Ecological value and the US Endangered Species Act: Comment on Waples et al. (2015)

摘要: The US Fish and Wildlife Service National Marine Fisheries (the Services) have struggled to understand the meaning of definition ‘endangered species’ within Endangered Species Act (ESA) 1973. This struggle centers on how Services should interpret phrase ‘significant portion its range’ (SPOIR), which is part an in ESA. same issue has been debated by conservation scholars for more than a decade. Waples et al. (2015; Endang Res 27:189−192) offer defense Services’ policy their interpretation SPOIR (issued July 2014: 79 Fed. Reg. 37578). In doing so they criticize alternative position that we, others, presented. We are concerned (2015) inaccurately characterize our fail acknowledge existing scholarship conflicting with position. More generally, designed defended colleagues, issued Services, inconsistent Congressional intent, essentially roundly rejected several federal court decisions.