As an organization of professional and academic ecologists, we need to emphasize that ecology and economics are closely intertwined disciplines. This interrelationship, as best demonstrated in steady state economics, is neither new nor is it a concept limited to a small group of ecologists.
(1) The idea of a steady state economy has been around a long time and comes from classical economics. John Stuart Mill's "Principles of Political Economy" (1848) discusses the idea of a "stationary state." This book was a principle economics text in England until the early 1900s. (2) Today, steady state economics is being promulgated by many economists of stature. Professor Herman Daly (University of Maryland) and Professor Joshua Farley (University of Vermont) made adopting steady-state economics the theme of their 2004 book "Ecological Economics" (Island Press). So for the ESA, this is more than just a small group supporting a one-man campaign. It is both a long-standing and a compellingly current imperative that is strongly ecology-based and economically rational. We need to reassure organizations that have failed to adopt a clear and strong steady-state policy -- The Wildlife Society, for example -- that this is a widely recognized and credibly supported position. And we need to make sure that ESA takes the lead on this and does not fall in behind those who have chosen to produce unclear and weak statements. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, Oregon -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of J. Edward Gates Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:43 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Response to Nadine Lymn Re: Economic Growth Dear Nadine, I am one of the 50-some ESA members proposing that ESA take a position on economic growth similar to the one being circulated on this list. I am encouraged to hear that some progress is being made, but I am also concerned about what has happened to our initiative. My concern stems from experience. I am a member of The Wildlife Society, which published a technical review on economic growth in 2003 that found a "fundamental conflict between economic growth and wildlife conservation." In 2004 TWS developed a position on economic growth. Early drafts of the position described that conflict in clear terms, like the technical review, but then a very small group, the TWS policy director and four Council members (the Policy Statements Subcommittee), took the draft position into their own hands and kept their work secret. Without any input from the experts that had originally drafted the position, they published a different version in /The Wildlifer/ and asked for comments on it. That version was weak and also showed a lack of familiarity with the language and principles of ecological economics, and even of conventional economics, but eventually it was adopted by TWS. Many TWS members were incredulous over the outcome of this process and felt betrayed by TWS staff. In 2006, my co-authors and I published "Perspectives on The Wildlife Society's Economic Growth Policy Statement and the Development Process" in the /Wildlife Society Bulletin/ (Volume 34, No. 2) to describe the shortcomings of the position and the process used to develop it. To prevent a similar outcome in ESA, I propose that some of the original group be included from the beginning and throughout the process, working with the Public Affairs Committee, in developing the ESA position. Clearly the proposers are very concerned about this issue, and concern brings about familiarity and expertise. Several of the proposers have published papers on this topic and teach courses or portions of courses on ecological economics. The core group who drafted the position would be a good place to start. They are especially experienced with this subject and would be helpful not only with the technical issues but also with identifying political red flags. Along these lines, although I would not classify myself as the foremost expert on this topic, I have had a long-running interest in economic growth and teach about the effects of growth on the environment at my institution. I am also editing a book on peak oil, economic growth, and wildlife conservation, stemming from a symposium I helped organize on the same topic. I would be willing to serve on the ESA group that is developing the position. Sincerely yours, Ed J. Edward Gates University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory 301 Braddock Road Frostburg, Maryland 21532, USA
