The outdoor tourism industry stands to benefit significantly from the presence of endangered species. According to NOAA Fisheries, the endangered North Atlantic right whale alone contributed approximately $2.3 billion to the whale-watching sector and the broader economy in 2008. This contrasts sharply with the annual expenses of around $30 million associated with shipping and fishing regulations designed to protect the species.
In addition to economic benefits, nature has been a vital source of medical advancements. One prominent example is the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel, which was first derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree—a compound that researchers describe as “too fiendishly complex” to have been synthesized artificially, as noted by the federal government.
Experts advocate for the preservation of endangered species, highlighting the untapped potential for scientific discovery. Dave Owen, an environmental law professor at the University of California Law, San Francisco, emphasized the importance of species conservation in an email: “Even seemingly simple species are extraordinarily complex; they contain an incredible variety of chemicals, microbes, and genetic adaptations, all of which we can learn from—but only if the species is still around.”
Recently, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced the successful recovery of the Roanoke logperch, a freshwater fish, allowing it to be removed from the endangered species list.
In a statement on X, Interior Secretary expressed enthusiasm about this development, asserting, “This is proof that the Endangered Species List is no longer Hotel California. Under the Trump admin, species can finally leave!”
The restoration of the striped fish did not occur without concerted effort. Over the past 30 years, federal agencies, local stakeholders, landowners, and conservation groups have invested millions of dollars and countless hours into removing outdated dams, restoring wetlands, and reintroducing fish populations, culminating in the Roanoke logperch’s recovery. It was during the Biden administration that the initial proposal to delist the fish was made in 2024.
Success stories like this inspire optimism for future conservation efforts. Wilcove reflected, “What I’m optimistic about is our ability to save species, if we put our mind and our resources to it.”
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy, and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.
