The Avian Crisis: Investigating the Impact of a Century-Old Treaty

Over the past several decades, North American migratory bird populations have declined by nearly 30%. In response, some have looked to the the 1918 Migratory Bird Treat Act (MBTA) as a solution. The law’s enforcement has dramatically evolved in the 104 years since its passage, and in recent years the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) interpretation of its provisions has ping-ponged back and forth between presidential administrations.

In this Fourth Branch video, experts examine the current state of the law’s enforcement and debate how policymakers ought to approach the migratory bird crisis going forward.