Latest News - Conservation Lands Foundation

Unprecedented Alliance Highlights Need for Real Affordable Housing Solutions Without Sacrificing Public Lands

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:22:28 GMT

Leaders of the Affordable Housing and Public Lands Community unveil “Shared Ground” affirming that protecting public lands and expanding affordable housing are complementary, not competing, priorities.

Washington, D.C. — Leaders from the affordable housing and public lands communities today unveiled a joint principles framework rejecting the fallacy that selling off America’s public lands is a solution to the housing affordability crisis, while highlighting the need for real, equitable housing solutions.

Shared Ground: Aligning Affordable Housing & Public Lands Priorities is a policy framework endorsed by a broad coalition of national, regional, and local organizations. The effort underscores that protecting public lands and expanding access to affordable housing are complementary, not competing priorities. Shared Ground brings together leaders from both communities to advance real solutions, reject false tradeoffs, and promote policies that engage local communities and support strong, livable communities nationwide.

This partnership comes amid escalating pressures on both issues, including continued underinvestment in federal housing programs, increasing proposals to sell or transfer public lands without public benefit, and growing bipartisan frustration with ineffective, politically driven solutions.

The joint framework outlines key principles to guide policy decisions:

Rejecting mass public land selloffs as a housing solution
Prioritizing proven strategies, including increased funding, zoning reform, and community-based development
Ensuring any use of public land for housing is limited, targeted, and includes enforceable affordability requirements
Protecting public lands as shared resources that support recreation, local economies, and community well-being

The principles are endorsed by a diverse coalition of housing advocates, conservation groups, and community-based organizations nationwide—reflecting the shared stakes and urgency of this issue.

Learn more about Shared Ground and read the principles here .

Quotes from participating organizations below:

"The housing crisis demands urgent, evidence-based action, not the short-sighted liquidation of the country’s remaining natural and wild landscapes. This framework looks beyond political ideologies and prioritizes proven strategies to ensure that any use of public land is strictly targeted, limited, and bound by enforceable affordability requirements. It recognizes the reality that most of these public lands lack the infrastructure and accessibility required for viable development, and their true value lies in the clean water, recreation, and economic stability they provide to our communities.” – Chris Hill , CEO, Conservation Lands Foundation

"Protecting our public lands and ensuring every American has a safe, affordable place to call home are complementary goals. We must reject the false choice between conservation and housing. Any use of public land must come with legally enforceable requirements to ensure it serves the public interest, providing permanent affordability and equitable access for local communities." - Donald Whitehead, Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless

“Americans love public lands and the freedom they provide to hunt, fish and hike—and we want them to stay as they are, public and accessible, for future generations. Backed by more than 60 organizations, these principles reject the false choice the administration is trying to force between protecting these places and addressing the housing crisis. Americans deserve real solutions on both.” - Tracy Stone-Manning, President, The Wilderness Society

“National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) research finds a gap between wages and rental housing costs in the U.S. Affordable rental homes are out of reach for millions of low-wage workers, seniors, families, and other renters. Governments often turn to public lands to build affordable housing in an effort to safely house residents amid shortages. These efforts are viable but must align with responsible public lands stewardship. NLIHC joins our partners in environmental and conservation spaces in opposing the mass sell-off of federal land without key guardrails or affordability requirements. Many proven solutions exist to increase housing affordability without sacrificing public lands, including preserving existing affordable housing. We encourage policymakers to adopt balanced solutions to the affordable housing crisis that advance long-term affordability and protect irreplaceable natural and cultural resources while safeguarding America’s public lands." - Renee M. Willis, President and CEO, NLIHC

"Land is necessary to the development of affordable housing and local governments should look to well-located surplus lands as a resource for building housing. However, preserving public land for conservation and recreation is a critical priority for our country. Current federal proposals to sell off public land are thinly veiled attempts to line the pockets of politicians' friends and to undermine public parks, public forests and other public lands. The National Housing Law Project is pleased to release this framework that advances our shared interests in preserving public lands and making housing more affordable." - Shamus Roller, Chief Executive Officer, National Housing Law Project

“Veterans and military families understand that strong communities require both stable housing and protected public lands. We have seen how these resources support local economies, create jobs, and improve quality of life for the people who live there. We can and should pursue practical solutions that expand housing while keeping public lands in public hands.” - Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice Foundation

“A powerful model during a particularly challenging time – public interest advocates from different sectors coming together to both affirm our shared values and to commit to finding ways to mutually support real solutions to expand affordable housing and to preserve the American birthright of public lands ownership. We stand together to reject the transparent attempt by cynical politicians in DC to divide us through false choices.”- Mark Allison, Executive Director, New Mexico Wild and former Chair of the Board, National Low Income Housing Coalition

“Solving one crisis doesn’t mean creating another. The national housing crisis should not be used as a stalking horse to sell off our public lands to private developers and industry. Our communities thrive when they have both abundant housing and abundant access to the nature that unites us. Sierra Club supports the common-sense policies that increase our country’s supply of affordable housing while preserving the public lands that are our true common ground.” - Dan Ritzman, Conservation Campaign Director, Sierra Club

"People across the country have stood up time and time again to reject the sell-off of our public lands and the notion that they are simply a corporate asset on a balance sheet. Our public lands are our shared inheritance and our legacy. They are vital to sustaining our local economies, wildlife, and communities. Anyone suggesting we must sacrifice them to solve the housing crisis is offering a false choice. We need real, community-based housing solutions, and we need to keep public lands in public hands."- Brien Webster, Senior Public Lands Campaign Manager, Conservation Colorado

“The affordable housing crisis is serious but placing the blame on public lands will not solve it. Instead of focusing on actual solutions, shortsighted politicians keep pushing public lands sell off under the guise of affordable housing as they simultaneously cut effective and proven housing programs. There’s no need for a false choice: we can keep and protect public lands while also investing in creative housing solutions.” Neal Clark, Wildlands Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

"Large-scale sell-off of public land is not the solution to the affordable housing crisis. In Wyoming, public lands strengthen our communities and are part of our way of life. We stand behind the idea that protecting public lands and addressing the affordability crisis need to be simultaneously prioritized by those in our nation's leadership." - Gabrielle Yates, Public Lands Program Manager, Wyoming Outdoor Council

“Our public lands are a part of our nation’s shared resources—offering unmatched opportunities to enjoy outdoor experiences, protect natural ecosystems, and bring tourism revenue to our towns. This administration and its industry allies are attempting to create a false choice between our spectacular public lands and affordable housing. SELC is proud to join in this broad coalition of organizations that reject the idea of an unnecessary conflict between those values and to stand in solidarity with both public lands protection and common sense housing reforms." - Alyson R. Merlin, Staff Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center

“Addressing the real need for affordable housing in our communities and opposing ongoing efforts to sell off our federal public lands are both issues with broad and bipartisan support,” said Tom Uniack, Executive Director for Washington Wild. “Advocates for both of these important issues have found common ground that solutions for both can be achieved but not at the expense of the other.”

“Our nation’s public lands are largely remote, far from any infrastructure, often steep, and if human encroachment occurs in them, they are highly susceptible to fire. Rather than proposing housing which would inevitably be expensive and risky in the Wildland/Urban Interface, the principles we adopt here will lead to real affordable housing in the places where it belongs. The highest and best use of our public lands is as wildlife habitat, places for recreation and cultural experience, and as the engines that create clean water and air for all of us.”— Mark Green, Executive Director, CalWild.

“Our national public lands belong to all Americans, providing opportunities for recreation, preserving wildlife habitat, supplying clean water, and more. While affordable housing is a critical need, selling off our common heritage is not the answer. Cities and states need to look to infill development and appropriate local lands. Furthermore, simply increasing the housing supply is not enough; strategies must be employed to ensure that the housing built is actually affordable. There is no need to sacrifice our public lands to do this.” —Michael J. Painter, Coordinator, Californians for Western Wilderness

“Over 95% of Idahoans want public lands to stay in public hands. Proposals to sell off large tracts of public lands don’t meet affordable housing needs or public desires to protect open space. By encouraging infill and by building up – and not out – we are protecting the trailheads and trail systems that make Idaho communities great places to raise families. We are also creating opportunities for our kids and future generations to stay in Idaho and enjoy the same quality of life we do today.” – John Robison, Public Lands and Wildlife Director, Idaho Conservation League

“While access to affordable housing should be one of the highest priorities in the US, it does not need to come at the cost of despoiling public lands. We can balance the need to provide housing without causing irreparable harm to the environment for future generations.” - Michelle Taylor, Vice President of Social Health Services, Community Care Alliance

Government agencies at the federal, state and local level often own land within urban boundaries. These properties can and should be considered for affordable housing, if not serving other needed functions. Urban properties usually have needed infrastructure like roads and utilities, and accessibility to community services such as jobs, schools, shopping and health care for future residents. However, public lands outside of urban areas should be preserved for wildlife, recreation, domestic drinking water resources, and climate mitigation. – Darlene Chirman, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Cascade Volcanoes Chapter

April FGN Call: Sustainable Stewardship: Building Impactful Agency Relationships

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:40:56 GMT

Our presenter, Davina Smith-Idjesa, Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, provides her lived-experience perspective on how nonprofit organizations can engage with Tribal Nations in respectful, ethical, and effective ways.

