Management costs for endangered species

Many locations protected on behalf of endangered species require active management to maintain their long-term suitability for the species in question. This need is especially acute for those endangered species threatened by alien species or the disruption of natural fire disturbance regimes. Efforts to secure adequate funding for habitat management have been hampered by the lack of cost information on a national or regional level. Based on published data and interviews with over 160 scientists and land managers, we estimate that the cost of managing currently occupied habitats of U.S. endangered species threatened by alien species or the disruption of fire regimes totals at least $32-42 million per year (1997 $U.S.). Without this level of support or more, approximately 60% of U.S. endangered species could face continued declines or extinction, even if their habitats are nominally protected.