Environment, Inc.Environment, Inc.From Grassroots to BeltwayFrom Grassroots to Beltway

Christopher J. BossoChristopher J. Bosso20052005

Overview of Overview of the Environmental Movementthe Environmental Movement

Was cultivated from local organizations; Was cultivated from local organizations; diversified and sought niches.diversified and sought niches.

Organizations go national, move towards Organizations go national, move towards corporate structure, focus on fund-raising & corporate structure, focus on fund-raising & survival tactics.survival tactics.

The anti-environment movement emerges; The anti-environment movement emerges; environmental organizations must fight at all environmental organizations must fight at all levels of government.levels of government.

Author’s Main IdeasAuthor’s Main Ideas No No oneone political party, president or session of congress can claim political party, president or session of congress can claim

credit for the resiliency of the environmental movement.credit for the resiliency of the environmental movement. The movement has faced criticism from both left and right. The The movement has faced criticism from both left and right. The

Left accusing it of being ‘too mainstream’ and the Right Left accusing it of being ‘too mainstream’ and the Right claiming, as a collective, it is self-serving and puts too much claiming, as a collective, it is self-serving and puts too much emphasis on marketing.emphasis on marketing.

For all of the movement’s challenges, including being labeled as For all of the movement’s challenges, including being labeled as too narrow, not diverse enough and too willing to compromise, too narrow, not diverse enough and too willing to compromise, environmental organizations appear to be a permanent fixture of environmental organizations appear to be a permanent fixture of American culture, with no signs of disappearing.American culture, with no signs of disappearing.

Essentially, Bosso concludes: Essentially, Bosso concludes: The environmental movement has adapted to survive, The environmental movement has adapted to survive,

transitioning from local, to national, to state level, to today.transitioning from local, to national, to state level, to today.

Origins of the Environmental Origins of the Environmental MovementMovement

The movement did not emerge spontaneously.The movement did not emerge spontaneously. Developed from organizations founded during Developed from organizations founded during

earlier spurts of organizational creationearlier spurts of organizational creation Emphasis shifted from the preservation of Emphasis shifted from the preservation of

nature for aesthetics to preservation for nature for aesthetics to preservation for recreational purposes. Resulted in a division.recreational purposes. Resulted in a division.

Movement has diversified due to a need to Movement has diversified due to a need to cover a broader range of policy concernscover a broader range of policy concerns

The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

The Progressive Era (1890-1920) saw an The Progressive Era (1890-1920) saw an explosion of organizational creation at the explosion of organizational creation at the local and state levels.local and state levels.

The Sierra Club and the National Audubon The Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society were such groups.Society were such groups.

The Interwar PeriodThe Interwar Period

The period between the world wars saw a The period between the world wars saw a focus shift from preserving nature for aesthetic focus shift from preserving nature for aesthetic purposes to that of recreation.purposes to that of recreation.

New organizations were formed to encourage New organizations were formed to encourage the enjoyment of the outdoors for every the enjoyment of the outdoors for every American.American.

Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited

Organization created to encourage nature Organization created to encourage nature recreationrecreation

Spawned from the More Game Birds in Spawned from the More Game Birds in America FoundationAmerica Foundation

Addressed the decline in American game Addressed the decline in American game birds, due to declining Canadian breeding birds, due to declining Canadian breeding groundsgrounds

Following WWIIFollowing WWII

Organizations formed in the late 40s and 50s Organizations formed in the late 40s and 50s were the first in a group of “niche fillers,” each were the first in a group of “niche fillers,” each occupying a policy or advocacy niche occupying a policy or advocacy niche previously unoccupied.previously unoccupied.

Resulted from a post-WWII swell in Resulted from a post-WWII swell in membership.membership.

Reflected a growing alarm over the effects of Reflected a growing alarm over the effects of industrial pollution and chemicals on wildlifeindustrial pollution and chemicals on wildlife

The Modern Environmental EraThe Modern Environmental Era

Surges in citizen advocacy grew from an Surges in citizen advocacy grew from an increase in middle-class participationincrease in middle-class participation

Furthered the diversity of causes and increased Furthered the diversity of causes and increased the number of organizationsthe number of organizations

Increased the need for niche filling.Increased the need for niche filling.

RecapRecap

The movement did not emerge spontaneously.The movement did not emerge spontaneously. Saw a division when emphasis shifted from Saw a division when emphasis shifted from

nature preservation to recreation.nature preservation to recreation. Organizations formed shortly after WWII were Organizations formed shortly after WWII were

the first in a group of “niche fillers.”the first in a group of “niche fillers.”

An Early Move Towards An Early Move Towards SpecializationSpecialization

Differences in opinion about policy agenda Differences in opinion about policy agenda and organization governance within the and organization governance within the organization.organization.