Drawing from her work across the Four Corners region and her role navigating both Tribal and nonprofit spaces, this webinar will explore best practices for Tribal engagement, the importance of working at Tribal pace, and the responsibilities NGOs carry when engaging sovereign governments. Participants will gain practical insights into relationship-building, honoring cultural protocols, and supporting Indigenous-led stewardship of culturally significant landscapes, particularly in large, landscape-scale conservation efforts.

Davina Smith-Idjesa is a member of the Navajo Nation, originally from Monument Valley, Utah. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, appointed by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren to represent Navajo Nation perspectives. She belongs to the Ta’chii’nii (Red Running into the Water) clan and was born to the Ta’baa’ha’ (Edgewater) clan. As CEO of Haseya Native Initiatives, Davina provides culturally grounded consulting that centers Indigenous leadership, community empowerment, and landscape-scale protection across the Southwest.

Recorded April 21, 2026

February FGN Call: Sustainable Stewardship: Building Impactful Agency Relationships

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:36:23 GMT

Join us for a round-table webinar dedicated to building resilient, long-term partnerships between Friends groups and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Jora Fogg, CLF’s California Associate Program Director, will lead the conversation as we navigate the ever-changing world of federal land management strategy. Jora will provide best practices to stay mission-aligned with your agency partners. We will explore how to achieve sustainable stewardship that persists through local leadership and administration transitions, policy shifts, and other commonly occurring issues.

CLF’s Associate Director of Digital Advocacy, Liz Crandall, will join our roundtable to provide insight from the agency side, drawing from her nine years with the Forest Service. We will also hear from Friends Network organizations on how they built trust and stability with their communities and agency partners. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom. This video was recorded on November 18, 2025.

Conservation Lands Foundation and the Friends Grassroots Network Respond to Administration's Proposed Interior Budget

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:27:02 GMT

President Donald Trump released his Fiscal Year 2027 federal budget request on Friday, April 3, 2026 that included a 12.3% cut to the Department of Interior.

In anticipation of the administration’s proposed gutting of the DOI, the Conservation Lands Foundation sent a letter yesterday to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee signed by 131 organizations - including 69 Friends Grassroots Network organizations - urging Congress to fund the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Management of Lands and Resources account to at least a funding level of $1.395 billion, as well as at least $78 million for the National Conservation Lands, in the FY2027 appropriations bill.

“Robust investment in the Bureau of Land Management is not just a conservation priority; it is an economic necessity for rural America and a cornerstone of U.S. energy dominance.”

Revoking Chaco Canyon Protections Ignores Pueblos, Tribes, and the Public

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:56:01 GMT

The Department of the Interior’s Proposal Provides Only 7 Days to Weigh-In

(Santa Fe, NM) — Yesterday, the Trump administration began a 7-day Public Scoping period as part of its proposal to open public lands in the Greater Chaco Region to oil and gas drilling. On October 30, 2025, the administration began the process by initiating Tribal consultation on its proposal to reverse Public Land Order 7923. The Public Land Order withdrew and put 336,400 acres surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park off limits to unchecked extractive development for 20 years. If the Interior Department (DOI) moves forward with its proposal, new oil and gas leasing and development on federal lands will be allowed within 10 miles of the park’s boundaries – even on lands directly bordering the park – threatening the irreplaceable cultural resources throughout the landscape.

The Greater Chaco Landscape includes Chaco Culture National Historical Park and thousands of archaeological and cultural sites , including great houses, roads, and shrines constructed by the ancestral peoples of today’s Pueblos and the Hopi Tribe, as well as sites of continuing significance to the Navajo Nation and other Indigenous Nations. Chaco Canyon flourished as a major cultural and ceremonial center between 850 and 1250 A.D., and its legacy remains central to the cultural identity, traditions, and ongoing practices of Indigenous peoples in the region. Chaco Canyon has also been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because the culture and heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest are inextricably linked to the ongoing protection of the Greater Chaco Landscape.

The DOI is rushing to overturn protections and is giving the public only 7 days to weigh in. This hasty and deficient process stands in stark contrast to the robust public process used to create the withdrawal, which included 150 days for public comment, 8 public meetings, and 1.5 years of careful consideration. In addition to DOI’s “preferred alternative,” which would remove protections all together, the DOI has also proposed a second alternative that would reduce the size of the buffer around the park to only 5 miles. Although only 15-20 percent of the area has been surveyed, archaeologists estimate that as many as 12,000 cultural sites and traditional cultural places lie within the 5-10-mile zone, all of which would be exposed to harmful drilling under this second option.

With nearly 90% of the region already leased before protections were put in place, intensive drilling has caused significant harm to the health of local and Indigenous communities, air quality, and cultural integrity in the landscape surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Oil and gas wells, roads, pipelines, and other infrastructure have destroyed significant cultural sites and transformed others into industrial wastelands . To allow more drilling in this area would completely disregard the calls from Tribes, including the 20 sovereign Pueblos that collectively participate in the All Pueblo Council of Governors , the National Congress of American Indians , the Mescalero Apache Tribe , elected officials , and other communities who share a deep connection to Chaco Canyon.

Without this critical safeguard in place, the landscape is at great risk of being further degraded. The Greater Chaco region has already suffered from significant damage to air, water, and public health due to oil and gas extraction, and unrestrained oil and gas development will jeopardize the longevity of invaluable traditions and cultures.

This proposal is part of a much larger effort by the administration and DOI leadership to turn over public lands, including places with exceptional conservation and cultural values like the Greater Chaco Landscape, to the oil and gas industry. Already, the July 2025 federal budget reconciliation bill required the Bureau of Land Management to offer a staggering 87% of New Mexico’s public and private lands with federally managed subsurface minerals for oil and gas leasing several times each year. This administration is seeking to elevate oil and gas above all other uses of public lands, even in areas with irreplaceable values like Chaco Canyon and where there is widespread opposition from local communities. A Colorado College poll released this year found that 71% of voters in New Mexico oppose allowing energy development on public lands near Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

Below, several coalition members have released statements detailing what this reversal could mean for the Greater Chaco Area:

“This proposal is a step backwards into a history we have fought hard to move beyond,” said Keegan King, Executive Director, Native Land Institute. “The Greater Chaco Landscape holds the origins of our Pueblo world, and it has already endured serious damage from decades of unchecked development. To strip away protections now, against the clear opposition of Tribal Nations, shows a disregard for our sovereignty, our health, and our future. The Native Land Institute stands with the Pueblos and all Tribal Nations in demanding that the federal government honor its trust responsibility and keep this landscape protected.”

“We are appalled that Secretary Burgum is moving to revoke the mineral withdrawal and put Chaco’s 10-mile zone of protection and the Greater Chaco Landscape at risk. The amazing cultural heritage of Chaco Culture National Historical Park must not be compromised. If the process moves forward, a 7-day comment period is ridiculously short and not compliant with established practice. This process should unfold with a 90-day NEPA process and public meetings, allowing the public to fully participate,” said Paul F. Reed, New Mexico State Director, Archaeology Southwest.

"The Chaco Culture National Historical Park represents a significant part of the cultural history of this continent and must continue to be preserved and protected,” declared Charlotte Overby, New Mexico-based Vice President of Conservation Field Programs at the Conservation Lands Foundation . “The administration’s attempt to short-circuit federal law with a reduced public comment period represents a significant betrayal of the promise of America: we must honor and defend significant historical sites like Chaco Canyon, defend Tribal sovereignty, and not sell public lands off to the highest bidder for oil and gas drilling that will endanger the remarkable evidence of an important native culture that thrived there. Defiling Chaco Canyon in this way will send a signal that nothing in this country is precious and everything is worth only what it can be sold for, and it will deprive all people from learning the stories of the Native people who have lived here since time immemorial.”

“This decision sends a dangerous message that no place, not even one that holds a thousand years of history, is too important to sacrifice for oil and gas drilling,” said Maude Dinan, New Mexico Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. “Chaco Canyon is one of the most extraordinary cultural landscapes in our national parks system and has endured as a place of community and connection that continues to hold profound meaning for Tribes today. Now, the Trump administration is auctioning it off to the oil and gas industry, trading sacred and scenic vistas for pumpjacks and the drum of drilling. This is not about energy strategy. It’s an attack on cultural heritage, community health, and all that our national parks were created to protect.”

