Endangered Species Act
- Act purports to prevent habitat destruction
- Presence of an endangered species triggers the act
- Fish & Wildlife Service governs land use to protect the species
- Goal: prevent habitat destruction
- In some cases, habitat destruction is accelerated
- A landowner realizes an endangered species is nearby
- If the species is NOT on his land, there are no controls
- Landowner has large incentive to make sure the species does NOT come in
- Result: Landowner modifies the land to prevent the species from living there
- This can mean clear-cutting, plowing, development, etc.
- Intended result: economic incentive to destroy habitat