Property and Environmental Center - Research Paper Example

Property and Environmental Research Center Introduction Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC) isone of the oldest and largest institutes that are dedicated to improving the quality of environment though the markets and property rights. It was founded more than 30 years ago in Bozeman, Montana as a think tank where leading scholars in environmental research would document how government bureaucracy and regulations had led to adverse environmental degradation (Libecap 60). PERC was established in 1982 to conduct research that is aimed at resolving the numerous environmental issues.

PERC advocates for free market environment that where private property rights ought to encourage stewardship of resources and government subsidies designed to encourage environment conservation. According to PERC, market incentives will encourage private conservation of environmental resources thus polluters should pay for their degradation activities (Libecap 65). PERC aims at promoting private property rights in environmental conservation. PERC has advocated for the free market trade of environmental resources ensure accountability in environmental conservation (Jacques 109).

PERC also aims to encourage government subsidies to organizations and institutions that conserve the environment in their manufacturing processes. PERC is also geared at creating market incentives for institutions and individuals that conserve the quality of the environment (Anderson and Huggins 32). PERC also established policy mechanisms that aim at pressurizing the environmental regulators to penalize the institutions and individuals who degrade the quality of the environment. PERC has constantly criticized the effectiveness of the US Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act since the government policies have hindered environment conservation (Fridell 230).

For instance, the Homestead Act limits the claims to newly acquired settlements to less than 320 acre thus making it difficult to implement erosion control measures since farmers may not be willing to voluntarily control soil erosion in their settlements (Jacques 118). PERC has addressed the governance issues in environmental protection. According to PERC, the congress is directly accountable to the population; therefore, it should be directly involved in legislations touching on environmental degradation prevention.

PERC is also aimed at educating citizens on the necessity of conserving the environment (Anderson and Huggins 17). PERC holds numerous scholarly seminars that feature undergraduate students in order to discuss the implications of various assumptions that are made by the government in environmental legislation (Fridell 234). PERC programs emphasize on the need to ensure low carbon energy sources and develop sustainable energy sources. PERC also promotes biodiversity and conservation of the indigenous species.

PERC aims at combating climate change by conserving ecosystems and water wildlife. The organization is also geared at conserving the endangered species and reducing the rate of logging in the indigenous forests (Anderson and Huggins 22). The organizational structure of PERC consists of leading environmental scholars and environmental entrepreneurs. PERC has different departments like energy department, biodiversity, ecotourism, agriculture and natural resources department. Conclusion PERC aims at promoting environmental conservation by ensuring stewardship of resources.

PERC conducts research on the best conservation methods. PERC also aims at protecting the endangered species and ensuring clean energy technologies are implemented. PERC consistently petitions the government to enact laws that conserve biodiversity and natural resources. Works cited: Anderson, T and Huggins, L. Greener than thou: are you really an environmentalist. Stanford. Hoover Institution Press. 2008. Fridell, R. Environmental issues. New York. Benchmark. 2005. Jacques, P. Environmental skepticism: ecology, power and public life.

Burlington. Ashgate. 2009. Libecap, G. Frontiers in eco-entrepreneurship research. Bingley. Emerald. 2009.