“Rolling back protections for the Greater Chaco Region would be a grave injustice and a violation of the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribal Nations,” said Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director at The Wilderness Society. “This landscape deserves lasting protection, not just for its significant cultural importance, but for the living cultures, communities and future generations that depend on it.”

“The proposed reversal of the Greater Chaco withdrawal demonstrates deep disrespect for this irreplaceable cultural landscape and the people who advocated for its protection through a robust Tribal consultation and stakeholder engagement process,” said Sally Paez, Staff Attorney for New Mexico Wild . “We are outraged that this administration is prioritizing short-term profits and oil and gas drilling over the long-term stewardship of a World Heritage Site for current and future generations. This decision will harm our shared cultural heritage, public health, climate, wildlands, wildlife habitat, and Chaco’s famous dark skies.”

“ Opening up the Greater Chaco Region to reckless oil and gas drilling means an irreplaceable crown jewel of New Mexico public lands – home to thousands of archaeological and cultural sites of deep importance – will be at needless risk of destruction. This misguided decision means that all sorts of oil and gas wells, pipelines and infrastructure will degrade these sacred lands, pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink – jeopardizing public health, wildlife, and the longevity of traditions and cultures that are inextricably linked to this region, ” said Jesse Deubel, Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.

“Removing the buffer zone protecting public lands in and around Chaco Canyon invites dangerous pollution to a place sacred to Indigenous peoples and local communities, and valued worldwide. With over 90 percent of nearby public lands already leased for drilling, it’s unacceptable for this Interior Department to turn a UNESCO World Heritage Site into a sacrifice zone,” said Gabrielle Uballez, Executive Director at New Mexico Voices for Children.

“Chaco Cultural National Historical Park has incalculable ecological and historical value. It is too special to be exposed to oil and gas drilling. The park is one of the last sanctuaries for desert animals seeking respite from surrounding drilling and human interference,” said Ellen Montgomery, Great Outdoors Campaign Director for Environment New Mexico. “Protecting this special place has overwhelming public support in New Mexico and across the country. The protections enacted in 2023 should be left in place.”

###

Utah Voices Take Grand Staircase Fight to Capitol Hill

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:04:58 GMT

When small-town business owners from southern Utah walk the halls of Congress, they bring the heart of the desert with them!

Last month, the Conservation Lands Foundation joined the Grand Staircase Intertribal Coalition consisting of members of Diné, Navajo, Hopi, and Paiute Nations; Friends Grassroots Network partners the Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners and the Grand Staircase Regional Guide Association; the Grand Canyon Trust; and Utah business owners in traveling to Washington D.C. for a powerful advocacy fly-in organized by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

More on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Normally folks who get to travel to our nation’s Capitol are exploring the various historical sights and enjoying a leisurely visit. This time, however, we were there to advocate for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is currently facing a new and unprecedented threat.

Utah Representative Celeste Maloy and Senator Mike Lee have introduced a joint resolution to gut the current monument management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which guides everything from the protection of sacred landscapes to the location of new campgrounds.

The monument’s current management plan is the product of a collaborative planning process shaped by Tribal Nations, community input, scientific research, and coordination with local outfitters and guides. Now Utah politicians want to abuse an obscure law known as the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to not only overturn the monument management plan, but to prohibit the BLM from implementing any future “substantially similar” plan.

If this resolution passes Congress and is signed into law, it wipes out the stable “rules of the road” that communities and stakeholders rely on, and replaces long-term management with uncertainty, conflict, and instability for everyone.

The Latest Threat to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

What Is the Congressional Review Act and Why Does It Matter?

Enacted in 1996, the CRA is an oversight tool Congress can utilize to overturn certain federal agency actions by issuing and passing resolutions of disapproval. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President, then the rule being challenged can no longer continue and the agency is prohibited from replicating or promulgating a similar rule in the future, ever.

If Congress approves the joint resolution to overturn the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument management plan, it will create widespread legal uncertainty and undermine the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to manage the cultural, ecological, and outdoor recreational resources found within the monument. Even worse, by overturning the management plan in this way, it bars the agency from issuing a new land-use plan that’s “substantially similar” to the one overturned.

Bipartisan Delegation Fights for Grand Staircase

During the fly-in, Conservation Lands Foundation’s Vice President of Government Affairs David Feinman and Digital Advocacy Associate Director Liz Crandall joined our Friends Grassroots Network partners and local business owners in meetings with federal decision makers. Our delegation included:

Nathan Waggoner from Escalante Outfitters in Escalate, UT.
Mel Raider from Willow Canyon Outdoor in Kanab, UT.
Brandie Hardman from Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch in Boulder, UT.
Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Grant from Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners of Kanab and Escalante, UT.
Blake Spalding from Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm of Boulder, UT.
Eric Swafford from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary of Kanab, UT.

These determined individuals represent so much more than just their physical locations. Among them is an outfitter guide, a hospitality ranch owner, a chef and owner of a beloved award-winning restaurant, a small gear store and coffee shop owner, a representative of the region’s largest employer, and a conservation organization laser-focused on protecting Grand Staircase.

Each fly-in participant shared their story from lived experiences. They spoke about seasonal traffic patterns, visitor spending, job creation, stability for rural communities, and the importance of clear, reliable management. During their meetings with members of Congress, these motivated and inspirational business owners emphasized the importance and need for the current 2025 Monument Management Plan to stay in place not just for the sake of protecting their livelihoods, but also for future generations.

Setting a Dangerous Precedent

Congress has weaponized the CRA to overturn public lands management plans and decisions across tens of millions of acres– from Alaska to Montana and Wyoming– upending the long-standing rules for public lands management. And now Congress is raising the stakes even further, using the CRA to attack some of America’s most iconic landscapes: the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah. This is an unprecedented escalation and sets a dangerous precedent for the future of America’s public lands.

This advocacy fly-in was organized by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance with support from the Conservation Lands Foundation. But the true stars of this trip were the members of the Intertribal Coalition, the local business owners, and our Friends Grassroots Network partners who traveled so far to share their personal stories with members of Congress in defense of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Take action to defend Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by clicking below!

Court Allows Organizations to Intervene In Lawsuit to Defend Chuckwalla National Monument

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:50:12 GMT

Conservation, education, veteran, and recreation groups fight to protect critical Southern California public lands in Chuckwalla National Monument

Indio, CA – On Tuesday, a District Court judge approved nine organizations’ request to intervene in a lawsuit to defend California’s Chuckwalla National Monument. These groups range from Coachella Valley-based, to state-wide and national groups, and all have interests and expertise in the monument’s designation and protection. Tribal Nations including the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and three other Tribal Nations have also joined as parties to the case.

The lawsuit seeks to undo the designation of the monument, established in January 2025. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by an Idaho-based motorized recreation special interest group, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and an individual miner from Michigan, against the U.S. Department of Interior. These plaintiffs are represented by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Mountain States Legal Foundation. The monument is located on desert lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in California’s Riverside and Imperial Counties.

The organizations intervening spent years carefully vetting boundaries and collaborating with a broad coalition to identify and document Chuckwalla’s unique tribal resources and values worthy of monument-level protections. The monument benefits local economies, protects lands significant to 13 Tribal Nations, ensures equitable access and outdoor recreation (including camping, picnicking, driving off-highway vehicles, hunting and more) and safeguards numerous historical, scientific, and ecological values. The monument designation was called for and celebrated by local Tribes, local and state governments, state and federal elected officials, veterans, 300+ businesses, business groups and Chambers of Commerce, 370+ scientists and residents of surrounding communities.

Democrats and Republicans have used the Antiquities Act to designate monuments for more than 100 years. The Supreme Court, a century ago and other courts in the decades since, have consistently upheld the president’s authority to determine whether and how much area to protect. Lands protected as National Monuments have included important stretches of public lands in California like Joshua Tree and Death Valley, which were designated as National Monuments in the 1930s by presidential proclamation.

The intervening organizations include CactusToCloud Institute, California Native Plant Society, CalWild, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Lands Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Vet Voice Foundation, and The Wilderness Society. They are represented by Earthjustice and the Law Offices of Joseph Lavigne.

CLIENT QUOTES

“People of all political affiliations love America’s national monuments and the public access they provide. Chuckwalla National Monument protects some of southern California’s most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes as part of the National Conservation Lands system,” said Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Field Conservation Programs for the Conservation Lands Foundation . “Chuckwalla National Monument earned widespread support during its designation process through years of Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration, and advocacy from local communities, local businesses and elected officials. Any attempts to dismantle Chuckwalla’s monument designation would undermine public access, Indigenous cultural connections, vital wildlife habitats and local economies. We remain committed to defending this treasured landscape."

