Environmental Protection

Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair damage and reverse negative trends. In this course, we’ll highlight sections of modern treaties and modern treaty organizations that protect the environment.

Environmental protection lies at the heart of every modern treaty, because the social and cultural wellbeing of treaty communities depends on a healthy, productive environment. The years of effort expended to negotiate a treaty are worthless if the land or water becomes contaminated or the wildlife disappears. That’s why every modern treaty includes provisions that protect treaty land, water and air. How this protection is achieved varies, but it is present in all modern treaties.