Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2015
Publication Citation
29 Conservation Biology 950 (2015)
Abstract
Heller and Hobbs (2014) provide an incisive analysis of the challenges inherent in setting endpoint states as conservation goals. The social construct of nature, nonequilibrium ecosystems, global climate change, large-scale transformations of the landscape, and increasing population and economic activity confound efforts to establish conservation goals. Stakeholders often disagree on endpoint targets, whereas competing notions of historic fidelity and future flexibility frustrate our ability to articulate success, never mind actually achieve it. As Heller and Hobbs describe, this leaves managers in the bind of finding the “balance between future-looking management emphasizing change and past-looking management emphasizing persistence.” As a result, decisions over when and how to intervene are particularly difficult.
Recommended Citation
Fischman, Robert L. and Salzman, James, "Lessons from Pollution Control: Response to Heller and Hobbs 2014" (2015). Articles by Maurer Faculty. 2995.
https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/facpub/2995
Included in
Biology Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Law Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons
Comments
Attached file is a preprint version of what was eventually published as Conservation Biology, v. 29 no. 3, 950-952 (2015)