“Chuckwalla National Monument is more than just land to me—it's a part of my personal story,” said Colin Barrows, CoFounder of CactusToCloud Institute . “I grew up exploring the winding Painted Canyon on foot, and continue to find new adventures driving along the network of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails on the Chuckwalla Bench. It has become a sanctuary where I have found solitude, shared special moments with my wife, and introduced countless others to the unique beauty of our desert. This monument is a living classroom for geology, rare plants, and climate change, and a vital, sustainable economic driver for the Coachella Valley. Its designation ensures that everyone, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity, can experience the exceptional beauty and rich culture of our desert.”

“Chuckwalla National Monument protects species and habitats that sustain our desert ecosystems, including nearly 60 rare plant species, microphyll woodlands that support migratory birds, and California's only native palm,” said Dr. Jun Bando, executive director of the California Native Plant Society . “The monument’s creation honors the values and beliefs of the region's people–the California Native American Tribes and local communities whose lives are directly connected to this land. It is a sacred landscape vital to ecological integrity, economic prosperity, and recreational access. Special interests from outside the state must not be allowed to override the history and needs of those who are sustained by the land and are stewarding it for future generations.”

“Chuckwalla National Monument is the result of years of collaboration among Tribal nations, diverse communities, and elected leaders—using a century-old presidential tool to protect America’s most cherished landscapes. Its wide, sandy washes and unfragmented desert valleys form critical wildlife corridors for species like the desert tortoise and bighorn sheep to move, adapt, and survive. These same lands offer Californians a treasured chance to connect with nature, observe wildlife, and experience the quiet beauty of the California desert. Any attempt to undo these protections would be a betrayal of the public trust and bipartisan voices that made the monument possible.” – Mark Green, Executive Director, CalWild

"Chuckwalla National Monument is a critical lifeline for some of the Mojave Desert's most at-risk creatures, and we have to protect it from reckless attacks," said Lisa Belenky, Senior Counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. "It's home to the genetically unique southernmost population of the Mojave Desert tortoise and more than a dozen bat species. It's also been identified as the best site to reintroduce the beleaguered Sonoran Desert pronghorn. We worked hard in support of this monument’s designation, and we'll fight like hell to ensure it remains protected.”

“Chuckwalla National Monument is beloved, broadly supported across the political spectrum, and fundamental to our shared history,” said Chance Wilcox, California Desert program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) . “I’ve seen firsthand how important these protected landscapes are for our communities, our health, and our local economies. For decades, Chuckwalla has been recognized and planned for conservation efforts in the greater Joshua Tree region, and it’s easy to see why. We must defend it fiercely, ensuring that future generations can connect with and cherish this extraordinary landscape.”

“Sierra Club’s mission is to preserve outdoor access for all. For years, our local San Gorgonio Chapter and our members have advocated for Chuckwalla to be designated as a National Monument, and we are proud to continue to protect this sacred and special place,” said Joan Taylor, Chair of the Sierra Club’s California/Nevada Desert Committee. “Chuckwalla contains critical wildlife habitats, Indigenous cultural significance, access to nature, and numerous historical sites that should be preserved for generations to come.”

“California veterans spent years advocating for the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument not just because of its breathtaking landscapes, but because it tells the story of our service. From the World War II training grounds scattered across the desert to its proximity to active duty bases, Chuckwalla is a place where military families can reconnect with each other, with the land, and with their sense of purpose. Veterans have a long history of protecting America’s public lands, going all the way back to Teddy Roosevelt, who was both a soldier and an outdoorsman. This monument continues that legacy of service, stewardship, and healing.”
— Janessa Goldbeck, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation

“The lands within Chuckwalla National Monument are the ancestral homelands of several Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples, and they safeguard a wealth of sacred and cultural sites and rare and culturally important plants and wildlife,” said Helen O’Shea, California state director for The Wilderness Society. “These lands are part of our shared American heritage and must be protected so future generations can experience the freedom they provide. We will keep standing up for Chuckwalla and defend the monument against special interests seeking to take it away.”

###

Header Photo: Chuckwalla National Monument, CA by Bob Wick

Utah Congressmembers Open Attack on National Monument Protections Starting with Grand Staircase-Escalante in Southern Utah and Local Communities and Businesses Outraged

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:57:14 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 4, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

Kanab, UT / Washington, D.C. — In a dangerous first for America’s national monuments, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) today introduced joint resolutions to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The resolutions would effectively put Congress in charge of how the national monument in southern Utah will be managed, opening the door for other national monuments and public lands to have their management similarly undermined.

The resolution seeks to use an obscure law, the Congressional Review Act, in a novel way to overturn a national monument management plan. If both chambers of Congress pass the legislation, called a “resolution of disapproval,” by simple majority votes, the monument management plan will be eliminated and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future.

This action also threatens the integrity of national monuments and public land protections across the country. Reaction from national monument and local business advocates below:

Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a nonpartisan, national network of community advocates solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management: “Grandstanding on the back of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to appease a select few who want to kick the public out of public lands willingly ignores local communities, business owners, and Tribes who support and rely on the balanced management of national monuments. It also ignores the overwhelming majority of voters in Utah and across western states who want Congress members to protect these places. It’s a Congressional power grab of the country’s national monuments and public lands, plain and simple, and Americans of all political identities will fight like hell to stop it.”

Jackie Grant, Executive Director of the Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, which is the local nonprofit that helps steward the national monument through science, conservation, and education: “Using the Congressional Review Act as a tool to amend land management plans eliminates the public’s voice and is a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. It sets off a domino effect of chaos across all of our public lands. There was plenty of opportunity for many hundreds and thousands of voices to be heard—from the local level all the way up to the national level. As a local organization, we will continue to stand with our neighbors, Tribes, educators, and conservation partners to protect this landscape and ensure it is managed for future generations.”

Nate Waggoner, Escalante, Utah resident and Board Chair at the Grand Staircase Regional Guides Association, which represents a regional network of outdoor guides who rely on the national monument for their local businesses: “We’ve been operating our business here for 22 years, we’ve made long-term investments in our community. Having our land use plans destroyed or taken away by the Congressional Review Act throws all of those investments into chaos. We need those long-term permits so we can continue to make long-term financial investments in our communities. This sets a horrible precedent for the future for all of the public lands we live, love, and operate on.”

Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney, Advocates for the West: “Congress is effectively playing legislative Russian roulette with a gun pointed to the head of America’s public lands. They’re breaking the system of public lands management wholeheartedly. This isn’t just about the southeast corner of Utah, it potentially impacts every inch of public lands. It impacts your favorite watering hole, your favorite fishing hole… where you walk your dog, where you take your kids hiking. There’s not an inch of public lands that is safe.”

###

Background:

The Resource Management Plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was developed over years of public engagement, Tribal consultation, and scientific review to guide multiple-use and responsible management of one of the nation’s most significant cultural and natural landscapes . While the monument remains protected under Presidential Proclamation 10286 , which carries the full force of law, the Congressional maneuver injects uncertainty into monument stewardship and local economies that depend on outdoor recreation, and undermines the public process that has long governed how these treasured public lands are managed.

More About Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument:

PUBLIC LANDS ALERT: Anti-Public Lands Nominee to Lead Agency Responsible for Largest Amount of Public Lands Advances to Final Senate Vote

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:45:25 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 4, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

HAINES, AK / WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today’s approval by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee of Steve Pearce to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management brings his nomination to the next and final vote in the full Senate, and with that, strong reaction from the Conservation Lands Foundation.

“The country deserves a BLM leader who not only understands the full scope of the agency’s charter to manage public lands for multiple uses but also believes in his heart, and in practice, that conservation must be on equal footing with all the other uses of the lands,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a nonpartisan, national network of community advocates solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.

“Simply put, he’s not the right person for this job. The Director of the BLM is tasked to be a neutral arbiter of our shared resources and Mr. Pearce’s recent testimony as well as his record in Congress supporting the sell off of America's public lands, his conflicts of interest with the oil and gas industry, and his efforts to reduce national monuments, demonstrate that he is the wrong candidate to lead this complex multiple-use agency.

“Selling off, limiting the public’s access to, and eliminating protections of our public lands is wildly unpopular with the public, and we’ll be harnessing this passion to hold Mr. Pearce and senators who support his nomination accountable to the majority of people who live, work, and recreate on these lands and want them to remain healthy and accessible,” said Hill.

About the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

The BLM manages one in every 10 acres of land in the United States and approximately 30 percent of the nation’s minerals. These lands are managed for a variety of uses, including energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting, while also ensuring the conservation of the country’s remaining natural, historical, and cultural resources.

