Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate voted today to approve a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to dismantle the Bureau of Land Management’s Integrated Activity Plan that protects 13.3 million acres of irreplaceable public lands and waters in the Western Arctic (called the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA).  This legally-questionable use of the CRA will erase years of public engagement and scientific collaboration, overturning balanced management that supports Indigenous communities, wildlife, and the global climate. Once the U.S. House of Representatives passes it and the president signs it, as is expected, vast swaths of the Reserve will be open to expanded industrial oil and gas development, an action that directly undermines commitments to Tribal sovereignty, biodiversity, and climate resilience in one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation: “Using the Congressional Review Act to undo protections in the Western Arctic is reckless and a deliberate attack on the Alaska Native communities that have cared for these lands for generations and were involved in establishing the framework that protects these lands. The Integrated Activity Plan represents years of collaboration between Tribes, local communities, scientists, and the American public to ensure the survival of vital and sensitive landscapes including Teshekpuk Lake and the Utukok Uplands. “Repealing this plan will further expose the region’s wildlife and people to devastating and irrevocable industrial impacts, all to serve short-term fossil fuel interests in a place already warming at four times the global average. It will also continue a dangerous new precedent that began earlier this month empowering Congress through the CRA to wreak havoc on how the public’s lands are managed across the country, jeopardizing the stability and predictability that communities and industries alike depend on. “The American people have made their priorities clear: they want clean air, safe water, and healthy public lands that future generations can enjoy. We will continue to stand with local communities and fight these extreme measures that decimate the natural environment that the people and wildlife of the Western Arctic depend on.” Background The National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA) is the largest unit of public land in the United States, encompassing nearly 23 million acres of critical habitat for caribou, polar bears, muskox, migratory birds, and fish. More than 40 Indigenous communities depend on the Reserve for subsistence and cultural practices that have persisted for millennia. In 2024, following extensive consultation with Alaska Native Tribes and corporations, the Biden administration finalized a rule restoring and strengthening protections for 13.3 million acres of Special Areas within the Reserve—Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay. This plan balanced subsistence needs with responsible land management and was widely supported by the public, with more than 250,000 comments favoring conservation. ###

Durango, Colorado — Today, the Trump administration announced it will reopen the recently finalized Rock Springs, Wyoming Resource Management Plan (RMP), a blueprint that guides the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) management of nearly 3.6 million acres of public lands in southwestern Wyoming for the next two decades. Conservation leaders criticized the move, calling it a step backward that undermines years of public engagement, Tribal consultation, and science-backed planning.  The Rock Springs RMP, finalized just months ago, reflects over a decade of collaboration between local communities, Tribal nations, state officials, and federal land managers. Over 92 percent of public comments submitted during the draft stage supported conservation efforts within the plan, and the final plan reflected 85 percent of recommendations from the Wyoming Governor’s own task force. The plan strikes a meaningful balance—protecting the wild landscapes and migration corridors of Wyoming’s Northern Red Desert while leaving two-thirds of the acreage open to oil and gas development. Below is a statement from Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, including the National Conservation Lands: “Reopening a carefully balanced plan that took more than a decade to develop is a glaring disservice to the people who shaped it. The Rock Springs Resource Management Plan incorporated extensive public input, respected the work of the Governor’s task force, and reflected what science, Tribal nations, and communities have been calling for: smart, modern, and carefully balanced land stewardship. People across Wyoming and the nation care deeply about how their public lands are managed. They showed up in this process, and their voices deserve to be respected—not sidelined. “The final plan protected irreplaceable values while still allowing oil and gas leasing in areas with production potential. For example, the plan protects the Northern Red Desert region, which is a critical cultural and ecological landscape and includes vast unfenced land home to iconic wildlife migrations, some of the most intact sagebrush steppe left in the West, and cultural resources sacred to Indigenous communities. Areas of critical environmental concern were appropriately designated to protect important resources and allow public access to these beloved landscapes. Reopening this process creates uncertainty, wastes taxpayer resources, and ignores the clear consensus of the people who live, work and recreate on these lands. “It’s deeply concerning that the notice to reopen the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan was published the same morning the federal government shut down. As a result, the agency has failed to take the required next step in the planning process–an immediate example of how the shutdown is already causing confusion in land management. This timing undermines transparency and meaningful public participation.” ### Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org

