Property rights are essential conditions of freedom and prosperity. Contrary to propaganda from environmental advocacy groups, environmental stewardship by private landowners has proven to be far superior to that of public land managers. However, federal regulations—primarily the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Clean Water Act wetlands regulation—increasingly undermine private conservation by threatening property rights. Private land ownership provides the right incentives to protect the value of land, including its wildlife and environmental resources. 

Since our founding in 1984, the Competitive Enterprise Institute has sought to reform and reduce environmental regulation of land, shrink the federal estate, and unlock federal lands for private ownership. 

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Private Protection

Since 1970, conservationists have painted a dismal picture of an increasing struggle for survival of wildlife, with one species after another being pushed to the…

Lands and Wildlife

Staff & Scholars

Daren Bakst

Director of the Center for Energy and Environment and Senior Fellow

  • Energy and Environment
  • Lands and Wildlife
  • Property Rights

Angela Logomasini

Adjunct Fellow

  • Chemical Risk
  • Consumer Freedom
  • Energy and Environment

Patricia Patnode

Research Fellow

  • Banking and Finance
  • Consumer Freedom
  • Deregulation

Fred L. Smith, Jr.

Founder; Chairman Emeritus

  • Automobiles and Roads
  • Aviation
  • Business and Government