####

Federal Court Halts Construction of Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:26:43 GMT

Decision Pumps Brakes on UDOT’s Rush to Break Ground, which would threaten the Mojave Desert Tortoise

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

WASHINGTON, DC – Sunday evening, the U.S. District Court granted a motion by conservation organizations to block ground-disturbing activities associated with construction of the Northern Corridor Highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, Utah. The court’s injunction prohibits the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) from starting construction-related activities that would cause irreparable harm to the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. UDOT insisted on moving forward with these activities as quickly as possible despite uncertainty about its final highway plans and conservation organizations’ pending lawsuit that seeks to again declare the highway illegal. In granting the injunction, the judge found that conservation organizations’ lawsuit is likely to succeed in showing the highway approval is unlawful.

“We’re pleased the court saw through the false sense of urgency by UDOT and Utah politicians to start work on the Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Stacey Wittek, Conserve Southwest Utah’s Executive Director . “Starting ‘mitigation’ work without final approval from the Bureau of Land Management for highway construction jeopardizes community trust while threatening irreversible harm to Red Cliffs and the Mojave desert tortoise. Utah politicians continue to mislead the community and present a false choice between protecting Red Cliffs or Greater Moe’s Valley and Zone 6, which only serves to undermine congressional designation of conservation lands and dodge their responsibility to secure permanent protections for Zone 6. Our community and country can have both, and we deserve both.”

The proposed Northern Corridor Highway would carve a high-speed highway through designated critical habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise within Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. It would damage iconic redrock landscapes, disrupt treasured outdoor recreation opportunities, and set a dangerous precedent for congressionally protected public lands across the U.S.

Despite a pending legal challenge to the Northern Corridor Highway, UDOT rushed ahead with its plans to install fencing, which would require leveling vegetation and moving tortoises from their critical habitat in the area. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) authorized these activities through interim approvals, but the agency has yet to approve UDOT’s required highway development plan.

“UDOT’s rush to break ground on an illegal highway threatens permanent harm to the population of Mojave desert tortoise that U.S. Fish and Wildlife considers to have the greatest influence on the resilience of the entire recovery unit,” said Hannah Goldblatt, staff attorney at Advocates for the West and counsel for the conservation groups. “When the Northern Corridor Highway is ultimately rejected as it has been seven times before, the damage would be done. Taxpayers and the local community would be left holding the bag—financially and environmentally—for harmful work that could have been avoided.”

Pursuant to the Court’s order, the case will proceed towards summary judgment briefing expeditiously. The injunction will remain in place until this case is resolved.

A History of Rejection

In a decades-long fight , local residents, conservation organizations, and outdoor recreationists have strongly opposed the Northern Corridor Highway. Despite the immense local opposition, the BLM and Fish and Wildlife Service approved a right-of-way for the Northern Corridor Highway in the final days of the first Trump administration. Conservation groups sued , arguing that the approval violated multiple federal laws.

In 2021, 6,800 acres west of St. George called “Zone 6,” or the Greater Moe’s Valley, were added to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve as mitigation for the Northern Corridor Highway. These acres are only temporarily protected; the Zone 6 agreement is set to expire in 20 years, and the Utah Trust Lands Administration can pull out of the agreement at any point without legal repercussions. Conservation groups argue that local leaders should more earnestly engage stakeholders and explore permanent protections for Zone 6 without unlawfully sacrificing lands in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area for construction of the Northern Corridor Highway.

Conservation groups’ 2021 lawsuit resulted in a settlement agreement and a U.S. District Court decision sending back the project's right-of-way approval for reconsideration. Agencies acknowledged that the approval did not comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and required additional environmental analysis in light of recent wildfires that further degraded Mojave desert tortoise habitat and native vegetation. After updating its environmental analysis, the BLM rejected the project in late 2024.

The agency's 2024 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement found the project would increase wildfire probability and frequency, permanently eliminate designated critical tortoise habitat, spread noxious weeds and invasive plants, and harm more cultural and historical resources than any alternative considered.

In October 2025, the BLM said it would reconsider the application after UDOT argued that the federally endorsed alternative was economically infeasible, despite documented environmental and community costs associated with the Northern Corridor.

Abandoning their previous scientific findings, the BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reapproved the Northern Corridor Highway in January 2026. The decision reverses federal agencies’ December 2024 rejection of the same proposal and marks the eighth time the controversial highway has been considered. The project has been stopped on seven previous attempts over concerns related to wildlife, public safety, legal compliance, and community opposition.

Conservation groups sued in January 2026, challenging federal agencies’ reapproval of UDOT’s highway proposal for violating multiple federal laws, including the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.

###

Additional Information and Resources

Header Photo: Bob Wick

Director of BLM Nominee Stevan Pearce Confirmation Hearing Recap

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:34:57 GMT

Conservation Lands Foundaiton's CEO Chris Hill joined Backcountry Hunters & Anglers' CEO Ryan "Cal" Callaghan to respond to Bureau of Land Management Director nominee Stevan Peace's confirmation hearing.

Pearce declined to disavow his past support for selling public lands, including his statement that “most of it, we do not even need.” Asked if he had changed his position, Pearce said he was “not so sure” he had.

Join us in calling on your Senators to VOTE NO on Pearce's nomination - a vote is scheduled for next week:

Conservation Lands Foundation and Partners Respond to Proposal to Gut the Management Plan for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:15:55 GMT

On February 26, 2026, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) read into the Congressional Record a new opinion from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluding that the 2025 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan qualifies as a “rule” under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). That determination opens the door for Congress to introduce a resolution of disapproval that could overturn the management plan through the CRA’s expedited process. As of this briefing on February 27, 2026, no resolution has yet been formally introduced in either chamber, but introduction is considered imminent and could trigger fast-tracked consideration.

The following quotes were shared during a press briefing to explain the legal, cultural, economic, and national implications of using the CRA in this manner.

David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs, Conservation Lands Foundation
“The CRA was meant as a tool to review major regulations, not a veto power Congress can use to throw out every public lands decision it doesn’t like—but that’s exactly how it’s being used.”

“The result is chaos. It wipes out the stable rules of the road that communities and stakeholders rely on… replacing long-term management with uncertainty, conflict, and instability for everyone.”

“Weaponizing the CRA becomes another tool to destabilize stewardship with increased pressure to privatize and renewed momentum to sell off America’s public lands.”

Autumn Gillard, Coordinator, Grand Staircase Escalante Intertribal Coalition
“Dismantling this plan threatens our ancestral lands and sacred sites.”
“This monument contains many cultural sites, still in pristine condition, because of protections like the resource management plan. Without this plan, important cultural and ecological resources face increased risk of looting, vandalism, and degradation.”
“It is the federal trust responsibility… to consult with affiliated tribes on matters that affect our cultural landscape.”

Jackie Grant, Executive Director, Grand Staircase-Escalante Partnership
“We oppose the use of the Congressional Review Act as a tool to amend land management plans, because it eliminates the public’s voice.”

“It’s a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars, and it sets off a domino effect of chaos across all of our public lands.”

“There was plenty of opportunity for many hundreds and thousands of voices to be heard—from the local level all the way up to the national level.”
Nathan “Nate” Waggoner, owner, Escalante Outfitters, and board chair, Grand Staircase Regional Guide Association
“We’ve been operating our business here for 22 years, we’ve made long-term investments in our community. Having our land use plans destroyed or taken away by the Congressional Review Act throws all of those investments… into chaos.”
“We need those long-term permits so we can continue to make long-term financial investments in our communities.”
“It sets a very, very horrible precedent for the future for all of our public lands—not just the places that we live, love, and operate on.”
Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney, Advocates for the West
“They’re weaponizing the CRA in a way that was never imagined – it’s never been done before and it completely eliminates local input.”
“This is effectively legislative Russian roulette with a gun pointed to the head of America’s public lands. Congress is breaking the system of public lands management wholeheartedly.”
“This isn’t just about the southeast corner of Utah… this potentially impacts every inch of public lands. It impacts your favorite watering hole, your favorite fishing hole… where you walk your dog, where you take your kids hiking. There’s not an inch of public lands that is safe.”

Issue Background

If both chambers of Congress pass the joint resolution, called a “resolution of disapproval,” by simple majority votes, the current Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument management plan will be eliminated and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from reissuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future. This will mark the first time Congress will attempt to use the Congressional Review Act to nullify a national monument management plan—an escalation that shifts land management decisions to Congress and threatens the integrity of all National Monuments nationwide.

-###-

Take Action

You can help us stop this attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, but time is of the essence. Reach out to your members of Congress TODAY to urge them to vote against any resolution that fast-tracks the destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument!

