Environmental markets work best when they incentivize compliance, rather than relying on enforcement

Last week, ProPublica published an article questioning whether carbon credits for forest preservation are “worse than nothing.” The article cites … More

A bug’s life: the American burying beetle’s recovery should be a cause for celebration, not alarm

Should a species’ improvement be a cause for celebration or concern? That question is posed by the response to this … More

A market to convert flooded neighborhoods to wetlands

This month, the Mississippi River has experienced a prolonged, historic flood. The images of the flood recall other recent floods, … More

If federal authority ebbs, will states take the lead on regulating upstream water quality?

Since 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency has regulated discharges of pollution to “waters of the United States.” The meaning of … More

How can we better capture the option value of conservation?

Is it better to pump oil today, tomorrow, or never? Is a tree more valuable if harvested now, in a … More

California waives environmental regulations for forest management: will this become more common as wildfires worsen?

California experienced two of its worst wildfire seasons in 2017 and 2018. Deadly fires shook several communities, while also marring … More

Markets for clean water

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency published a memo encouraging states, tribes, and local governments to look to markets for … More

What makes conservation “collaborative”?

One of the chief benefits of embracing free market environmentalism is that it will ensure conservation is more collaborative. Where … More

Use it or lose it: sometimes, productive use of land is necessary to its conservation

The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a system of refuges straddling the California-Oregon border that are managed for … More

An antiquated California water law encourages political conflict rather than market transactions

California ski resorts are experiencing record snowfall this February, thanks to a storm system that has dropped an estimated 18 … More