Washington, DC – Following the mass layoffs of federal employees within the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management earlier this year and ongoing moves to sell off America’s public lands, today’s federal government shutdown is another blow to the country’s remaining unprotected areas of nature.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, including the National Conservation Lands: “We call upon Congress to uphold its responsibilities under the Constitution and pass a budget that keeps our public land management agencies intact and ensures that the administration executes the funding appropriated by Congress for public land management agencies accordingly. Anything less is a betrayal of our Constitution and the nation’s commitment to public lands, public service, and future generations. “What we have seen over the past nine months is a blatant effort to undermine and weaken the very institutions that safeguard our country’s remaining natural and wild places–our precious public lands and water sources that tell the story of America’s culture, help mitigate the climate crisis, prevent wildfires, protect wildlife corridors, and provide for outdoor recreation experiences that are supporting local economies. “Elected leaders behind this effort don’t care about the businesses and local communities that depend on access to these places to pay their bills. They don’t care about the wildlife that will be harmed after oil and gas companies desecrate this land. They don’t care about the families who hunt, fish, camp and recreate on this land, or the Indigenous communities for whom access to their ancestral lands is vital. In short, they’re showing us very clearly that they only care about the corporations who will benefit from privatizing public lands. “Roughly 200 million of the 245 million acres of nature and wildlife beyond and between the national parks and overseen by the Bureau of Land Management are not protected from mining, drilling, or other development, and both the government shutdown, Sec. Burgum’s plan to designate oil permitting as “essential”, and reported reductions in workforce set the stage for the administration to make good on its promise to sell off America’s remaining natural resources. “Congress must ensure that the integrity of the federal budget process is maintained, and that the Executive Branch spends what the Congress appropriates. Any other outcome is a threat to the integrity of our public lands and the agencies that manage them, and a clear effort by elected leaders who are hell bent on privatizing the country’s remaining public lands. ####

PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. — Tuesday’s introduction of H.R.5393 — legislation that aims to undo Presidential Proclamation 7320, which established Ironwood Forest National Monument in 2000 — is the latest in a series of attacks on public land in Arizona. The bill was introduced by Representative Paul Gosar , with Representatives Eli Crane and Andy Biggs as co-sponsors. The districts of the three representatives do not overlap with the monument. In 2017, communities and organizations across southern Arizona rallied in response to a similar and unsuccessful attempt by Rep. Gosar to undermine the monument. The introduction of mining on currently protected public lands, which the bill intends to enable, would devastate Ironwood Forest National Monument’s native ecosystems and sever wildlife connectivity. Many expect the bill’s success or failure to sit with Representative Juan Ciscomani , whose district includes part of Ironwood Forest National Monument. On Monday, Ciscomani became the latest co-sponsor, and the only co-sponsor from Arizona, on the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, which aims to preserve public lands by blocking unauthorized sell offs or transfers. Ciscomani has also voiced support for Chiricahua National Monument’s potential conversion to a national park. The Ironwood Forest National Monument has become increasingly popular with well over 100,000 visitors a year, and local governments are paying attention. Mayor Jon Post , at the Town of Marana ’s recent vote on a resolution in support of the monument, said, “We want to do everything we can to protect that.” Two other local governments—the City of Tucson and Pima County — have also issued resolutions that opposed any reduction in boundaries or any increase in resource extraction in Ironwood Forest National Monument. _______ Below are statements from Ironwood Forest National Monument defense coalition members responding to Tuesday’s legislation: “Rep. Paul Gosar’s push to rescind Ironwood Forest’s protections is a misguided bid for attention,” said Christine Flanagan, president of the Friends of Ironwood Forest . “The monument isn’t even in his district — if it were, he would know it’s both highly visited and deeply valued by the local community.” “Ironwood Forest National Monument is home to a dense population of ironwood trees, bighorn sheep, and important habitat for several endangered species,” said Sandy Bahr, director of Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter . “It is significant for its natural and cultural resources and is broadly supported by local governments, Tribal Nations, businesses, and more. Rep Gosar is out of touch with Arizonans when he goes after land protections. He should abandon this short-sighted legislation.” "This short-sighted attack on the monument would cause irrevocable harm to Southern Arizona’s landscapes and communities," said Sanober Mirza, Arizona Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association . Saguaro National Park is a neighbor to the monument. The Wilderness Society’s Southwest Regional Director, Scott Miller , said “This is an affront to the freedom of all Americans who rely on these landscapes for cultural, recreational, economic and health benefits. It will threaten critical habitat for wildlife and desecrate our treasured natural places, and flies in the face of the massive broad Tribal and local support for these places.” “Congressman Gosar’s wrongheaded legislation is not just an attack on iconic monuments in Arizona, it tees up potential attacks on cherished monuments in other states as well,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation . “These monuments were designated to protect irreplaceable cultural sites, fragile ecosystems, and landscapes that generations of people — including Tribes, local communities, and outdoor enthusiasts — have fought to preserve. This move ignores science, public opinion, and our shared responsibility to protect the places that make America unique.” Kate Hotten, co-executive director with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection , said “Attempts to strip protections from public lands are deeply unpopular. Ciscomani knows that we’ve seen this play out before, and that the community will stand up in strong support of Ironwood Forest National Monument.” “Ironwood Forest is a refuge of critical habitat for the wildlife and plants that give our region its character and are cherished by local communities” said Nico Lorenzen, conservation and wildlife associate at Wild Arizona . “The monument is an irreplaceable treasure worth far more than its weight in the metals extractive industries want to rip from its soil.” The Arizona Program Manager for Mountain Mamas, Selina Barajas , said "Ironwood Forest National Monument is a vital part of Southern Arizona’s natural and cultural heritage. Representative Gosar's efforts to dismantle its protections threaten the health of our families, communities, and future generations. Moms across Arizona know that protecting clean air, safe and clean water, wildlife, and public lands isn’t optional — it’s essential! We stand with the many local governments, organizations, and residents who have made it clear: Ironwood Forest belongs to the people, not to mining interests." “Ironwood Forest National Monument is a stronghold for Sonoran Desert wildlife that’s cherished by all Arizonans, so this bill is utterly appalling," said Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity . “Gosar’s attempt to hand this vital habitat and beloved outdoor recreation destination over to mining companies against the will of local people isn’t policy. It’s a disgraceful sell-off of our natural heritage.” “As the weather cools in Arizona, locals and visitors will flock to our public lands, including our national monuments. Arizonans and Americans spoke clearly this summer — we have the right to access our public lands. Removing protections for the Ironwood Forest National Monument and turning it over to the mining industry would prevent us from accessing and using the land” said Environment Arizona’s Great Outdoors Campaign Director, Ellen Montgomery . “Our wildlife needs large undisturbed habitats to flourish. Ironwood Forest provides room to roam for animals and undeveloped areas for plants to grow. We need more nature in Arizona and we must protect what we have. We urge members of Congress to oppose this bill.” ### Kris Deutschman, Conservation Lands Foundation, kris@conservationlands.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Conservation Lands Foundation today denounced the introduction of two bills by U.S. Representative Paul Gosar that seek to abolish Ironwood Forest and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monuments in Arizona. These proposed rollbacks represent a direct assault on America’s public lands, Indigenous heritage, and the will of the American people.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation: “Congressman Gosar’s wrongheaded legislation is not just an attack on iconic monuments in Arizona, it tees up potential attacks on cherished monuments in other states as well. These monuments were designated to protect irreplaceable cultural sites, fragile ecosystems, and landscapes that generations of people — including Tribes, local communities, and outdoor enthusiasts — have fought to preserve. This move ignores science, public opinion, and our shared responsibility to protect the places that make America unique. “Ironwood Forest National Monument, designated 25 years ago with overwhelming local support, spans 129,000 acres of the biologically rich Sonoran Desert. It is home to centuries-old ironwood trees and some of the region’s most significant archaeological and cultural sites. Just last week, the Tucson City Council reaffirmed its support for the monument. “Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, designated in 2023 after decades of advocacy by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, protects ancestral lands and the Colorado River watershed from uranium mining and other threats. It honors Indigenous leadership and preserves the region's clean air, water, and sacred sites while allowing for traditional uses like hunting and grazing. “We have to ask, does Congressman Gosar actually talk to his constituents? The public overwhelmingly supports these monuments. According to the 2025 State of the Rockies poll, 89% of Western voters — across political affiliations — support keeping national monument designations in place. In Arizona, 80% of voters support Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, including large majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. “The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject these extreme, anti-public lands proposals and stand with the American people, the Tribes and communities who have worked tirelessly to protect these lands for future generations.” About Conservation Lands Foundation The Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands and similar protected public lands in the Western Arctic. ###

Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration today published a notice of proposed rulemaking to rescind the common-sense and widely-supported Conservation and Landscape Health Rule (“Public Lands Rule”) that ensures balanced management and public access to national public lands throughout the western U.S. The announcement indicated a 60-day public comment period, which is legally required of such changes. Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), including the National Conservation Lands: “The repeal of the Public Lands Rule is a betrayal of the public trust and a reckless step backwards for land stewardship in America. Americans have already raised their voices—loudly and clearly—in support of this rule. During the original rulemaking, which was finalized last year, 92% of public comments supported it. This action is a slap in the face to every American who is proud of the natural beauty we have on offer, free of charge, to everyone. “The Public Lands Rule provides land managers with clear, commonsense tools to protect what Americans cherish most about public lands—clean water, abundant wildlife, cultural resources, recreation, and natural beauty. Its repeal dismisses science-based management and undermines the values of millions who depend on these lands for more than just extraction. “Perhaps most troubling is the claim that conservation is not a valid multiple use under BLM’s guiding laws. That is blatantly false. The law explicitly requires that public lands be managed for a range of uses, including watersheds, wildlife habitat, fisheries, and scenic and recreational values—not just for development. Conservation is not a fringe idea; it’s a legal obligation. “America has no shortage of energy resources. What we need is leadership committed to balanced, future-focused land management that serves public access and wildlife—not policy reversals that favor short-term exploitation over long-term stewardship. The Public Lands Rule should remain on the books as a fair, lawful and widely supported guide for managing public lands for generations to come. ### Background on the Public Lands Rule: The Public Lands Rule, which took effect on June 10, 2024, establishes a “framework to ensure healthy landscapes, abundant wildlife habitat, clean water, and balanced decision-making on our nation’s public lands.” BLM’s webpage on the Public Lands Rule. The BLM’s 90-day public process that shaped the final rule was transparent, inclusive, and accessible. Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org

