promised transfer of public domain title. Federal land management is notContinue reading “A Wealth of Land”
Author Archives: admin
At last, some bright spots in Indian country
By Terry L. Anderson When Supreme Court Justice John Marshall described the relationship between Indians and the federal government in 1831 as that of "a ward to his guardian," he sent Native Americans on a path of dependency and poverty. To this day, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the trustee of Indian assets.Continue reading “At last, some bright spots in Indian country”
Thoughts on Sackett v. EPA
The regulators lost to the regulated yesterday in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. As Ilya Somin notes, the Supreme Court’s unanimous opinion held that property owners and other regulated parties may challenge administrative compliance orders issued by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act. This is a small, yet significant, victory guaranteeing a modicum ofContinue reading “Thoughts on Sackett v. EPA”
Where Free Markets Meet Faith
A contemporary breed of religious practitioners are working to combine faith and ecology in new ways.
How Can Cities Reverse Urban Sprawl, Increase Transit Use, Reduce Emissions?
[Read the Abstract] San Jose, CA— The Mineta Transportation Institute (transweb.sjsu.edu) has published The Impact of Center City Economic and Cultural Vibrancy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transportation, a peer-reviewed research report. It documents that vibrant downtown areas are associated with lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from driving, and with greater public transit use. InvestigatorsContinue reading “How Can Cities Reverse Urban Sprawl, Increase Transit Use, Reduce Emissions?”
The ‘Fire Service’
The first national forests were set aside more than 100 years ago. Under Forest Service management they were intended to provide a continuous flow of water and timber for Americans. By the 1980s the agency provided about 25 percent of US softwood lumber consumption. The timber budget was the largest of all agency activities (seeContinue reading “The ‘Fire Service’”
Making green by going green
The California red-legged frog, Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, San Joaquin kit fox – these are just a few of the endangered species PERC Enviropreneur Institute Alum Kent Carter is ecstatic to have found on his California ranch. In 1973 the Endangered Species Act set out to prevent threatened animals and plants from going extinct. AContinue reading “Making green by going green”
New book by PERC researchers: Tapping Water Markets
Now available from RFF Press, Tapping Water Markets explores the past, present, and future of water marketing. Written by PERC Executive Director Terry Anderson and research fellows Brandon Scarborough and Reed Watson, the book provides up-to-date information of where and why water shortages are occurring and where and why markets are emerging to resolve water conflicts. Unlike other booksContinue reading “New book by PERC researchers: Tapping Water Markets”
Whoo Decides How Much Is Enough?
From the New York Times in September: Looking around the stand, Laurie Wayburn, co-founder of the Pacific Forest Trust, which manages this 2,200-acre forest plot for the Fred M. van Eck Forest Foundation, sees a variety of things: thick, straight trees that will generate millions of dollars for the foundation; a healthy forest that filters drinkingContinue reading “Whoo Decides How Much Is Enough?”
Bringing market-based solutions underwater
A lot has been written about PERC’s Enviropreneur Institute lately – and for good reason. While many alarmists tout the demise of clean air, protected forests, and endangered animals, enviropreneurs work to find viable market solutions for improving environmental quality. As Co-Director of PEI Reed Watson notes: What distinguishes enviropreneurs from other environmentalists? One answerContinue reading “Bringing market-based solutions underwater”