Competition for funding and membership with Competition for funding and membership with other organizations.other organizations.

Led to dissident groups and niche-seekers, a Led to dissident groups and niche-seekers, a national move of environmental organizations national move of environmental organizations towards specialization.towards specialization.

Dissidents - competitive & complimentary Dissidents - competitive & complimentary David Brower’s leadership as executive director of the Sierra David Brower’s leadership as executive director of the Sierra

ClubClub Friends of the Earth emergesFriends of the Earth emerges

Niche-seekers - strategic & specializedNiche-seekers - strategic & specialized Proliferation of organizations dedicated to a single species and Proliferation of organizations dedicated to a single species and

habitat: Ducks Unlimited, The North American Wolf Society, habitat: Ducks Unlimited, The North American Wolf Society, Desert Tortoise Council, and the Desert Tortoise Preservation Desert Tortoise Council, and the Desert Tortoise Preservation Committee.Committee.

And of organizations filling tactical and policy niches: American And of organizations filling tactical and policy niches: American Rivers, Conservation International, and Ocean Conservancy.Rivers, Conservation International, and Ocean Conservancy.

Apples and Oranges – Apples and Oranges – The Dissidents and the Niche-SeekersThe Dissidents and the Niche-Seekers

Breaking Free –Breaking Free –Why Organizations Sought to SpecializeWhy Organizations Sought to Specialize

New, specialized organizations made to fill legal, New, specialized organizations made to fill legal, policy, or resource-based niches. Attract special policy, or resource-based niches. Attract special interest groups, and often have single-issue agendas interest groups, and often have single-issue agendas attractive to one-time donors and larger membership attractive to one-time donors and larger membership bases.bases.

Niche-seeker organizations actively seek specialized policies, Niche-seeker organizations actively seek specialized policies, tactics, and support bases to differentiate from their tactics, and support bases to differentiate from their competitors.competitors.

Dissidents break off of from old-line organizations due to Dissidents break off of from old-line organizations due to differences of opinion in policy agenda, leadership, or tactics.differences of opinion in policy agenda, leadership, or tactics.

Democracy Over DictatorshipDemocracy Over Dictatorship

Members – their place and their power, an example of Members – their place and their power, an example of dissidents in the Sierra Club (1960s):dissidents in the Sierra Club (1960s):

On David Brower’s Side: Membership satisfaction must bow On David Brower’s Side: Membership satisfaction must bow before larger social interests as defended by advocacy before larger social interests as defended by advocacy leadership. Members a source of revenue and mobilization leadership. Members a source of revenue and mobilization base, not governance. Wants to go national.base, not governance. Wants to go national.

On Ansel Adams’ Side: Chapter-based members essential to On Ansel Adams’ Side: Chapter-based members essential to organizations’ financial and advocacy future. Actual over organizations’ financial and advocacy future. Actual over virtual representation of membership in organization virtual representation of membership in organization governance.governance.

A New Vision of AdvocacyA New Vision of Advocacy

A new environmental ethos contributes to group A new environmental ethos contributes to group specializing.specializing.

A wilderness-preservation focus becomes an A wilderness-preservation focus becomes an environmental-preservation (holistic) focus.environmental-preservation (holistic) focus.

National Parks AssociationNational Parks Association

Transforming members from advocates into Transforming members from advocates into donors.donors.

ACTIVITYACTIVITYMerging Organizations: Merging Organizations:

The Pros and ConsThe Pros and Cons Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited

Roots as a hunting association, focus on Roots as a hunting association, focus on maintaining the species for recreational gainmaintaining the species for recreational gain

Began as the More Game Birds in America Began as the More Game Birds in America FoundationFoundation

The National Audubon SocietyThe National Audubon Society Grew into a bird-watching association, focus on Grew into a bird-watching association, focus on

maintaining all avian species for their own sake. maintaining all avian species for their own sake. Originally organized around the prevention of bird Originally organized around the prevention of bird

feathers being used in women’s fashionfeathers being used in women’s fashion

Corporate vs. GrassrootsCorporate vs. Grassroots

It is difficult for any advocacy organization to It is difficult for any advocacy organization to survive.survive.

Pressure to cling to original ideals all while Pressure to cling to original ideals all while maintaining membership and money maintaining membership and money difficulties.difficulties.

The environmental movement had to learn how The environmental movement had to learn how to adapt within politics, economics and to adapt within politics, economics and leadership styles.leadership styles.

The Environmental Movement The Environmental Movement Encounters Dramatic Change in Encounters Dramatic Change in

Response to the Reagan Response to the Reagan AdministrationAdministration

The anti-environmental agenda of the Reagan The anti-environmental agenda of the Reagan Administration (1980-1988), the conservative Administration (1980-1988), the conservative congress, and major environmental positions congress, and major environmental positions were being filled by those previously working were being filled by those previously working for industry caused great alarm to for industry caused great alarm to environmentalists.environmentalists.