Washington, DC (January 13, 2025) – Today, the United States Supreme Court agreed to not hear a case that could decide whether America’s federal, public lands can be sold to private companies for profit. Earlier this year, with the backing of Republican officials from 12 other states, the state of Utah filed an unprecedented lawsuit at the United States Supreme Court seeking an order requiring that the federal government begin selling off or otherwise “disposing” of more than 18.5 million acres of public lands in Utah. If successful, this effort would have implicated more than 200 million acres of public lands across the West. These lands, currently held in trust for the American people, are targets for privatization, degradation, and oil and gas drilling. The sell-off and privatization of public lands has sparked intense opposition, with a broad coalition of western residents, elected officials, sportsmen, and advocacy groups vocally resisting these efforts. While the Supreme Court rejected Utah’s current efforts, attacks to America’s public lands are anticipated to continue in the upcoming administration. Today’s decision comes on the heels of the 119th Congress voting on a rules package to accelerate the sale of public lands . Quotes in Reaction to the Supreme Court Case and Public Land Seizer “We must stand united against this un-American land grab to ensure that our public lands remain accessible and protected for future generations. Our public lands are not for sale. Full stop.” – Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee “This lawsuit is an assault on the country’s long-standing and successful history of safeguarding valuable and vulnerable landscapes in trust for all Americans, and while the Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the case is a reprieve, we fully expect this small group of anti-public lands politicians continue to waste taxpayer dollars and shop their bad ideas, said Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “Public lands are incredibly popular with Utahans and all Americans and this aggressive attack and blatant power-grab by a handful of Utah politicians could open the country’s remaining natural landscapes to largely unregulated exploitation of its resources–thereby closing them from the public. We will continue to defend and preserve the public’s access to public lands.” “Utah’s case is massively flawed, and we’re pleased to see the Court recognize that and leave 150 years’ worth of established public lands law firmly in place. The nation’s public lands are as popular as ever. People want these places conserved and managed responsibly--not sold off, privatized or despoiled. Today’s news is good for the stability, safety and sustainability for America’s public lands and the people who depend on them”, said Alison Flint, Senior Legal Director at The Wilderness Society . “While the Court's decision denying original review of Utah's claims is welcome news for our shared public lands, we fully expect Utah’s misguided attacks to continue and stand ready to mount a robust defense to ensure our public lands are protected.” “We’re grateful the Supreme Court swiftly rejected the State of Utah’s misguided land grab lawsuit. For more than 100 years, the Supreme Court has affirmed the power of the federal government to hold and manage public lands on behalf of all Americans,” said Steve Bloch, Legal Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance . “If successful, Utah’s lawsuit would result in the sale of millions of acres of public lands in redrock country to the highest bidder, an end to America’s system of federal public lands, and the dismantling of the American West as we know it. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance will continue our unwavering efforts to ensure every attempted land grab by Utah politicians fails.” “The Supreme Court was correct to reject this unfounded lawsuit. More than a century of legal precedent is clear – it is the role of the federal government to manage public lands for the benefit of all Americans. This lawsuit and its backers sought to overturn that precedent, giving away public resources for the private profit of big corporations. For more than a century, our parks and public lands have been part of what makes us special as a country, and we will continue to defend the right of all Americans to enjoy and explore those landscapes,” said Sanjay Narayan, Chief Appellate Counsel of Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program "The Supreme Court's decision to decline hearing Utah's lawsuit is a win for Colorado's public lands and the many people who value them. It reinforces how public lands are more than just iconic landscapes across the West, but also a core part of our national identity,” said Scott Braden, Director of Colorado Wildlands Project . “Unfortunately, it also underscores the importance of designations to protect our wildlands. For Colorado, this means we must continue working to preserve places like the Dolores Canyons, ensuring they remain intact and accessible to the public for future generations to enjoy and explore." “Public lands are one of America’s best ideas and an intrinsic part of our identity,” said John Robison, Public Lands and Wildlife Director for the Idaho Conservation League. “This takeover effort was never about “local control” but ultimately about selling off our natural heritage to the highest bidder. We are glad that the Supreme Court rejected this takeover attempt/We are dismayed that the Supreme Court is entertaining this takeover attempt/ and will do everything in our power to make sure that public lands stay in public hands.” America's opinion leaders are also deeply opposed to selling off public lands: Denver Post , Utah’s twisted lawsuit is corrupting the West’s (and Colorado’s commitment to public lands ,(December 30th, 2024) “The greatest assault on public lands in American history is being led by Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox, who is suing the federal government to take over 18.5 million acres of public lands managed and protected by the Bureau of Land Management. The lawsuit makes us question for how many more generations the promise of Yellowstone National Park – “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people” – will stand in America. And the mentality of public lands being disposable to the highest bidder may be seeping into states across the West. Cox claims he wants the land to “actively manage and protect our natural resources.” But it’s hard not to suspect that the real reason he wants to remove the Bureau of Land Management’s oversight of these public lands is to open them up for private profit – development, mining, logging and disposal — at the expense of the American people” Idaho Statesman , Utah revives public land grab scheme, (September 22, 2024) “The courts have made a more conservative turn, but I don’t think even this Supreme Court is likely to overcome the quite clear law and Constitutional provisions that would bar Utah from taking over public lands,” University of Colorado environmental law professor Mark Squillace told the AP. But we shouldn’t count on that. We should apply continuous pressure against this and similar land-grabbing efforts (like the hundreds of thousands of dollars Idaho has spent on dubious efforts to have its federal lands valued). If you’re against the land-grabbing movement, make sure your elected officials know it — particularly Attorney General Raul Labrador, who can decide whether Idaho files an amicus brief in support of Utah’s lawsuit.” Salt Lake Tribune , Utah’s Latest Land Grab Lawsuit has No Legal Leg to Stand on, (September 8, 2024). “In the 2004 adventure movie “ National Treasure, ” the Nicolas Cage character tries to convince people at the National Archives that there is a secret message on the back of the original Declaration of Independence. Written in invisible ink. In the story, it turns out that such a message really exists, and leads to the discovery of a large treasure that has been lost for more than 200 years. In real life, the claim that a key government document contains invisible, century-old messages that only a few clever people know about is the core of Utah’s latest lawsuit seeking to seize millions of acres of federal land.In other words, a total fantasy. An expensive and embarrassing one.” Las Vegas Sun , Utah has no case for clawing back public land, but court unpredictable , (November 24, 2024) “The Supreme Court must reject Utah’s misguided attempt to seize public lands. The stakes are too high. If the court allows this lawsuit to succeed, it will not only privatize millions of acres of public land but also jeopardize the West’s way of life and undermine the very principle of shared stewardship that defines our nation’s public lands. America’s public lands are a trust — not just for this generation but for all those to come. We must protect them, not for profit or political gain, but for the enduring benefit of all.” The New York Times - John Leshy , Utah Wants the Supreme Court to Give It Land Owned by All Americans, (January 8th, 2025) “Utah seeks to give a small group of unelected justices, and not Congress, ultimate authority over America’s public lands, owned by all Americans and entrusted to the federal government for their wise use and protection. The result would most likely spell disaster for the stewardship of some of the nation’s most significant landscapes, while accelerating the decline in the court’s stature with the American people.” Outside Magazine , 18.5 Million Acres of Public Land Are on the Line in Utah in a New Lawsuit, (September 16, 2024). “Politicians in Utah have a long history of trying to sell off your public land to benefit the oil, gas, and other extractive industries that fund their campaigns. This time they’re trying to do it with a lawsuit designed to go straight to the Supreme Court. That lawsuit argues that all Bureau of Land Management acres within the state’s borders should be transferred to Utah’s control. If they succeed, the public could lose access to millions of acres that we use to pursue our favorite outdoor activities, wildlife could lose its habitat, and the environment could suffer. Worse, if the Supreme Court accepts the theory that states should have control over federal land, the upshot could be devastating. It could create precedent that might allow politicians in other western states to do the same.”