Senator Lee formally begins process to fast-track the destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:07:07 GMT

Threatens to bring chaos to a crown jewel of the nation’s public lands system and upend public lands protection as we know it

February 26, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

Washington, DC - Anti-public-lands crusader Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has formally begun the process to fast-track the destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah by adding the Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion regarding the Monument’s Management Plan to the Congressional Record (see page 51). Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), once a “resolution of disapproval” is introduced (anticipated to occur any day), both chambers of Congress can expedite their votes and pass the measures by simple majority votes. If that happens and the resolution is signed into law by the President, the Monument Management Plan - which sets expectations for how the land will be managed for wildlife, outdoor access, dark night skies, grazing, and other uses – will be undone and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future.

In July 2025, Rep. Maloy (R-UT-02) requested an opinion from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about whether Congress can overturn the current Monument Management Plan; on January 15, the GAO released an opinion that Congress can interfere this way and undo the plan. This represents a clear escalation of the use of the CRA to attack the nation’s wildest public lands and as the first CRA attack on a national monument, this action threatens to upend public land protection.

Though this Congress is the first to use the CRA to overturn BLM resource management plans, using it to eliminate a national monument management plan goes much further: resource management plans cover lands that allow many different uses, but national monuments were designated to elevate conservation over extraction.

Beloved by Utahns and Americans , the Monument was established in 1996 to protect the incredible geological, ecological, cultural, and paleontological resources within its 1.9 million-acre boundaries in southern Utah. A crown jewel of the nation’s public lands system, it was the first monument managed by the BLM and was the first unit in the agency’s now-robust and expansive “ National Conservation Lands ” program.

President Trump illegally shrank the Monument in 2017 and it has been reported that he is again considering eliminating protections for Grand Staircase-Escalante. Conservation groups and members of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Inter-Tribal Coalition began sounding the alarm about this potential threat on January 22, 2026. Below are quotes and additional information.

“Senator Lee’s attack on the Grand Staircase-Escalante is a call to action for Americans from across the nation,” said Steve Bloch, Legal Director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance . “This wild landscape is quintessential southern Utah redrock country with its stunning geology, irreplaceable cultural resources, unique fossils, and wide-open spaces. All of that is at risk if this attack succeeds and the monument management plan is undone. We intend to move heaven and earth to stop that from happening.”

“No one ought to mistake this effort as isolated–it’s part of a concerted effort to destroy the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to manage public lands, so that privatizing or industrializing them are the only viable options,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation . “Going after BLM’s first national monument sends the signal that the rest of the 30 monuments and all of the National Conservation Lands that BLM oversees are in the crosshairs, and we know from experience that the public will fight like never before to keep these places protected.” “The fate of our public lands, including our precious national monuments, should not be left to a handful of politicians who want to turn them over to industry,” said Tom Delehanty, senior attorney with Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office . “While this may be the first CRA attack on a national monument, it will not be the last if members of Congress on both sides of the aisle don’t stand up to oppose it. Senator Lee’s use of this arcane law would throw out years of planning by local officials, Tribes, and communities, setting a dangerous precedent on public land protection. Anyone who values our public lands and national monuments should take note.”

“The Utah delegation knows that our national monuments are well-loved by Americans and protecting them is overwhelmingly popular among Utahns regardless of party affiliation,” said Tim Peterson, Cultural Landscapes Director at the Grand Canyon Trust . “The public would not stand for legislation that gets rid of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument outright, so they’re trying to eliminate the commonsense management plan that affords day-to-day protections to the monument. We can't let that happen.”

“An attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante is an attack on our freedom to enjoy this special place today and generations from now,” said Ronni Flannery, senior staff attorney at The Wilderness Society. “This move disregards years of hard work and broad support, and, instead, attempts to hand our public lands over to the highest paying polluters. A vote to pass this bill is a vote against the people to erode a crown jewel of the American West."

"Using the Congressional Review Act to unravel Grand Staircase-Escalante's management plan is an assault on a national treasure," said Bobby McEnaney, Director of Land Conservation, NRDC. "It would wipe out years of science and public input and lay the groundwork to make additional attacks on Grand Staircase easier. Americans overwhelmingly support this monument. Congress must reject this reckless effort and honor its commitment to Tribes, local communities, and future generations."

Additional quotes can be found here .

About Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument & the Monument Management Plan

Since its establishment, heightened protections for the Monument’s geology, paleontology, wildlife, plant communities, and ancestral sites have succeeded in preserving these unique values for generations to come, and local communities on the Monument’s doorstep have benefited as well. Nearly 30 years later, the numerous benefits of protecting Grand Staircase-Escalante are clear: the Monument preserves a remarkable ecosystem at the landscape level and sets the stage for future discovery about human, paleontological, and geological history on the Colorado Plateau.

On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and unlawfully eliminated large swaths of the Monument, slashing it by 47 percent – roughly 900,000 acres. Thankfully, on October 8, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its full, original boundaries. In 2023, BLM began developing a new management plan for the full Monument. As a part of that work, the BLM engaged in extensive outreach to Tribal Nations, the State of Utah, local governments, stakeholders (including outfitters and guides, ranchers, local utilities), and the public. During the planning process, BLM received overwhelming support from throughout Utah and the nation for a holistic, conservation-based management plan worthy of this remarkable place.

In August 2023 , a Federal District Court Judge in Utah dismissed lawsuits brought by the state of Utah and others challenging President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to restore the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The state and other plaintiffs quickly appealed that decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which held oral argument on September 26, 2024, and may issue a decision at any time. Conservation organizations intervened on behalf of the United States to defend President Biden’s restoration of the Monuments, as have four Tribal nations.

National monuments are overwhelmingly popular. Seventy-five percent of Utah voters support the President’s ability to protect public lands as national monuments . Three in four Utah voters, including a majority of Republicans, want to keep Grand Staircase-Escalante as a national monument.

About the Congressional Review Act (CRA)

The CRA is a federal statute enacted in March 1996 that requires federal agencies to submit “rules” to Congress for a mandatory review period “before they may take effect.” If Congress votes to overturn, or “disapprove,” the rule, it “may not be reissued in substantially the same form. . . .” The BLM has long maintained that its land management plans are not “rules” subject to the CRA. Other federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, have similarly not submitted their land management plans to Congress under the CRA.

However, emboldened by a series of non-binding Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinions , Republican members of Congress have embraced the novel theory that federal land management plans are in fact “rules” subject to the CRA. This year, Congress has passed six CRA resolutions overturning previously finalized land management plans or other types of public lands management decisions. The GAO issued an opinion regarding the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument Management Plan on January 15, 2026.

While overturning the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument management plan would not change the boundaries of the monument or alter President Biden’s proclamation establishing the monument, it is a serious threat with potential implications for all national monuments.
Monument management plans set expectations for how the land will be managed for wildlife, outdoor access, dark night skies, grazing, and other uses. The Utah delegation’s gambit threatens that certainty. Using the CRA to overturn the Grand Staircase-Escalante management plan disregards years of public input on how these lands are managed for the public, including hunters, hikers, scientists, ranchers, and others who hold permits to use public lands inside the monument.
Congress is ignoring Tribal Nations. Multiple Native American Tribes are connected to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition advocates for the conservation of their ancestral lands and for the continued protection and preservation of the cultural and environmental resources found within the monument. Tribes provide deeply valuable perspectives related to the management of Monument lands and cultural resources that tell the story of their peoples, and are integral to the history of the United States, and should be consulted before any changes are made to the Monument's management plan.

###

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org .

The Wilderness Society is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild places since 1935. Through science, advocacy and partnerships with communities and policymakers, we champion the protection of wilderness, national parks, forests, and other public lands that provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat and the freedom to connect with nature. For more information, visit www.wilderness.org .

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The Grand Canyon Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to safeguarding the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, while supporting the rights of its Native peoples. Learn more at grandcanyontrust.org

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).

Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national, nonpartisan network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands.

Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act Passes

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:29:52 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org,

Bertha Gutiérrez, bertha@conservationlands.org

Las Vegas, NV - The Conservation Lands Foundation celebrates the passing of the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act (H.R. 972) led by Representative Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), which expands Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area in Southern Nevada by almost 9,300 acres as mitigation for important water infrastructure needed in Southern Nevada. The bill, which passed unanimously in both the House and Senate, is now headed to the President’s desk for his signature.

The bill ensures that a water pipeline project by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) may be constructed underground through the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. The authority to grant right-of-way access to SNWA in a permanently protected area had to be granted by Congress.

