Online Articles

Workers at the Field Museum in Chicago inspecting birds that were killed when they flew into the windows of the McCormick Place Lakeside Center. Credit: Lauren Nassef/Chicago Field Museum, via AP

Bird-Safe Building Policies Slowly Take Off Across the United States

November 30, 2023 by Giancarlo Vargas Endangered Species State and Local Wildlife

Each year in the United States, hundreds of millions of birds die after colliding with glass structures they cannot see. In the absence of federal action, cities and states are taking the lead to adopt bird-friendly architecture and policies.

Conservation easement boundary sign with hills and a lake in the background

No Time to Ease Up on Easements

March 30, 2023 by Chris Gaarder Public Lands State and Local Wildlife

The Internal Revenue Code allows taxpayers to claim an income tax deduction for donating perpetual conservation easements to qualified organizations.[1] The federal government has foregone billions of dollars of tax revenue in exchange for such easements…

Forest Fires: A Concern that Warrants More Attention

October 26, 2019 by Sara Douki Air Climate change Endangered Species International Natural Resources Wildlife

By Austin Holtshouser, Staff Contributor
With the consequences of forest fires being felt on both local and global levels, more needs to be done to mitigate these events – domestic government action is essential.

Clarifying the Endangered Species Act’s “Distinct Population Segment” Policy Through the Lens of Grizzly Bears

April 5, 2019 by Georgetown Environmental Law Review Endangered Species Environmental Law Review Syndicate Federal Rollbacks Litigation Wildlife

By Max Chaffetz, Managing Editor, Virginia​ Environmental Law Journal

How does the Endangered Species Act’s “Distinct Population Segment” policy apply to the iconic grizzly bear? Read more in this analysis posted via the Environmental Law Review Syndicate.

The Governance Framework for Arctic Biodiversity

March 29, 2019 by Samuel Ruddy Climate change International Wildlife

By Sang Koo, Staff Contributor

Biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the overall health of the Arctic, but climate change poses a major threat as temperature increases have disrupted the region's ecosystem. What legal regime is currently in place to protect the Arctic?

China's Green Desert

March 28, 2019 by mjb443 Endangered Species International Natural Resources Public Lands Wildlife

By Timothy Park, staff contributor.

China has been one of the largest contributors to reforestation efforts through its Grain for Green Program. However, have all of their efforts actually helped the environment? One fatal flaw in the program is severely limiting the programs impact on the environment.

Waiving Hello to the Wall: The Supreme Court's Denial of a Constitutional Challenge to Environmental Law Waivers at the U.S.-Mexico Border

February 14, 2019 by bcf27 Endangered Species Federal Rollbacks Wildlife

By Claire Fischer, Staff Contributor

The fight over the U.S.-Mexico border wall has sparked a very public debate in the United States. One lesser-known issue surrounding President Trump’s border wall, however, is its effect on the environment. The Supreme Court recently denied certiorari to three conservation groups seeking to halt border wall construction projects that failed to comply with long-standing environmental laws and harmed existing habitats. But why was this construction permitted in the first place?

A spotted gopher frog sitting on a a dried patch of grass

The Spotted Gopher Frog: A Supreme Court Reflection

October 5, 2018 by De Vann Sago Endangered Species Wildlife

By Rebecca Strauss, Staff Contributor.

The Supreme Court opened the 2018 term with a case on the Endangered Species Act, focusing on the dusky gopher frog. With only eight sitting justices, what are the Court's options?