Washington, D.C. - Today, the state of Utah filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Court demanding ownership of 18.5 million acres of federal public land in the state. The case could significantly affect access to public lands not only in Utah but also throughout the Western United States and Alaska. As the only non-profit organization solely focused on protecting the public’s access to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Conservation Lands Foundation issued the following statement in response to the lawsuit: Statement from Jocelyn Torres, Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer:  “This lawsuit is as frivolous as they come and a blatant power-grab by a handful of Utah politicians whose escalating aggression has become an attack on all public lands as we know them. Their previous attempt to decimate America’s cherished Grand Staircase Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments and their attack on the Public Lands Rule clearly shows their intention to take away opportunities for enjoying, recreating on, and accessing public lands. “Public lands are increasingly among the last places that bring people together, making this lawsuit a cynical, divisive move that blatantly ignores the fact that only Congress can transfer or dispose of federal lands, serving as a safeguard against such attacks. The lawsuit is an enormous waste of taxpayer dollars at a time when Utah’s public lands continue to be an economic engine and lifeline for communities throughout the state and when Utahns and all Americans overwhelmingly support their access to them.” ####

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR DESIGNATING THE SPRINGFIELD 1908 RACE RIOT NATIONAL MONUMENT The designation is the first to highlight the tragic events of race riots and showcase the birth of the NAACP WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds President Biden for designating the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Illinois, which recognizes the national and cultural significance of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908, one of the country’s worst examples of mass racial violence and the event that led courageous Black leaders to found the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Statement from Jocelyn Torres, Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer for Conservation Lands Foundation: “Commemorating the country’s varied histories through national monument designations is an important responsibility of the president. The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is the first national monument to recognize our nation’s long history of race riots and thousands of lynchings, and showcase the birth of the NAACP and the courage and leadership of Ida B. Wells-Barnett and other Black leaders who fought to stop racial violence. It holds a solemn place in our collective understanding and is deserving of this designation. “We applaud President Biden for using the Antiquities Act to commemorate the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, ensuring that the public never forgets the tragedies and triumphs of the Black experience in American history.” #### Join us in thanking President Biden by sending a message today.

