Parks Without Politics
The government shutdown is a good reminder that it's time to take the politics out of conserving our national parks.
Brewing Water Conservation in the West
Tate WatkinsA new market in Arizona shows how small innovations can help conserve water in the West—and why many more will be needed in the Colorado River Basin.
A Permit Runs Through It
Martin DoyleOregon ranchers who set out to restore streams in Silvies Valley find regulatory purgatory.
Destabilizing Property Rights with a Canoe Paddle
Jonathan WoodOutdoor recreation activists can better expand access by amicably negotiating with landowners.
What Fees Can (and Cannot) Do for Our National Parks
Tate WatkinsThe government-shutdown circus highlights how recreation fees can be a vital part of running parks.
Zinke’s Gone, but Interior’s Overhaul Must Continue
Shawn ReganThe next interior secretary should continue efforts to restructure the department.
Prospecting for Conservation
Jonathan WoodFederal mining law encourages environmental conflict rather than free-market negotiation.
The Role of Fees in Funding Parks
Shawn ReganAllowing parks to tap fee revenue to keep popular parks open during a government shutdown is sensible policy.
Environmental Restoration Requires Better Incentives
Jonathan WoodA property-based approach and incentives top regulation to entice environmentally friendly practices when destruction began years ago.
About PERC
Founded in 1980 in Bozeman, Montana, PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is the home of free market environmentalism. Our research is dedicated to harnessing the power of markets and property rights to improve environmental quality.
Research Areas
Public Lands
Zinke Rides On
Controversy aside, he enacted real reforms.
Like the Stars
As New West meets Old West, conflict is the norm. It doesn’t have to be.
The New Grizzly Hunters
Creative conservationists search for innovative ways to pay for the natural amenities they value.
Fisheries
Is the Era of Overfishing Coming to a Close in the U.S.?
How catch shares are helping to restore fish populations.
Conserving Taimen in Mongolia
In Mongolia, Taimen, a fish in the salmon and trout family, are being protected by catch-and-release fishing.
Save Fish, Establish Property Rights
Where property rights have been made clear, secure, and transferable, overfishing has been reduced.
Wildlife
Zinke Rides On
Controversy aside, he enacted real reforms.
The Endangered Species Act Won’t Save Africa’s Giraffes
Saving the species depends on harnessing American investment.
The Return of the King
An entrepreneurial approach to conserving African lions.
Tribes
Zinke Rides On
Controversy aside, he enacted real reforms.
Tribal Energy Resources: Reducing Barriers to Opportunity
PERC's testimony before the U.S. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy, and Environment's hearing on tribal energy development.
Give Tribes Real Authority in Bears Ears National Monument
It’s time for Congress to act to provide meaningful co-management of Bears Ears to Native Americans.
Water
Zinke Rides On
Controversy aside, he enacted real reforms.
How Far Upstream Should Federal Regulation Extend?
Clear rules and market incentives go a long way to distinguish between pollution and land use and their effects on clean water.
Cleaning the Commons
A property rights solution to cleaning up the ocean could position plastic as it's own potential venture.
Private Lands
Like the Stars
As New West meets Old West, conflict is the norm. It doesn’t have to be.
The New Grizzly Hunters
Creative conservationists search for innovative ways to pay for the natural amenities they value.
Big Game Corridors Bring Big Conservation Opportunities
How to better reward landowners for conserving wildlife migration corridor.
Publications
Volume 37, No.2, Winter 2018
The Road to Recovery
The Unintended Consequences of U.S. Conflict-Mineral Regulation
Volume 37, No.1, Summer 2018
Volume 36, No.2, Winter 2017
A New Landscape: 8 Ideas for the Interior Department
Mobilizing Markets to Reduce Bycatch in Marine Fisheries
Clearing the Smoke from Wildfire Policy: An Economic Perspective
Volume 36, No.1, Summer 2017
Environmental Policy in the Anthropocene
