Ch. 3 Discussion Questions: Implementation and Enforcement Issues in Preserving Wildlife
- The book contends that implementation and enforcement issues are especially difficult for programs targeted on wildlife. Do you agree or disagree? Why? What factors would make these programs especially difficult to implement and enforce?
- How has the movement towards using Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) affected the implementation of wildlife programs? Why? What do you think could be done to assure the effective implementation of wildlife programs like HCPs?
- What are the forces that make lax enforcement a major problem for developing countries? What could be done to address this problem?
- This book was written before the trial of the Bundy’s for occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was decided. On Oct. 27, 2016, the jury acquitted Ammon Bundy and six others on the charges against them. Read the following 2 articles concerning this verdict (and others, if you wish, available on the Internet): (1) Jury acquits Ammon Bundy, six others for standoff at Oregon wildlife refuge by the Washington Post at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/10/27/jury-acquits-leaders-of-armed-takeover-of-the-oregon-wildlife-refuge-of-federal-conspiracy-charges/?utm_term=.af935a81154a (2) “Bundy juror: ‘Not guilty’ does not mean innocent” by the Associated Press at http://koin.com/2016/10/28/bundy-juror-not-guilty-does-not-mean-innocent/ Then discuss what your reaction was to the verdict? How would you have voted if you were on the jury? Why? What do you think the consequences of the verdict are for implementation and enforcement issues concerning wildlife conservation programs?
- Wildlife agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are often viewed as “weak” agencies that are reluctant to implement and enforce regulations to protect wildlife. What are the causes of this weakness? If you were in the leadership of this agency, what steps would you take to improve its implementation and enforcement?
- A good example of the difficulties of implementing wildlife conservation programs concerns the attempt to recover red wolves in North Carolina. The book has a brief discussion of this program but read the full report by the Wildlife Management Institute at http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/reviewdocuments/WMI-Red-Wolf-Review-FINAL-11142014.pdf After reading the report, answer the following questions: (1) What are the major obstacles the program officials faced in trying to implement this program? (2) What steps did they take to deal with these obstacles? (2) How successful were they? What are the reasons why they were not more successful? (3) What new or additional steps would you take to implement the program if you were in charge?
- One of the challenges faced by agencies involved in wildlife conservation concerns “conflicting goals and priorities.” What are the goals and priorities that can conflict with wildlife conservation? How would you deal with these conflicting goals and priorities if you were in charge of implementing wildlife conservation programs?
- How do human attitudes and values affect wildlife conservation? What steps have countries used to attempt to change these attitudes so as to support wildlife conservation? How effective have these steps been? What steps would you recommend to change attitudes toward wildlife conservation?
- How does Federalism influence the implementation of wildlife conservation by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Do you think that states should have a greater, lesser, or the same role concerning wildlife conservation as they currently do? Why?
- How important a role have Federal courts played in wildlife conservation issues? What specific aspects of the Endangered Species Act have fostered this role? What steps can opponents of Federal court actions take? Do you think the role of the Federal courts should be reduced or maintained concerning wildlife conservation?