Taxonomy by committee?

[Doug Yanega]

Barry's situation has only one realistic and practical solution, which
involves lateral thinking: revise environmental protection legislation so
it is habitat-based instead of taxon-based. Thanks to fences and highways,
it's easier to define boundaries on a habitat than it is on a taxon - and
it would put an end to this miserable PR problem of trying to convince
people that some piece of land has to be protected because it contains some
endangered species they personally consider to be worthless. Chanting "Jobs
versus forests!" won't win as many weak-minded converts as "Jobs versus
owls!"
Of course, all of us know this will never, ever happen, because it's far
too sensible a thing to do, and would run counter to the present political
climate. Far more likely that a conflict such as Barry describes will be
considered by the government as evidence that endangered species are a
myth, the same way they said "Well, the scientists can't agree on global
warming - therefore it obviously must not be a real problem at all!"

Feeling pessimistic on a cold, wet day,


Doug Yanega        Dept. of Entomology         Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California - Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
phone: (909) 787-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
           http://entmuseum9.ucr.edu/staff/yanega.html
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82