“The Horizon Lateral project is an example of how infrastructure projects on National Conservation Lands can have minimal ground disturbance, mitigate anticipated impacts, and address community needs while ensuring the objects and values for which the area was protected remain protected. This legislation is a positive example of a bill that strikes a balance between conservation and development with input from local advocates. We applaud the leadership and commitment of Senator Cortez Masto and Representative Dina Titus to advance balanced public lands legislation” said Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer at the Conservation Lands Foundation.

The State of Our Public Lands is Threatened

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:42:57 GMT

Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Attention on the Multiple Efforts Underway to Undermine Public Lands Management, Protection, and Preservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tonight’s State of the Union speech will focus attention on the President’s priorities and the actions he is taking to advance his agenda. Regardless of whether or not public lands are included in tonight’s State of the Union, their status is in jeopardy thanks to administrative and congressional actions.

Conservation Lands Foundation CEO Chris Hill shared the following statement in advance of tonight’s address. The Conservation Lands Foundation represents a bipartisan national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands.

“America’s public lands generate millions of dollars in recreation, stewardship, and local economic revenue as well as provide recreation and environmental benefits to millions of Americans in communities across the country. The hundreds of millions of acres that are managed by the U.S. government for the American people are jewels worthy of the highest level of protection. Alarmingly, this administration sees only the short-term extractive value of these precious and sacred landscapes and is focused only on making it easier for a few well-connected donors to buy and sell these resources for their own gain.

“From deprioritizing conservation as a valid use for public lands, to opening up vast tracts of Alaskan land for oil and gas drilling, to approving highways through protected conservation areas, and installing anti-public lands ideologues to manage our public lands system, this administration is willfully ignoring the vast majority of the American people who want more of their public lands and water sources protected.

“The American public overwhelmingly opposes efforts to sell off public lands or reduce protections. According to the 2026 Conservation in the West poll, 84% of Western voters say that the ‘rollback of laws that protect our land, water, and wildlife is a serious problem,’ a sharp increase from prior years.

“Selling off the country’s remaining public lands is both wildly unpopular and unnecessary as many oil and gas companies aren’t using all of the existing drilling and exploration leases they already have. The idea that we need to open up even more public lands for these extractive ideas is both wrong and wasteful.

“No matter what the President says in his speech tonight, the State of our Union can never be strong when our public lands protections are weak. It’s time for this administration and Congress to respond to the will of the people in communities across this nation by protecting and preserving our public lands for this and future generations.”

-###-

Conservation Lands Foundation Joins Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Expansive Oil and Gas Leasing Plan for Western Arctic

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:59:31 GMT

Lawsuit challenges Trump’s expansive oil and gas leasing plan for western Arctic Agency guts long-time protections for areas like Teshekpuk Lake and the Colville River

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court in Alaska challenges the Trump administration’s approval of a 2025 western Arctic management plan that opens over 80 percent of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to oil and gas leasing and industrialization, posing a profound threat to a vast Arctic region vital to local communities and wildlife. The plan alters the boundaries of the long-time protected Teshekpuk Lake Special area and eliminates the Colville River Special Area entirely — rolling back protections for caribou, birds, and other wildlife that depend on these critical areas. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management claims this plan will allow it to hold lease sales in the Reserve until at least 2045 without further analysis of impacts, sidelining the public process and sacrificing informed decision making about these public lands into the foreseeable future.

“This plan asks our homelands to give more than they can bear,” said Nauri Simmonds, executive director of Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic. “For generations, our elders have taught us that places like Teshekpuk Lake and the Colville River are not ‘resources’ to be expanded into — they are our relatives, the places that hold our stories, our food, and our connection to those who walked this land long before it was settled. When the government breaks its own promises and pushes again for more land, more drilling, more sacrifice, it echoes a long history of broken agreements with Indigenous Peoples. Our communities are not asking for expansion or special treatment; we are asking those in power to honor the promises and commitments that were assured to us when all of this began. We stand in this moment with love for our homelands and with a vision for a future where decisions are made with humility, restraint, and respect for the land’s limits. Sometimes, the most responsible choice is to recognize that too much is being asked of us — and of the land itself.”

The lawsuit filed by Trustees for Alaska on behalf of six clients calls out the administration for breaking multiple laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The lawsuit raises claims related to the Bureau’s decision to roll back the protections for designated Special Areas like Teshekpuk Lake and the Colville River and its failure to do a new analysis of the potential impacts to subsistence or ways of minimizing those impacts.

“The Bureau’s decision to roll back protections and open the Western Arctic’s most sensitive areas to oil and gas shows a complete disregard for the law and protective measures that are necessary to ensure that these public lands sustain the health of local communities and wildlife,” said Suzanne Bostrom, senior staff attorney with Trustees for Alaska. “The Bureau has failed to meet its own legal obligation to provide maximum protection for areas like Teshekpuk Lake and lands and waters essential to the health of western Arctic animals and people.”

In a related filing today, Trustees also submitted a motion to reopen a 2020 lawsuit challenging the 2020 management plan adopted and challenged during Trump’s first term. The 2020 litigation argued that the environmental review for the 2020 integrated activity plan failed to address the true impacts of oil and gas on water, land, wildlife, and people, while also failing to adopt protective measures. Groups settled that lawsuit after the Bureau pulled back the unlawful 2020 decision and made it clear that the agency would do further environmental reviews for future lease sales, as required by law. The Bureau’s new 2025 decision reinstates much of that 2020 decision and now claims that the agency does not need to do further environmental reviews for lease sales through at least 2045.

The law firm Trustees for Alaska filed the lawsuit in Anchorage, Alaska, on behalf of six clients: Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Alaska Wilderness League, Conservation Lands Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and Sierra Club.

Group statements:

"The administration’s assault on the Western Arctic sacrifices Indigenous heritage and the resources that sustain the region's people and wildlife in exchange for fossil fuel profits,” said Chris Hill, Alaska-based CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation. “With 7 out of 10 Western voters demanding land protection over extraction and a 57% majority of voters in key battleground districts supporting policies to protect the Arctic from new drilling, it’s time the administration stops its dangerous folly and accepts the fact that economic health and conservation aren't just compatible—they’re inseparable."

“This lawsuit is about defending our homelands, our food systems, and our right to be heard before decisions are made that permanently alter the Western Arctic,” said Krystal Lapp, president of the board for the Northern Alaska Environmental Center. “Teshekpuk Lake and the surrounding Special Areas sustain caribou, fish, birds, and the communities who rely on them for subsistence. For Indigenous people, these lands and waters are not abstract acreage on a lease map — they are living relatives and the foundation of our cultures and economies. Federal law requires meaningful consideration of subsistence protections. We are taking this action to ensure that future generations inherit lands and waters capable of sustaining them.”

“By pushing this plan forward, the Department of the Interior is turning its back on the wildlife and lands it is obligated to protect,” said Nicole Whittington-Evans, senior director of Alaska and Northwest programs at Defenders of Wildlife. “Opening over 80% of the Reserve – close to 19 million acres - to drilling puts imperiled wildlife like polar bears, caribou, and millions of migratory birds at serious risk. We will continue to fight for our irreplaceable public lands and their incredible wildlife – especially when those charged with their stewardship won’t.”

“Over the past year, we’ve seen that no place in Alaska is safe from industrial activity if the Trump administration has their way,” said Andy Moderow, senior director of policy of Alaska Wilderness League. “We bring this lawsuit because Alaska’s public lands are so much more than a playground for extractive industries, and prioritizing corporate profits at the expense of long-term, sustainable public land uses that define the Alaskan way of life is simply misguided. The Trump administration cannot just ignore the laws that protect fish and wildlife, subsistence, recreation, and other non-extractive uses, and so we are asking the court to hold them accountable.”

“The Western Arctic is home to some of the most fragile public lands in the country, but the Trump Administration wants to sell them out to Big Oil CEOs," said Mike Scott, Sierra Club's Oil and Gas campaign manager. "These landscapes are critical for wildlife, water resources, and communities, and they are on the front line of climate change. We will continue to fight Trump’s giveaway and keep the ‘public’ in public lands.”

Header image: Florian Schulz | ProtectTheArctic.org

2026 Friends Summit Participant Information

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:19:07 GMT

We look forward to seeing you at this year's Friends Summit!

May 11 - 13, 2026 (See schedule below)

The Curtis

1405 Curtis Street

Denver, Colorado, 80202

https://www.thecurtis.com/

303.571.0300

If you have any questions as you plan your travel, feel free to reach out. We look forward to welcoming you to Denver soon!

