We Defend the West
Defending Wildlands | Protecting Wildlife | Safeguarding Climate
The Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving, resilient West, abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by clean energy, and defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation.
We Defend the West
Defending Wildlands | Protecting Wildlife | Safeguarding Climate
The Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving, resilient West, abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by clean energy, and defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation.
We Defend the West
Defending Wildlands
Protecting Wildlife
Safeguarding Climate
The Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving, resilient West, abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by clean energy, and defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation.
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EXPLORE WAYS TO GIVE
Defending Wildlands
The American West 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 American West 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 American West’s communities, lands, rivers, and wildlife. But, as the saying goes, in every crisis lies opportunity.
Stamping out “accidental” grizzly deaths
People sometimes shoot threatened grizzly bears, confusing them for black bears. Bear baiting stations frequently result in these tragic and most often lethal cases of mistaken identity. We’re working to prevent these unnecessary and unacceptable incidents. Learn more here.
Summer 2020 Legal Internship (Helena, Montana)
The Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) is a high-impact, nonprofit public interest environmental law firm with a 26-year legacy of success using the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a...
Community leaders across New Mexico applaud Oil Conservation Commission for adopting oil and gas enforcement rules
Community leaders across New Mexico applauded the Oil Conservation Commission today for acting to protect the state’s air and water resources from oil and gas pollution by adopting new enforcement rules under legislation adopted in the 2019 session. The Oil...
Advocates file multi-state suit to protect climate, public health from fracking
Moving to protect climate and health, a coalition today filed suit to overturn the sale of nearly 2 million acres of public lands for fracking in the western states of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. “The Trump administration is selling out America’s...
Extinction’s Opposing Counsel
Wildlife attorney Matt Bishop has dedicated his career to fighting extinction. He focuses on predators – keystone species whose importance to ecosystem health can’t be overstated. Likewise, Matt’s success in defending those species has had an outsized impact across the West. Matt’s fellow WELC attorney Laura King wrote a profile on Matt, offering a look inside our Montana office and what drives extinction’s opposing counsel. MORE>>
