About Us - Defending the West
We provide free or reduced-fee legal services to conservation groups, communities and individuals, challenging corporations and government agencies that violate environmental laws in the West. Our legal advocacy brings about long-lasting protections to preserve the region’s air, water, public lands and forests, wildlife and habitat, and communities.
Since the Western Environmental Law Center’s inception in 1993, we have worked with over 250 grassroots and environmental organizations to:
- Preserve air and water quality;
- Enforce our nation’s environmental laws;
- Hold our government accountable;
Empower local communities;
Protect our public lands and natural resources;
Be a voice for the public; and
Promote healthy, livable communities in the West.
We envision a West that has clean air, clean and abundant water, permanent protection for wildlife and wilderness, and healthy communities, through the active and dedicated enforcement of our nation’s environmental laws.