About Us

Building and water landscape
Tulip farm
Commercial fishing
Stone Harbour Bristol RI
Agricultural trees
Baby seagulls in a nest
Sailboats on the water
Pheasant hunters
Wood turtle
Bikers on bike trail

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) serves as the chief steward of the state’s natural resources – from beautiful Narragansett Bay to our local waters and green spaces to the air we breathe. Our mission put simply is to protect, restore, and promote our environment to ensure Rhode Island remains a wonderful place to live, visit, and raise a family. 

We protect these precious resources through development and enforcement of environmental laws, and we strive to provide guidance to our many customers in complying with these laws.

We work with our partners to restore our lands and waters, to conserve wildlife and marine resources, and to monitor environmental quality so we can build healthy, more resilient communities.

We promote our natural resources – from our historic parks and beaches to our farms and delicious local food and seafood.  We are focused on helping our state grow “green” and build desirable neighborhoods that offer ample space to recreate and connect with nature.

FY2024-2026 Strategic Plan

Visual of DEM Strategic Plan

DEM has developed a plan with eight strategic goals to guide us over the next several years. This strategic plan aligns with the goals of RI 2030 and builds on DEM’s work to protect our environment, steward and promote our state’s natural resources, and counter the effects of climate change. A core focus of this strategic plan is prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and environmental justice across all programs in the department. This plan outlines a clear direction for us to achieve our mission as we continue to grow, innovate, and improve as a department.