Catastrophic events such as the Exxon Valdez Catastrophic events such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill let to greater urgency within the public oil spill let to greater urgency within the public for environmental action.for environmental action.

AdaptationAdaptation Key environmental groups such as the Sierra Key environmental groups such as the Sierra

Club and National Resources Defense Council Club and National Resources Defense Council have survived because of their size and adopting have survived because of their size and adopting a variety of environmental issues.a variety of environmental issues.

Greater self-sufficiencyGreater self-sufficiency Diversification of supportDiversification of support Less dependence on governmental fundsLess dependence on governmental funds As a result of the Reagan Administration, As a result of the Reagan Administration,

environmental groups received little support from environmental groups received little support from congress. They now had build upon or create their congress. They now had build upon or create their own scientific, legal, and technological resources.own scientific, legal, and technological resources.

Professionalism and Different Professionalism and Different Leadership Styles EmergeLeadership Styles Emerge

There was a high turn-over rate in key leaders in the There was a high turn-over rate in key leaders in the mid-80s.mid-80s.

In the 1980’s, and still today, there is greater hierarchy In the 1980’s, and still today, there is greater hierarchy in the structure of Environmental organizations.in the structure of Environmental organizations.

The number of full time professional staff has tripled, The number of full time professional staff has tripled, leaving some activists disenfranchised. leaving some activists disenfranchised.

It is more common now for leaders of environmental It is more common now for leaders of environmental groups to have their degrees in economics or Business groups to have their degrees in economics or Business and past degrees such as natural science or law are far and past degrees such as natural science or law are far less common.less common. Shift from environmental activism to management expertise.Shift from environmental activism to management expertise.

Greater Cohesion and CooperationGreater Cohesion and Cooperation Summit of 10 first met in 1980. The summit of Summit of 10 first met in 1980. The summit of

10 was the top executives from major 10 was the top executives from major environmental organizations. environmental organizations.

In 1985, Group of Ten produced a declaration In 1985, Group of Ten produced a declaration of Priorities of American Environmentalism.of Priorities of American Environmentalism. Criticized for not adequately dealing with how to Criticized for not adequately dealing with how to

handle corporate power and failure to address handle corporate power and failure to address environmental injustice.environmental injustice.

Currently there is a Green Group, which has Currently there is a Green Group, which has branched to include other advocacy groups.branched to include other advocacy groups.

Fiscal IssuesFiscal Issues Today most rely on voluntary donations. Membership Today most rely on voluntary donations. Membership

dues account for much of the current budget.dues account for much of the current budget. There has been a steady increase in environmental There has been a steady increase in environmental

donations. In the year 2002, donations were over 2 donations. In the year 2002, donations were over 2 billion dollars. billion dollars.

Changes in public attitude, have a huge impact on Changes in public attitude, have a huge impact on environmental organizations. Highest growth in environmental organizations. Highest growth in recent years have dealt with organizations that handle recent years have dealt with organizations that handle and focus attention on land conservation.and focus attention on land conservation.

Fiscal issues are more difficult for ideological Fiscal issues are more difficult for ideological organizations such as Greenpeace and Rainforest organizations such as Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network. They have to be creative and focus on Action Network. They have to be creative and focus on ways to raise money without corporate sponsors.ways to raise money without corporate sponsors.

Fiscal Issues ContinueFiscal Issues Continue

Organizations have to deal with the issue of Organizations have to deal with the issue of ‘major gifts’. The IRS allows nonprofits to ‘major gifts’. The IRS allows nonprofits to shield donors from public, with gifts of over shield donors from public, with gifts of over $2,000 or more. $2,000 or more.

Foundation gifts are controversial because Foundation gifts are controversial because foundations can pinpoint and have an enormous foundations can pinpoint and have an enormous amount of power over where the money can go.amount of power over where the money can go.

MembershipMembership

There has been a huge shift from governmental power There has been a huge shift from governmental power back to the people in terms of how environmental back to the people in terms of how environmental groups survive.groups survive.

In 1980 there were only four groups that could boast In 1980 there were only four groups that could boast 100,000 members or more and now 15 groups have 100,000 members or more and now 15 groups have membership greater than 100,000 people.membership greater than 100,000 people.

Most groups depend on membership/individual dues to Most groups depend on membership/individual dues to survive. Outer focus on member mobilization and less survive. Outer focus on member mobilization and less on government influence.on government influence. Critics claim this creates passive donors and it still doesn’t move Critics claim this creates passive donors and it still doesn’t move

beyond the middle class and deal with more pertinent issues beyond the middle class and deal with more pertinent issues impacting those who are less affluent.impacting those who are less affluent.

