owl. Two economists estimated that its preservation cost the average American $40.49 a year. By multiplying the answers across America -- minus the folks who wouldn't pay a dime -- the two economists calculate the owl's national value at a whopping $1.8 billion to $2 billion a year (Hoffman, 1998). Through the entire course of trying to save the owl, American paid approximately $64 million.The largest move in protecting the spotted owl along with other species risking extinction is the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA is often referred to as the nations strongest environmental law. President Nixon signed the ESA on December 28, 1973. The ESA officially expired in 1992, and lawmakers have been unable to craft an acceptable version to succeed it. In the meantime, it has limped along with a series of annual resolutions, each one leaving it in place for another year. The ESA is a unique commitment by society to protect all species of life, even when it is inconvenient to do so, and to help ensure that the U.S. landscape remains biologically healthy. Although the ESA stopped the logging in the Pacific Northwest, a small amount of the total projects, which fall susceptible to it, are stopped. A majority of the projects can be redesigned in some way that it may continue. In a six-year study during which 98,237 formal or informal consultations took place under the ESA, only 55 projects were stopped from going forward in some form (Schlickeisen, 1998).Environmentalists have always played a large role in this controversy. They have fought to prevent the extinction of several different species. Through the years, since the ESA began, they have added several species to the ESA. After doing so, they have managed to file suits against several corporations in order to prevent them from endangering the species listed. The fact that this goes on has sparked several questions on the validity of the environmentalist groups. People are...
