Beattie says that one myth of the ESA is that it damages the economy, while species and ecosystem losses supposedly have no cost. She points out that reliable studies show no correlation between listings of endangered species and economic loss in two common indices of economic activity - construction employment and gross state product. Most important, the Act has given warning of ecological crises while time still remained to take action. The truth is that development must obey the limits of sustainability. Endangered species are merely messengers of that reality.
Current wisdom maintains that living within our ecological limits is the answer to sustainability.
We need to know the ecological limits so that we can gauge our own standards for existence. Understanding these support systems will give humans more options for long-term survival.