A utilitarian-based approach to conservation

terpiece of federal efforts to conserve biological diversity. More specifically, the ESA aims to prevent the extinction of plant and animal species. To prevent extinction, the ESA directs the secretary of interior to determine which species are endangered or threatened by extinction, to designate habitat critical to the survival of these species, and to develop a plan for their recovety. In addition, the ESA prohibits federal agencies from actions that cause jeopardy to the continued existence of a listed species (Section 7) and prohibits both public and private parties from eri.gaging in activities that "take" a listed species (Section 9). The definition of "take," as interpreted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and backed by court rulings, includes otherwise legal activities that result in adverse habitat modification. Under the ESA, logging has been curtailed in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast to protect the spotted owl and red-cockaded woodpecker. Other land-use restrictions have been required to protect other listed species. Additional land-use and water-use restrictions, from Washington to California, may be necessary to protect recently listed salmon stocks. In trus article, we focus on the ESA goal of preventing species extinction and ESA provisions for accomplishing this goal. Before turning to the provisions of the ESA, we begin with a discussion of two alternative motivations for conserving biological diversity: a utilitarian-based (anthropocenCHOICES Third Quarrer 1999 17