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Endangered Species and Direct Payments Conservation of endangered species and biodiversity is one of the global environment's most pressing issues. Despite current regulation, extinction rates continue to rise, and habitat destruction is rampant. Many of the world's endangered species are located in low-income or developing nations. In these areas, more than one billion people depend on local natural resources for their livelihood. Restricting these communities' use of natural resources in order to achieve global conservation goals is both unfair and ineffective. Any efforts in conserving species must integrate and empower local communities in managing resources, and not merely impose the costs of conservation on them. The Center for Global Conservation Alternatives seeks to preserve wildlife worldwide by actively involving local communities in direct payment projects. Direct payments for environmental services are an efficient, cost-effective, and simple way to achieve immediate conservation results through economic incentives. Wherever endangered species and humans share the same need for local resources, direct payments can benefit both. With adequate support, individuals and communities have the immediate ability and incentive to preserve species. In the long term, active local involvement in resource conservation will assist in achieving enduring biodiversity goals. Please read more about the wide variety of projects on our website. |
In Kenya, endangered sea turtles are often entangled in nets intended for fish. Under a direct payments project, local fishermen are paid to tag and release turtles caught in fishing gear. The approximate cost per turtle is $3 US. ...more In Mexico, high-altitude pine and fir forests provide a wintering home for migrating Monarch butterflies. These forests are under severe pressure from logging interests. A direct payments program pays communities who agree not to engage in logging activities; the amount paid is the value of lost logging income. ...more In the region bordering Russia and China, local ranchers shoot the severely endangered Amur leopard in order to protect their flocks. Under a direct payments program, the ranchers are paid for the damage the leopards cause, in exchange for agreeing to protect the leopards. ...more ...read about more projects | ||