WK 24 - The Intersection of Ecology and Environmental Law: How Ecologists Can Contribute to Development, Implementation, and Enforcement of Environmental Law

Session Description: The theme of this session is the intersection of ecology and environmental law and the role of ecologists in contributing to the development and enforcement of US environmental laws. The major US environmental statutes including the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act include objectives, legal standards, and implementing regulations that require understanding of ecology. In addition, environmental law cases often involve applying law to facts that require determinations based on ecology and also provide opportunities for ecologists to participate as experts in the resolution of factual issues in a case. In these ways, ecologists can contribute to the development of environmental law and achievement of the goals and objectives of federal environmental statutes. This session will explore the important role of ecologists in environmental law and the opportunities for ecologists to participate in the development of environmental law.

Interactive component: The workshop will engage participants through active participation in strategizing with environmental lawyers on how to approach specific cases. The lawyers will present the underlying facts and law of an environmental case in which the legal standard requires application of ecological principles, methods, or current research and understanding. Participants will be asked to respond and work with the lawyers on the case study by contributing their expertise in developing the best approach and facts necessary to support the strongest legal argument. This will provide participants experience with how lawyers work with experts in environmental cases, and how ecologists can participate in and contribute to the resolution of cases and development of environmental law.