Mission Statement
The Southern Environmental Law Center has a unique, focused mission: use law, policy, and strategic communications expertise to protect all that we love about the South-healthy air and clean water; forests, mountains, wetlands, our coast, and the wildlife they support; our rural countryside; and all of the people in our communities. Serving Tennessee and five other Southern states (VA, NC, SC, GA, and AL), SELC has earned a reputation as one of the most effective environmental organizations in the country. Our team of 100 attorneys work in all branches and all levels of government to create, strengthen, and enforce environmental safeguards. We organize our work into six program areas: Clean Water, Clean Energy & Air, Coast & Wetlands, Land & Community, National Forests & Parks, and Wildlife Protection.
We collaborate closely with scores of partners-ranging from national organizations like American Rivers and National Parks Conservation Association to homegrown Tennessee groups like Harpeth Conservancy and Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association-to complement their skills and efforts and to strengthen the overall conservation community.