Conservation Laws and Policies

SLOSS Dilemma

The debate over whether it is better to protect a single large conservation area or multiple smaller areas.

Green Belt/Eco-Ducts

Corridors of protected land that connect fragmented habitats and allow for wildlife movement.

National Wildlife Refuge

Federal lands managed for the conservation of wildlife and their habitats.

Lacey Act of 1900

Prohibits the trade of illegally harvested wildlife, plants, and their products.

National Wilderness Area

Protected areas designated by Congress to preserve their natural condition.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions.

Environmental Impact Statement

A document that assesses the potential environmental effects of a proposed project.

Environmental Mitigation Plan

A plan to minimize or compensate for the environmental impacts of a project.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Regulates the management and disposal of hazardous waste.

Integrated Pest Management

A sustainable approach to pest control that combines biological, cultural, and chemical methods.

NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)

Opposition to the location of a potentially undesirable facility near one's home.

Endangered Species Act

Protects endangered and threatened species and their habitats.

CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act)

Provides a framework for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

National Forest Management Act

Governs the management and use of national forests.

The Public Range Lands Improvement Act of 1978

Regulates grazing on public lands.