St. George, UT – Yesterday, Washington County filed a federal lawsuit seeking to reinstate a stale and inadequate environmental review — issued in the waning days of the Trump Administration — supporting the widely-rejected Northern Corridor Highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. Below is a statement from Holly Snow Canada, executive director of Conserve Southwest Utah on behalf of Utah-based and national conservation organizations Conserve Southwest Utah, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Conservation Lands Foundation, Advocates for the West, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, The Wilderness Society, and WildEarth Guardians. “Through this lawsuit, Washington County has again demonstrated its impatience with a full and fair process designed to understand the ecological and community impacts of a high-speed highway through a National Conservation Area, “ said Snow Canada. “First, Washington County rushed to have decisions issued before the end of the Trump Administration; and, once a court reversed these decisions in 2023, the county is now seeking to short-circuit the analysis before it's even finished. Washington County’s continued efforts to hide the true impacts of the proposed highway shows the problems with punching the Northern Corridor Highway through a National Conservation Area.” “This lawsuit is the latest attempt by Washington County to force a highway where it doesn’t belong. Viable alternatives exist that would be a better use of taxpayer funds, but for over 15 years, Washington County leaders have clung to the proposed route as the only option, doing a disservice to local residents who have been vocal in their opposition to the highway, wildlife, and all who visit the Congressionally-designated Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. It’s beyond time for the county to start working on transportation alternatives that don't go through the NCA,” said Snow Canada. “Now is the time for thorough, intentional, and collaborative planning from the County rather than a single-minded focus on a destructive highway. Instead of working together to find a reasonable solution to the issues confronting Washington County residents, Washington County is trying to revive what has proven to be a failed and widely-unpopular approach, which hinges on ignoring the science and the law and forcing an unnecessary and unworkable high-speed highway through a National Conservation Area. We should expect more from our elected representatives,” said Snow Canada. The county's lawsuit comes at a time when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are preparing a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to reconsider a right-of-way for the proposed four-lane Northern Corridor Highway . This SEIS is a result of an earlier lawsuit filed in 2021 by local, regional and national conservation groups to challenge a 2021 decision by the BLM and FWS to approve a highway right-of-way through the Red Cliffs NCA. The 2021 lawsuit by conservation groups cited violations of five federal environmental protection laws (the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act). As a result of that case, the U.S. District Court remanded the 2021 approval of the right-of-way after finding that there were “substantial and legitimate” concerns with the initial analysis. Since 2006, local residents and concerned citizens across the country have voiced opposition to the highway, pointing out transportation alternatives outside of Red Cliffs NCA that do a better job of relieving traffic congestion, supporting economic growth and protecting wildlife, scenic beauty and local access to trails. Background on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA): The 44,724-acre Red Cliffs NCA is part of the larger Red Cliffs Desert Reserve that is collaboratively managed by the BLM, the FWS, the State of Utah, Washington County, and other municipalities. The Reserve was established under the 1995 Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as part of a “grand compromise” to protect ~61,000 acres of public lands for the Mojave desert tortoise (listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act), while opening 300,000 acres of state and private lands for development. The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was established in 2009 by Congress to “conserve, protect, and enhance…ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources” of the public lands within the unit. The region is home to important populations of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise and other at-risk plants and animals including the Gila monster, burrowing owl and kit fox. The Mojave desert tortoise is on a path to extinction according to leading researchers and its habitat in Southwest Utah is especially vulnerable given recent and anticipated growth in the region. The NCA is 45 miles from Zion National Park, and includes 130 miles of trails, two wilderness areas, heritage public use sites, Native American cultural artifacts, several threatened/endangered species and one of Utah’s most popular state parks , Snow Canyon State Park. People from all over the state, country and world visit to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, horseback ride, photograph and marvel at the expansive red rock landscape. ###

