Assessing extinction risk is a fundamental issue in conservation biology. However, national and international legislation and the implementing regulations that establish categorization procedures often include vague definitions of analytic time horizons (e.g., the “foreseeable future”). Because there is no single framework for interpreting these vague terms, individual decisions are often made on a case-by-case basis. We examine how the lack of an a priori framework for assessing extinction risk over time can lead to capricious decisionmaking, which can in turn hinder biodiversity conservation and scientific credibility. We give recommendations for making more transparent and consistent categorization decisions with respect to time horizons and extinction risk.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 October 2010
Time Horizons and Extinction Risk in Endangered Species Categorization Systems
Jesse D'Elia,
Scott McCarthy
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
BioScience
Vol. 60 • No. 9
October 2010
Vol. 60 • No. 9
October 2010
Endangered Species Act
extinction
foreseeable future
risk assessment