Last weekend, I had the pleasure of celebrating National Public Lands Day with our amazing staff and Friends Network partners in New Mexico, Congressional champions, and public land enthusiasts in the community to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands. The contrast between public lands celebrations and today couldn't be starker. Today’s federal government shutdown marks the latest blow to unprotected public lands across the country. The shutdown, combined with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s plan to designate oil and gas permitting as "essential" and the administration’s threat to lay off thousands more federal employees, makes it clear that this administration prioritizes corporations over communities. Here's what they can't shut down: our resolve. Despite an administration historically opposed to public lands and conservation, our collective voice has been able to fight off every attempt to sell off public lands. That's the power of what we've built together—and it's why we can't stop now. In this newsletter, you'll find two urgent threats that need your voice right now, celebrations worth sharing, a tribute to our founding trustee Richard Moe, and ways to deepen your connection to this growing movement. Your action matters—let's get to work.

Summer is winding down and as we start to dream of fall excursions, we remember that every trail hiked, every sunrise witnessed, every moment of peace we find on public lands depends on our continued vigilance and advocacy. That's why your support of the Conservation Lands Foundation is so crucial. When equipped with the resources we need, we remain the fierce advocates these places deserve. The threats to public lands are mounting, and our collective defense grows stronger every day to meet them. In this newsletter, we cover the upcoming appropriations fight in Congress and our move to defend Chuckwalla National Monument (CA) in court. We also share key moments of celebration and strength with our Friends Grassroots Network.

Powerful advocacy begins with simple conversations. When we share why we treasure certain places—a favorite fishing spot, a special hunting ground, a memorable trail, we transform abstract policy into tangible, personal stakes. Talking to people about the places that matter to us creates ripples that become waves of action. And it’s working. Our collective advocacy has prevented nefarious attacks on public lands and waters - and we must remain loud as the threats build. In this newsletter, we cover our recent DC Fly-In, threats to national monuments, and proactive bills that protect nature.

In this issue, we honor Arizona Representative Raúl Grijalva's conservation legacy, share our 2024 Impact Report, celebrate the reinstatement of Interior Department employees, and alert you to new attacks on public lands. We also preview next week's gathering of Friends Grassroots Network advocates in Washington DC, where they'll meet with their members of Congress to speak for the lands and waters we all love and depend on.

Within two weeks we drove more than 50,000 public land defenders to send letters to Congressmembers and to Interior Secretary Burgum with the crystal clear message: America’s public lands are not for sale. While the deadline for Secretary Burgum’s "action plan" has passed without public announcement, the campaign to dismantle public lands protections is accelerating at all levels of government. Legislation has been introduced to gut the Antiquities Act, while the administration terminates thousands of public land caretakers. In this issue of CLiF Notes, we break down these emerging threats and share ways you can take action to protect your access and the health of these vulnerable lands.

Victories, Threats, and Community Building

Tomorrow marks what is perhaps one of the country’s most important conservation milestones: On June 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law, granting presidents the authority to designate national monuments to protect significant natural, cultural, and historical sites. Eighteen presidents - nine Democrats and nine Republicans - have used the Antiquities Act to protect the ecosystems we need for our collective health, the archaeological sites that tell of our common history, and the cultural places that support our wellbeing. President Biden most recently used the Antiquities Act to designate Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument in Arizona, as well as to protect the Molok Luyuk land sacred to the Yocha Dehe and Kletsel Dehe Tribes as part of an expanded Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument in California. We recently helped bring together advocates from our priority campaigns to Washington, D.C. to call upon President Biden to designate national monuments that protect vital natural, cultural, and recreational values in other key landscapes. We hope you are inspired by seeing these local advocates and Tribal representatives in action in this video of the event.