Rare stamps and butterflies

[Chris J. Durden]

At 01:16 PM 5/31/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>Chris,
>
>This explanation is clearer and I don't think we disagree on facts.

I hope not.

>Also, I think you are right about "American collectors" to some extent
>in that many of those who advertise on the web are from foreign
>countries.  Is that because they need hard currency?  Or is that where
>the willing-to-pay collectors are?

It must be where the willing to pay clients are because customs declaration 
and permits are required on all shipments of specimens entering the US. We 
in the US cannot legally be their clients without the proper permits.


>I certainly agree that  "a population of butterflies in habitat is
>priceless", but ironically we are often called upon to place a dollar
>value on just that very "resource".

That is a very dangerous practise. It is a trap posed by lawyers from which 
there is no rational escape. All heritage, cultural or natural is 
priceless. These people cannot have it two ways.
    If the butterflies are objects of trade they become a resource with 
value. If the butterflies are protected heritage they are priceless and 
have no value.

>Books on environmental economics
>try to identify the direct and indirect values place on butterflies.
>
>Some ask questions like, "how much would it be worth to you to keep
>Mitchell's Satyr from going extinct", and easy question since no long is
>coming around to collect on my statement.
>
>Others calculate the dollar value spent on travel, motels, food,
>photographic equipment, nets, pins, etc to see, photograph or collect
>whatever(should we also include part of our car and part of the house
>where we keep our specimens or slides).

That is a very slippery slope. How about a tax on this estimated value to 
provide funds to reimburse the holders of mineral leases under the parks 
and refuges. This sounds to me like a repeat of Danegeld, the historic 
practice of the English bribing the Norsemen not to raid. It did not work.
    How about a tax on the generators of air pollution (smelting, coal and 
lignite burning, chemical manufacturing, agricultural and waste burning, 
internal combustion engines, refrigerants) to stimulate a cleaning of the 
atmosphere over our parks and refuges? Yes acid rain has been measured in 
Big Bend NP, and the spruce and fir are near death on top of Old Smoky.
    How about one child per person (one for each parent or childless 
relative), to slow population growth and the requirement for continued and 
accelerated development of undeveloped land and resources?
...................Chris Durden

>  It would be much easier to
>accept "a population of butterflies" simply as priceless.
>
>MIKE GOCHFELD



 
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