Such posturing may feel good to certain greens, but it's intellectually and ethically irresponsible to ignore or pretend away the costs inherent to protecting lands from human disturbance. We must acknowledge our practical inability to save all species. People are simply unwilling to sacrifice things they cherish to save things they don't. Protecting land to the detriment of those who depend upon it is rarely productive. Saving species is a management problem, but the ESA precludes efficient management of scarce resources for both human and nonhuman use.
Fundamental reform is required.
To deny this fact is ethically and ecologically irresponsible. This column originated from Bridge News.