Eco-terrorism or eco-sabotage is any crime committed in the name of saving nature. Eco-terrorists commit arson and burglary, trespass, issue death threats, and engage in malicious destruction of property and vandalism-usually against farmers, ranchers, miners, loggers, researchers, manufacturers or home builders. Targets include animal research labs, logging camps, mills, power generation and distribution facilities, and forestry buildings. The criminal acts are intended to change the behavior of individuals and institutions or to alter public policies. 

Environmentalists have protested by acts of civil disobedience, sit-ins and chaining themselves to trees; others have upped the ante by using violence and massive destruction to convey their messages and beliefs. Eco-sabotage crimes began nearly 20 years ago following the publication of The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey. This book of fiction follows four eco-saboteurs angered by development in the West as they burn billboards, disable road graders and blow up a railroad bridge. Until recently, sabotage in the name of environmental protection had limited local impact and drew little public attention. Targets have grown larger, however, and crimes have escalated with the use of bombs and arson. 

Eco-terrorism on the Increase. The Oregonian newspaper, in September 1999, documented 100 major incidents of arson, bombings and other acts of sabotage committed in 11 western states since 1980; environmental terrorists claimed credit for two-thirds of these crimes. Damages totaled $42.8 million. One-third occurred in the last four years, causing $28.8 million in damages. Twenty percent of all major events occurred in Oregon, at a cost of $13 million. The Vail, Colo., ski resort arson in 1998 caused $12 million in losses. California was third on the financial list with $8.5 million in damages from 30 incidents. 

Recent developments include protesting urban sprawl by setting fire to luxury homes in Long Island, N.Y.; Niwot, Colo., and Phoenix, Ariz. Acts of sabotage against genetic research also are on the increase. A fire was set at a Michigan State University building because the school had a grant to study gene-altered food. Other acts of vandalism include "crop-busting"-demonstrators yank crops from university test plots, trample experimental grass fields, prune grapevines and uproot strawberry fields. 

Eco-terrorists adhere to the "leaderless resistance" principle. The police believe the perpetrators typically are ad hoc bands of two to six people who focus on specific targets. Animal rights activists have joined with radical environmentalists in a shared fight to save not just the wilderness, but all animals-wild and domestic. 

A 2000 California law mandates more severe punishment for people who willfully destroy agricultural research crops. The law makes a person who intentionally destroys research crops liable for twice the value of the damaged crop. The courts will determine the value of damaged crops on an individual basis; reimbursement will include research and development costs. Costs that could be recovered include tuition or lost wages for graduate students' damaged projects.

Nebraska is considering a bill that would provide double damages for sabotage of agricultural research. Utah enacted HB 322 during the 2001 session to increase the penalties for crimes committed against animal enterprises (livestock, rodeos or fairs). Pennsylvania considered a bill during its 2000 session to define the offense of environmental terrorism and to require restitution to the affected person or business.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation pursues eco-terrorism under federal domestic terrorism statutes and has established task forces to investigate cases. Unfortunately, few suspects are apprehended; investigations have led to fewer than 20 major cases being solved. Although no one has been killed, there have been close calls. 

• Vandalizing an animal experimentation lab in Orange, Calif. 
• Burning a meat processor plant in Eugene, Ore. 
• Setting fire to a log loader at a wood chip mill in Washington. 
• "Liberating" 5,000 mink at a fur farm in Michigan; about 4,500 animals were recovered but others were run over by cars or killed by dogs. 
• Raiding a Wisconsin vaccine research facility and releasing 150 minks and ferrets. 
• Setting fire to a U.S. Bureau of Land Management center in Burns, Ore. 
• Burning a government truck and spray painting U.S. Forest Service buildings and vehicles with anti-logging messages.

Denson, Bryan and James Long. "Eco-terrorism sweeps the American West." The Oregonian, Sept. 26, 1999, www.oregonlive.com/special/series/ecocrime.ssf?/special/series/ecocrime_story1.

Kane, Karli. "Bill Seeks to Fight Eco-Terrorism on UC-Davis Crops." The California Aggie, Sept. 1, 2000, www.studentadvantage.com/article/0,1075,c8-i79-t0-a106136,00.html.

Molly Stauffer
NCSL-Washington, D.C. 
(202) 624-3584
molly.stauffer@ncsl.org