Message from the President and Chairman

The Environmental Law Institute makes law work for people, places, and the planet. With its non-partisan, independent approach, ELI promotes solutions to tough environmental problems. The Institute’s innovative research, practical analysis and forward-looking publications inform and empower policy-makers, business leaders, and environmental advocates worldwide.

We’d like to point out a few recent examples of ELI at work.

ELI continues to be a leader in advancing protection of our wetlands resources. Our 2006 National Wetlands Award ceremony supported by six federal agencies was keynoted by Senator Mary Landrieu who spoke of the ecological and economic importance of the Gulf Coast wetlands lost over the years and their role as barriers to the impact of major storms. The Institute also published After the Storm, a compendium of short essays about the environmental and human impacts of Hurricane Katrina.

Our policy journal, the National Wetlands Newsletter, also features analysis of the benefits of wetlands and the various approaches to preventing and mitigating their loss. Finally, ELI’s first ever intervention in litigation challenging the constitutionality f federal framework environmental laws occurred in the two recent cases contesting broad federal jurisdiction over wetlands. The federal program survived the Supreme Court’s rulings, but the divergent opinions show that there is more work to be done in educating both the public and the courts about the value of wetlands in our water resource system.

ELI is also active in building the capacity of people to implement environmental laws and policies in developing countries. In Liberia, we have helped the newly-elected government draft and adopt new forestry laws, and in Chile we’re educating environmental enforcement officials with the help of our nonprofit and government partners. Through our Global Judicial Education Center, we are working to deepen knowledge of environmental law among the world’s judges together with in-country partners in Chile, Paraguay, and Uganda. To make progress on sustainable development, ELI strives to combine its legal and policy expertise with the knowledge and energy of local partners to help them find fair and practical solutions.

ELI is a convener and educator of the environmental profession. Our highly regarded education programs and publications are relied upon by environmental lawyers and managers from all sectors as a source of timely information and insightful discussion of the issues of the day. This year, a series of programs for associate members on ocean protection issues and developments in toxic tort litigation have increased understanding of the scientific and legal issues involved in these areas.

The Environmental Law Reporter’s News and Analysis publication is the most cited environmental journal; our policy journals, The Environmental Forum and the National Wetlands Newsletter offer analysis found nowhere else.

ELI strives to be an impartial, authoritative source of information on environmental law and governance and to provide a common ground for debate on the best ways to advance environmental protection. The Institute’s staff is always open to new ideas on how to be a more valuable resource to professionals and the public. We would like to hear from you.