Criticism of How Much Executives Criticism of How Much Executives Get PaidGet Paid

John H. Adams Executive NRDCJohn H. Adams Executive NRDCsalary $330,501salary $330,501--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Randall Hayes Pres RainforestRandall Hayes Pres Rainforestsalary $67,396salary $67,396------------------------------------------------------------------------------Carl Pope, executive director of Sierra ClubCarl Pope, executive director of Sierra Clubsalary $141,704, benefits $16,995salary $141,704, benefits $16,995------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kathryn S. Fuller, president and chief executive officer: Kathryn S. Fuller, president and chief executive officer:

World Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife Fundsalary $223,560, benefits $29,516salary $223,560, benefits $29,516

Adjusting to the Modern Political Adjusting to the Modern Political SituationSituation

Environmental groups replenished the grassroots, Environmental groups replenished the grassroots, adopted new tools, like the Internet, and banded adopted new tools, like the Internet, and banded together in order to remain effective.together in order to remain effective.

A result of the Republican takeover of congress A result of the Republican takeover of congress in the 1990s, property rights groups, “Wise Use” in the 1990s, property rights groups, “Wise Use” groups, and the Bush administration.groups, and the Bush administration.

Increased pressure at all levels of government.Increased pressure at all levels of government.

The New Conservative SurgeThe New Conservative Surge

Led to the demise of the more liberal wing of Led to the demise of the more liberal wing of the Republican Party, which was pivotal to the Republican Party, which was pivotal to bipartisan agreements.bipartisan agreements.

Resulted in a dependence on Democrats.Resulted in a dependence on Democrats. Environmentalists and Democrats realized Environmentalists and Democrats realized

attaining the White House is essential.attaining the White House is essential.

Further Reasons for ChangeFurther Reasons for Change

Environmentalists increasingly encountered Environmentalists increasingly encountered well-organized and well-funded opposition well-organized and well-funded opposition from a variety of property rights and “Wise from a variety of property rights and “Wise Use” groups at the state and local levels.Use” groups at the state and local levels.

Authority over the implementation and Authority over the implementation and enforcement of regulations had been shifted to enforcement of regulations had been shifted to the states.the states.

The Internet as a ToolThe Internet as a Tool

Gives any advocacy organization the capacity Gives any advocacy organization the capacity to communicate with the mass publicto communicate with the mass public

Makes it possible to “narrow-cast” in order to Makes it possible to “narrow-cast” in order to target information to specific audiences.target information to specific audiences.

Renewal of the GrassrootsRenewal of the Grassroots

Local activists are needed to counteract Local activists are needed to counteract pressure from property rights and Wise Use pressure from property rights and Wise Use groupsgroups

Local roots aid in influencing members of Local roots aid in influencing members of Congress and state legislatorsCongress and state legislators

Increasingly possible with the InternetIncreasingly possible with the Internet

Working Together Toward Working Together Toward a Common Goala Common Goal

Facing large opposition, groups are joining Facing large opposition, groups are joining together in a unified force to fight at all levels together in a unified force to fight at all levels of government.of government.

Environmental groups’ success is evident Environmental groups’ success is evident through their ability to block drilling in the through their ability to block drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

RecapRecap

The Conservative surge, “property rights” and The Conservative surge, “property rights” and “Wise Use” groups, and a shift to state level “Wise Use” groups, and a shift to state level politics have forced environmental groups to politics have forced environmental groups to adopt new tools, replenish the grassroots, and adopt new tools, replenish the grassroots, and band together in order to remain effective and band together in order to remain effective and relevant.relevant.

Wining Over America – Wining Over America – Looking Back At a Maturing Looking Back At a Maturing

Advocacy CommunityAdvocacy Community

The affects of organizational adaptation: from The affects of organizational adaptation: from local - to national - to state - to today.local - to national - to state - to today. The difficulties of representing a generational The difficulties of representing a generational

problem of global and local scale.problem of global and local scale. Adapting movement values for survivalAdapting movement values for survival The short-term socioeconomic-oriented societyThe short-term socioeconomic-oriented society

About the Author: About the Author: Comments & CriticismsComments & Criticisms

Liberal-biased, has an agendaLiberal-biased, has an agenda Inaccurate predictionsInaccurate predictions Great Man, Great Organization historic Great Man, Great Organization historic

perspectiveperspective Overly simplistic responses to criticisms of Overly simplistic responses to criticisms of

environmental organizationsenvironmental organizations

ACTIVITYACTIVITY

A Timeline of Environmental A Timeline of Environmental AdvocacyAdvocacy