ABSTRACT
Conservative principles support preserving biodiversity. In addition, biologists and environmentalists put forward a fairly standard list of reasons for preserving the full range of life on earth. They fall generally into three categories: instrumental or pragmatic, aesthetic, and moral. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) takes pride of place in the hierarchy of demons that infest the minds of a small but noisy segment of the public. The Endangered Species Act is administered by two agencies. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has jurisdiction over plants and animals that live on land and in inland waters. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has jurisdiction over fish and other animals that spend all or part of their lives in the sea. The most obvious private action a conservative should take is to support land trusts that protect endangered species. Land trusts deal with willing sellers and donors to acquire land or conservation easements in order to prevent development.