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE RAÚL GRIJALVA FOR INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE GREAT BEND OF THE GILA Albuquerque, New Mexico — As the only non-profit organization solely focused on protecting the public’s access to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Conservation Lands Foundation cheered U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva’s introduction of legislation to protect the Great Bend of the Gila in southwest Arizona. Statement from Romir Lahiri, Associate Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation: “The Conservation Lands Foundation expresses our sincere appreciation to Representative Grijalva and all of the bill’s cosponsors for listening to local Tribes and communities by introducing legislation to protect the Great Bend of the Gila in southwest Arizona. “We applaud Representative Grijalva’s ongoing commitment to protecting public lands and waters in Arizona that are vital to Indigenous connections, local communities, outdoor recreation access and wildlife. “The legislation will protect approximately 375,000 acres of public land in the river valley and surrounding desert between the cities of Phoenix and Yuma, which has been home to Indigenous peoples for millennia. At least 13 federally recognized Tribes have cultural, historical, and ancestral ties to the Great Bend of the Gila, and these ties live on through oral and written history, story, song, ceremony, pilgrimage, and other traditions and ways of knowing. “Permanent protection of the Great Bend of the Gila will preserve this landscape’s irreplaceable cultural, historic and natural resources for the enjoyment and benefits of future generations. “Representative Grijalva’s bill illustrates strong community support and, recognizing the unreliability of the Congressional process, we urge President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate this national monument quickly. Designating the Great Bend of the Gila as a National Monument would cement President Biden's conservation legacy as protecting more public land through the Antiquities Act than any other president during their first term.” People can add their voices in support by visiting RespectGreatBend.org . ###

Groups intervene to block Utah and Wyoming lawsuit against Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule.

Washington, D.C. - Conservation Lands Foundation released the following statement in response to the Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the FY25 Interior funding bill and House passage of their own version of that spending bill earlier this week. Statement from David Feinman, Government Affairs Director at Conservation Lands Foundation: “What we’ve seen this week in Congress is two different visions for how 40% of America’s public lands can be managed: the House bill exacerbates decades of staffing and resource deficits and undermines bedrock conservation laws and land use planning processes, while the Senate bill invests in the health of our public lands and the people who do this important work. “The House Interior spending bill, which nearly failed to pass, includes significant cuts to the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management as well as draconian policy riders that undermine the integrity of the Antiquities Act and block implementation of critical plans that ensure these public lands are managed responsibly for all who use them. These decisions by the House have real world impacts, including risks to public safety and irreparable harm to cultural resources on public lands. “The Senate Interior spending bill, on the other hand, which passed 28-1 out of committee, does the exact opposite. While not enough to make up for the decades of underfunding, the Senate bill is a rational recognition that investing in our public lands, the civil servants who steward them, and the processes that ensure their proper management is an essential national priority. “We urge the Congress to move forward with the Senate’s vision for the future of the Bureau of Land Management as they resolve the FY25 Interior spending process, and adequately fund the care of the country’s natural resources that support important recreation areas, wildlife, water sources, and cultural heritage." # # #

Paonia, CO — Yesterday, Mesa and Montrose counties published a National Conservation Area proposal that leaves more than ninety percent of the Dolores River Canyon without protections for public access, wildlife habitat, fresh water sources, Indigenous cultural sites, and recreational activities that support local economies. The proposal includes just under 30,000 acres of public lands along the Dolores River, which is a fraction of the nearly 400,000 acres that have been identified as valuable and vulnerable under the current national monument proposal.  According to the Conservation Lands Foundation, the national monument proposal was drafted by western Colorado local elected officials, community groups, and businesses to conserve the health of the most biologically-rich public lands and the public’s access to the most culturally- and recreationally-rich public lands in the northern Dolores Canyons region. The counties’ proposal, it said, is wholly inadequate for the needs of the region. “This particular proposal fails to conserve the rich wildlife, cultural sites, historic places, and recreational opportunities that make the area worthy of conserving in the first place,” said Ben Katz, Associate Program Director with Conservation Lands Foundation. “Due to the lack of clarity provided, we question whether this proposal even upholds the principles of the National Conservation Lands system. It’s disappointing to see the counties spend the public’s money fighting against the current national monument proposal for the Dolores River Canyon that achieves common goals; it protects the public’s access to the state’s most biologically- and culturally rich public lands, helps manage current and future visitation to public lands in Mesa and Montrose counties, and safeguards the area's dark sky and other qualities. “For everyone who has spent countless hours over decades in discussions about what protections look like for the Dolores landscape, we continue to invite community members from Montrose and Mesa counties to come to the table to talk strategically about realistic solutions for how to maintain the health and the public’s access to this irreplaceable landscape all of us cherish. “Gridlock in Congress makes legislative protections for public lands – like national conservation areas – unreliable. Working with President Biden to designate a national monument remains Senator Michael Bennet and Senator John Hickenlooper’s only likely pathway to deliver on longstanding efforts to conserve the Dolores River Canyon Country in Mesa and Montrose counties. Coloradans should not have to wait another year, another decade, or another five decades for Congress to act.” ###

Grand Junction, CO - Today, the Bureau of Land Management released its final plan for how it will manage two million acres of public lands in western Colorado covered by its Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction Field Offices. The plan culminates a decades-long planning process and multiple legal challenges that directed BLM to analyze the climate impacts of new oil and gas leasing and protect other public lands values such as wildlife habitat, recreation, and wilderness. The BLM’s proposed plan uses various existing tools, including additional protections to more than 50,000 acres of wilderness quality lands. The plan also includes the designation of two additional Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), a step back from the draft version which considered conservation protections for many more ACECs, and opens approximately 860,000 acres of the land to fossil fuel development, which signifies 30% more lands open to leasing than the preferred alternative from the previous version. The Conservation Lands Foundation’s mission is to protect public lands managed by the BLM and the following is a statement from Ben Katz, Colorado-based Associate Program Director at Conservation Lands Foundation: “This plan is a good example of how BLM can protect critical landscapes across public lands. We appreciate the BLM for finalizing a plan that protects some of Colorado’s most important wildlife habitat, critical water resources, and Indigenous cultural sites through new and expanded conservation designations, though emphasizing fossil fuel development across the landscape when more action on climate is necessary misses the mark.” ####

