The central point of my testimony is that landowners and their concerns, which include their property values and property rights, are the key to the conservation of this country’s biodiversity, particularly endangered species. Unfortunately, one of main ways the United States goes about trying to conserve endangered species-the Endangered Species Act-is especially counterproductive because it is a penalty-based approach that often violates landowners’ property rights, and negatively impacts property values and the ability of people to earn income from their land.