Opinion
In a recent interview by E/The Environmental Magazine, Paul Ehrlich, population control advocate and outspoken environmentalist stated that, "the one resource that we will never run out of is imbeciles ... the don't-worry, the-environment-is-in-great-shape, all-we-need-is-unconstrained-capitalism-and-everything-will-be-fine crowd." Not a surprising statement from a biologist who was also quoted in a 1980 Christian Science Monitor article as saying, "Economists are probably the most dangerous single profession on earth..."
While the environmentalist doomsayers continue to howl about impending global ecological disaster and fault "unconstrained capitalism" for leading to the destruction of our planet , it just so happens that these very same "imbeciles" that Ehrlich and the pessimists scorn have become the new leaders in an effort to conserve tropical biodiversity while promoting economic growth in rapidly developing nations.
These "imbeciles," many of whom are economists, young entrepreneurs, private property owners, and CEO's of large multinational corporations, have now begun to realize the economic value of conserving biodiversity and are already making substantial profits on preserving tropical forests.
In countries such as Costa Rica, there is a growing awareness amongst conservationists, policy makers, and government officials that all efforts geared towards environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity must include economic considerations that will gain popular support from the people and that will change the economic incentives for resource exploitation.
"Ecotourism" and "biodiversity prospecting" are just some of the innovative free market initiatives taking shape in Costa Rica.
