Beyond Jurisdiction:
Wetlands Policy for the Next Generation

April 26th - 27th, 2012 | Courtroom and 509 O'Brian Hall, North Campus

Sponsored by the Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy, SUNY Buffalo Law School's Environmental Law Program, SUNY Buffalo Law School's Clinical Legal Education Program, the U.S. National Ramsar Committee and the SUNY Buffalo Law School, this conference brings together diverse experts researching law and policy related to wetlands and related waters as well as those who advocate in the area to engage in discussions the next generation of wetlands policy.

Wetlands are vital ecosystems that have long been regulated in a complex and convoluted manner. For more than a decade, debates sparked by U.S. Supreme Court decisions and related administrative and Congressional action focused much of the work in wetlands policy on what areas are actually jurisdictional under federal and state law. This reality has detracted from scholarship and study of many other important issues related to wetlands policy, such as mitigation requirements, the Tulloch rule, nationwide permits, watershed issues, enforcement, climate change, local and state policy developments, international treaty obligations, and other matters.

The future of wetlands policy can only benefit from wider exploration and inclusion of voices of scholars, activists, and others from various perspectives. This conference will provide an opening platform for scholars and advocates from all perspectives to think about how the narrow focus of recent years has stagnated the thought and action necessary to take the next steps, both in terms of analysis and action. Wetlands policy needs to move to the next generation of discussion, and this conference will support that evolution.

 

 

This program qualifies for 2.0 credits in the area of Professional Practice on Thursday, April 26, 2012 and qualifies for 6.0 credits in the area of Professional Practice on Friday, April 27, 2012. SUNY Buffalo Law School has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York for the period of March 11, 2011 - March 10, 2014. SUNY Buffalo Law School has a financial hardship policy. For further information on our policy, contact Lisa Mueller, CLE Coordinator at (716) 645-3176