We Defend the West
Defending Wildlands | Protecting Wildlife | Safeguarding Climate
We use the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate.
We Defend the West
Defending Wildlands | Protecting Wildlife | Safeguarding Climate
We use the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate.
We Defend the West
Defending Wildlands
Protecting Wildlife
Safeguarding Climate
We use the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate.
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We fight in court to defend the western U.S. on behalf of our clients free of charge, but we can’t do it without your support!
EXPLORE WAYS TO GIVE
Defending Wildlands
The western U.S. is defined by its natural heritage of wildlands, rivers, forests, and wildlife. Since its inception, WELC has worked hard to preserve and restore these unique characteristics.
Protecting Wildlife
The western U.S. depends on its iconic wildlife. WELC protects native animals while preserving and restoring the healthy, functioning natural ecosystems they call home.
Safeguarding Climate
Our world is warming, with dire consequences to the communities, lands, rivers, and wildlife of the western U.S. But, as the saying goes, in every crisis lies opportunity.
Court rules federal program that kills grizzly bears and other wildlife in Montana violated the law
On Friday, a federal district court in Missoula ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s wildlife-killing program Wildlife Services failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act before killing or removing grizzly bears in Montana. Management...
Statement on Trump election: The West’s lands, waters, and life are resilient. So are we. We are in this together—again.
This morning, we are reminded of Terry Tempest Williams’ haunting declaration: “Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find.” In the coming months, we will need—more than ever—to create that beauty. For we now find ourselves, once again,...
Missed opportunity for climate in oil and gas plan for Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction field offices
Today, the Bureau of Land Management finalized its resource management plan/final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction field offices, which will determine how 2 million acres of land in western Colorado is...
WELC Land Acknowledgement
The Western Environmental Law Center acknowledges that we live and work on the homelands of Indigenous Peoples across the western United States. We honor these original peoples who have long stewarded these lands, and we celebrate their resilience and richness of their languages, traditions, and cultures. Read more here.
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