Author(s): US EPA

Publisher: EPA Office of Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities

Order From: Kindle Version
Office of Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Mail Code 2182) 401 M Street, S.W.
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Over the last twenty-five years, federal and state anti-pollution laws have achieved many notable environmental successes. Local communities often play a prominent role in addressing many of the most pressing environmental concerns. Central to these concerns is the need for clean and vital ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems support human health, plants, and animals. They also provide recreational opportunities and support local economies dependent upon fish, game, forests, and other resources. Full protection of our nation’s ecosystems requires communities and individuals to conserve
or restore habitats and solve other environmental problems not specifically
addressed by traditional regulatory approaches.

Over many years, a number of communities in the country have initiated their own successful community-based environmental efforts. Indeed, the first anti-pollution laws around the turn of the century were local ones. This publication draws on the experiences of many different communities to provide examples of community-based environmental programs and key approaches, information, and other tools that communities are using