Environmental Law Institute
Environmental Law Institute
The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) makes law work for people, places, and the planet. As an internationally recognized, non-partisan research and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide, the Institute has played a pivotal role in shaping the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, domestically and abroad.
The Institute delivers insightful and impartial analysis to opinion makers, including government officials, environmental and business leaders, academics, members of the environmental bar, and journalists. ELI serves as both a clearinghouse and a town hall, providing common ground for debate on important environmental issues.
The Institute’s Research and Policy group produces research reports and policy recommendations on critical areas of environmental governance. ELI's work is primarily focused on protecting water resources, land, and biodiversity and improving environmental law and its implementation in the U.S. and internationally. Capacity building programs for public officials, judges, citizens, and factory managers are a large part of ELI’s agenda.
The Institute advances innovation and pragmatic solutions to environmental challenges through its Publications and Associates group, publishing periodicals, electronic newsletters, and books on environmental law and policy. ELI educates and builds bridges among the various environmental stakeholders through their membership programs, which convene environmental professionals from all sectors and administer seminars on timely topics presented by leading experts and practitioners.
ELI Reports and Publications
-
© Dan Dzurisin | flickr.com/ndomer73 (Nutria)
An Action Plan on Invasive Species
The National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species has identified priority policy actions related to invasive species prevention and management, outlining simple steps that can make substantial progress toward addressing animal and plant invasive species threats.
-
Anchoring the Clean Water Act
Recent Supreme Court rulings have called into question federal Clean Water Act coverage for certain wetlands and streams. This ELI white paper identifies which constitutional powers Congress can rely on to protect the Nation's waters and explains what the Supreme Court has said about these powers.
-
© James Albright | flickr.com/greymaster (Water Hyacinth)
Cooperative Prevention of Invasive Wildlife Introduction in Florida
by Environmental Law Institute
Florida and the federal government use similar laws and regulations for invasive wildlife prevention, but these provisions fail to address all known potential invasive wildlife species and are difficult to implement. This technical report by the Environmental Law Institute. -
Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners
This report reviews and synthesizes recent conservation-science literature and seeking to advance the link between conservation biology and land-use planning by providing planners with basic thresholds to rely upon when making on-the-ground decisions affecting biodiversity.
-
© Chesapeake Bay Program (Water Chestnut on Boat)
Halting the Invasion in the Chesapeake Bay: Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Introduction through Regional Cooperation
by Environmental Law Institute
This ELI report examines the complex issues faced in addressing the issue of aquatic invasions in the Chesapeake Bay and makes recommendations intended to harmonize regional interstate efforts to combat them. -
© Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (Rusty Crayfish)
Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Invasive Species
This ELI-authored EPA report considers the interactions of climate change and aquatic invasive species, analyzing the existing scientific literature on climate change's effects on AIS and considering provisions for adapting existing state AIS management plans.
-
Lasting Landscapes: Reflections on the Role of Conservation Science in Land Use Planning
Land use and development decisions made at the local, county, and state levels have a significant and cumulative effect on the conservation of native species diversity.
-
The Nature of Open Space Programs
This ELI report examines 28 major state open space protection programs to assess their authority to acquire biologically significant lands and proposes strategies to enhance their effectiveness at supporting biodiversity conservation.
-
Nature-Friendly Land Use Practices at Multiple Scales, by Rebecca Kihslinger and James McElfish
Bridging a longstanding disconnect between biological understanding and land-use regulation, this book can help communities take affirmative steps to conserve and restore those biodiversity features of their environment that add value regionally and locally.
-
Mitigation of Impacts to Fish and Wildlife Habitats: Estimating Costs and Identifying Opportunities
This ELI report estimates that private and public expenditures under key federal programs alone can provide up to $3.8 billion annually for monetary or in-kind compensation of human impacts on fish and wildlife habitat.
-
Nature-Friendly Ordinances, by James McElfish
Bridging a longstanding disconnect between biological understanding and land-use regulation, this book can help communities take affirmative steps to conserve and restore those biodiversity features of their environment that add value regionally and locally.
-
State Wildlife Action Plans and Utilities: New Conservation Opportunities for America's Wildlife
This ELI report examines utilities in three states and identifies a wide range of opportunities for utilities and state agencies to use wildlife action plans to inform policy, planning, and management decisions.
-
Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments
This Environmental Law Institute guide provides detailed case studies, model ordinances, and other things local governments need to know about managing land use when enacting or amending wetland buffer ordinances.
Go Straight to Your State
Learn about conservation and open space in your state.