Durango, CO - Earlier this week, litigation was filed attempting to undermine the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Public Lands Rule. The states of Utah and Wyoming filed litigation in federal district court in Utah attempting to send the BLM's new rule putting conservation on equal footing with extractive uses like oil and grass drilling and mining back to the drawing board. The Public Lands Rule, brings balance to the management of our public lands and waters in the U.S., and garnered overwhelming support from the public during the Bureau of Land Management’s robust public comment process: 92% of public comments submitted were in support of BLM’s new direction. Statement from Jocelyn Torres, Interim Co-Executive Director at Conservation Lands Foundation: “The Conservation Lands Foundation is disappointed, though not surprised, by the lawsuits from Utah and Wyoming and their misguided attack on our nation’s public lands. The Public Lands Rule has broad support nationwide and throughout western states as it elevates conservation, recreation, and wildlife to be on par with extractive uses at a crucial time in our fight to prevent further climate and biodiversity crises. As families are embarking on summer outdoor adventures visiting public lands and creating lasting memories, it is terrible that those same public lands are under attack. CLF remains steadfast in its commitment to support and defend the Public Lands Rule, ensuring the preservation of our nation’s public lands and all the benefits they provide for our current and future generations." ####

Humboldt, CA - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its final plan on June 21, for how it will steward 382,000 acres of public lands in northwestern California. The long anticipated plan updates management direction for public lands in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama and Butte counties. These plans were last updated in the early 1990s. A diverse coalition of local advocates have been involved in the process for several years – BLM's draft environmental review began in 2016 and was put on hold until 2021– and praise the plan for increasing climate resiliency of the landscape and addressing wildfire threats in some of the state’s most prized forest lands and waterways. Statement from Jora Fogg, California Associate Program Director at Conservation Lands Foundation “Expanses of mountains, lush river valleys, rugged coastline, complex forest ecosystems and working ranchlands all require new innovative approaches to management especially in the face of the state’s climate crisis. This plan is years in the making and we’re thrilled to see the BLM carry out a planning process with meaningful local input and collaboration. “This historic plan recognizes the value of restoring and conserving our public lands while ensuring the public’s much needed access to nature. Public lands in northwest California are some of the most iconic in the state and BLM deserves a lot of credit for their vision to help keep them that way for future generations” said Jora Fogg, California Associate Program Director at Conservation Lands Foundation. Show your support at: Thank you BLM CA! ####

Coachella, CA - In a community meeting held today by the Department of the Interior in Riverside County, CA, staff from the Conservation Lands Foundation demonstrated support for designating the Chuckwalla landscape near Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California a national monument. “The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument has gained widespread support because Tribal leadership and dedicated local advocates have effectively shown the many benefits to people and nature for protecting this essential public landscape,” said Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “The California Desert Conservation Lands of Riverside and Imperial Counties are the ancestral homelands of many Indigenous Tribes, essential to enhancing equitable access and recreational opportunities for local communities, and are incredibly rich in biodiversity and species that would benefit from the protection, including Chuckwalla lizards, desert tortoises, bighorn sheep, Sonoran pronghorns and migratory birds. “It’s also scientifically recognized as part of a significant carbon sink – important for slowing down climate change – and we urge the President to act quickly to designate Chuckwalla National Monument and protect this unique climate and biological community in the California Desert,” said Overby. Show your support at: Chuckwalla National Monument. ####

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS NEVADA SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO FOR REINTRODUCING THE SOUTHERN NEVADA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION ACT Las Vegas, N.V. - On June 5, 2024, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto re-introduced the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act , a bill that protects nearly two million acres of public lands in Southern Nevada. The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds the re-introduction of the largest public land conservation legislation in the history of Nevada. “Conserving America’s public lands is a key strategy to ensure the future for wildlife and the health of our communities and address the climate, biodiversity and public health crises. The Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act will play a critical role in safeguarding Nevada’s future by permanently protecting areas within the Desert National Wildlife Refuge as Wilderness and expanding protections for Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Areas. We thank Senator Cortez Masto for striking the right balance and advancing conservation priorities for the region and the nation,” said Jocelyn Torres, Interim Co-Executive Director at the Conservation Lands Foundation. “The legislation would add to Senator Cortez Masto’s already strong conservation record, which includes securing designations for Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, Pistone-Black Mountain and Numunaa Nobe National Conservation Areas, and several Wilderness areas,” said Torres. ####