Unlike politics, property rights provide a firm foundation for conservation

In July, 2017, employees from the National Butterfly Center—a 100-acre butterfly preserve in South Texas owned and operated by a … More

How federal environmental rules discourage cleanup of abandoned mines

Throughout the West, abandoned mines release toxic pollutants, harming water quality, fish, and recreation opportunities. The private sector has long … More

Will sea otters soon be returned to San Francisco bay?

California sea otters have come a long way from the 50-member population discovered off Big Sur in the early 1900s, … More

How do you measure the value of a state forest?

That’s the implicit question underlying a lawsuit between Oregon counties and the state, in which a jury recently awarded the … More

Will Oregon reopen its water market?

Water markets are an essential tool for promoting efficient use of water and increasing water available for fish and other … More

Can property owners be barred from seeking restoration against neighboring polluters? The Supreme Court will soon decide.

Over a century, a copper smelter in Opportunity, Montana emitted thousands of tons of toxic metals, polluting its neighbors’ properties … More

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