10 Ways the Free Market Protects the Environment
Protecting land resources is easier than protecting water resources such as rivers and streams that are constantly in flux, and may cross or border multiple properties, both public and private. Recognition of pollution from upstream development or industrial activity as encroachments on the downstream resources as property, enables markets to work at protecting those resources: The encroachment can be sanctioned as trespass, and damages assessed. Even development that may divert the stream may be seen as a preventable property encroachment. In addition, stream owners can rent or sell fishing, camping and boating rights, promoting and enabling preservation and improvement of the stream and fish resources as valuable, revenue-earning assets. The point here is that development of stronger concepts of private property rights has led to progressively better preservation of valuable, perhaps irreplaceable, water resources.