The Conservation Lands Foundation is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and expanding America’s National Conservation Lands. Together with our Friends Grassroots Network of nearly 90 community-based nonprofit organizations, we protect, steward, and advocate for at-risk landscapes across the western U.S. At the 2026 Friends Summit, our biennial in-person gathering of our Friends Network, we will discuss current challenges to public lands, share resources to build resilience and capacity, and celebrate stories of success and inspiration. This year's Summit theme is Defend What Matters: Shaping the Future of Conservation Leadership . Our intent is to create a space for our Network organizations to collaborate, learn from one another, and strengthen the collective impact of the Friends Grassroots Network. We’re looking forward to bringing together diverse leaders, partners, and changemakers from across the country for a few days of connection, collaboration, and shared learning.

As you plan your travel for the Friends Summit in Denver , we wanted to share some easy options for getting from the Denver International Airport (DEN) to our hotel, The Curtis Hotel , located in downtown Denver.

Our Keynote Speaker: Caroline Gleich

We’re thrilled to announce that our 2026 Friends Summit keynote speaker will be Caroline Gleich . Caroline is a former candidate for the US Senate, a professional ski mountaineer, an environmental advocate, and a public lands champion. She has dedicated her career to advocating for climate action, protecting public lands, and advancing equity in the outdoors. Caroline has summited some of the world’s most challenging peaks and uses her platform to inspire action on climate and conservation issues, working with policymakers and communities to drive meaningful change.

Lawsuit Challenges Illegal Highway Through Utah’s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:39:36 GMT

Local, State, and National Conservation Organizations Seek to Protect Threatened Mojave Desert Tortoise, Redrock Landscapes, and Recreation

WASHINGTON – Today a coalition of six local, Utah-based, and national conservation organizations sued the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for illegally reapproving the four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, Utah. Conservation groups filed the lawsuit after receiving information that the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) would be starting ground-disturbing activities for the highway’s construction based on interim authorizations from BLM and despite BLM having yet to approve a required highway development plan for public lands managed by the agency.

“Preservation of Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is inextricably linked to the quality of life and economic prosperity in Washington County,” said Stacey Wittek, Conserve Southwest Utah’s Executive Director . “Our community has repeatedly made clear that better traffic solutions exist and that they oppose a highway through what should be protected lands. Given that UDOT is wasting no time moving forward with ground-distributing activities, we had to act to stop this illegal project.”

Today’s lawsuit, filed by Advocates for the West in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges federal agencies’ January 2026 reapproval of UDOT’s highway proposal for violating multiple federal laws, including the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.

Abandoning their previous scientific findings, the federal agencies’ recent decision reversed a December 2024 rejection of the same proposal by the BLM and Fish and Wildlife Service and marks the eighth time the controversial highway has been considered. The project has been stopped on seven previous attempts over concerns related to wildlife, public safety, legal compliance, and community opposition.

“To continue to push for a widely rejected and illegal highway and expect a different result is a waste of everyone’s resources,” said Hannah Goldblatt, staff attorney at Advocates for the West and counsel for the conservation groups . “And once again, federal agencies are complicit in the effort by approving the paving of this congressionally protected, sensitive, scenic landscape. The Northern Corridor Highway not only violates bedrock environmental laws but undermines the integrity of protected public lands nationwide. We won’t let that happen.”

Below are statements on behalf of local residents and Utah-based and national conservation organizations:

“This lawsuit, like the last one, is necessary because our local governments have declined to engage their constituents in an open community dialogue—one that could more clearly define the problem, address its related impacts, and explore alternative solutions that have been consistently ignored. They have left their constituents with no choice, but it’s never too late to talk,” said St. George resident Tom Butine.

"When Congress designated Red Cliffs as a National Conservation Area, that was a promise to the American people that this landscape would be protected forever. Allowing a four-lane highway to bulldoze through a congressionally protected National Conservation Area betrays that promise, obliterates the very concept of permanent protection and puts every single acre of America’s protected public lands directly in harm’s way. Today it's Red Cliffs. Tomorrow it could be any of the millions of acres of protected public lands Americans and rural communities depend on. We won't let that happen, and we will fight this decision with everything we have," said Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation .

“The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is a shared public treasure that should continue to be managed for the purposes for which it was established by Congress in 2009: ‘to conserve, protect and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational and scientific resources of the National Conservation Area’ and ‘to protect each species that is located in the National Conservation Area.' Bulldozing a four-lane highway through this landscape would permanently destroy these irreplaceable resources and deny us the freedom to continue enjoying them,” said Gregg DeBie, senior staff attorney at The Wilderness Society .

“Red Cliffs is exactly the kind of landscape Congress intended to protect when it created the National Conservation Area system—spectacular redrock country that provides critical habitat for the Mojave desert tortoise and space for people to experience the quiet and beauty of wild Utah. The Bureau of Land Management’s decision to greenlight a four-lane highway through the heart of this protected area defies both the law and common sense. Utahns have fought for decades to ensure that public lands like Red Cliffs remain intact for future generations, and we won’t stand by while that promise is broken,” said Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

“This is narrow-minded, short-term thinking, and the BLM has clearly caved to local and state political pressure with this decision. It is impossible to square the agency’s legal obligation to ‘conserve, protect, and enhance’ the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area with its decision to approve a new highway through the heart of the NCA. If this project isn’t halted it will decimate one of the last strongholds of the Mojave desert tortoises in the mistaken belief that it will shorten commute times,” said Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney for WildEarth Guardians .

“The Trump administration’s about-face is cynical and cruel, and this lawsuit shows it’s also unlawful. The Bureau of Land Management’s decision will allow Utah to bulldoze through a protected conservation area and build another highway feeding urban sprawl. This beloved natural refuge has some of the last best desert tortoise habitat in Utah and was set aside because it’s essential for the tortoises to survive and thrive into the future. These public lands should be kept wild and open for fragile wildlife and everyone who loves Red Cliffs,” said Lisa Belenky, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity .

A History of Rejection:

The case resulted in a settlement agreement in 2023, which the BLM’s recent reapproval violates, and a U.S. District Court decision sending back the project's 2021 right-of-way approval for reconsideration. Agencies acknowledged that the approval did not comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and required additional environmental analysis in light of recent wildfires that further degraded Mojave desert tortoise habitat and native vegetation. After updating its environmental analysis, the BLM again rejected the project in late 2024.

In 2021, 6,800 acres west of St. George called “Zone 6,” or the Greater Moe’s Valley, were added to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve as mitigation for the Northern Corridor Highway. Still, Zone 6 includes a popular climbing area and trails on state-owned lands that lack permanent protection. Conservation groups argue that local leaders should more earnestly engage stakeholders and explore permanent protections for Zone 6 without unlawfully sacrificing lands in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area for construction of the Northern Corridor Highway.

About Red Cliffs National Conservation Area:

The 44,724-acre Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is part of the larger Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, which is jointly managed by the BLM, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the state of Utah, Washington County, and local municipalities. The reserve was established under a 1995 Habitat Conservation Plan as a compromise to protect roughly 61,000 acres of public lands for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise while allowing development on about 300,000 acres of state and private land. Congress designated the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in 2009 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 supports key populations of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise and other at-risk plants and animals, including the Gila monster, burrowing owl, and kit fox. Researchers say the Mojave desert tortoise is on a path to extinction, and its habitat in southwest Utah––which houses some of the densest tortoise populations––is especially vulnerable amid rapid growth in the region.

Located about 45 miles from Zion National Park, the conservation area includes 130 miles of trails, two wilderness areas, heritage public use sites, Native American cultural artifacts, several threatened or endangered species and one of Utah’s most popular state parks , Snow Canyon State Park. Visitors come from around the world to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, horseback ride, photograph, and marvel at the expansive redrock landscapes.

Additional Information and Resources:

Header Photo: Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, UT | Bob Wick

January CLiF Notes: Read the Latest on Your Public Lands and Take Action

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:54:54 GMT

Letter From Our CEO

As we move into 2026, I want to acknowledge this moment. Fundamental American rights are under attack in ways we haven't seen in generations. While our organization remains laser-focused on the fight for public lands, we recognize these threats are interconnected. The same people undermining our democratic freedoms are working to dismantle the freedom to experience and enjoy public lands that shape our communities, our livelihoods, and our sense of belonging.

In this newsletter, you'll see the scale of what we're up against and how the attacks described below are part of a coordinated effort to sell off public lands. We won't let that happen. Our job is to mobilize local communities and remind people that their individual voices have the collective power to protect the lands and waters that mean so much to us.

Thank you for your continued support and advocacy for the places that matter,

The Latest Congressional Attack on National Monuments

Congress is continuing to weaponize an obscure law, the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to attack public lands, and this time, it’s a national monument. Utah Representative Celeste Maloy requested an opinion by the Government Accountability Office on whether management plans for national monuments qualify as “rules” and can be subject to Congressional reversal under the CRA. The GAO released its opinion last week affirming this and we stand ready for Utah’s delegation to introduce a resolution to undo the current management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah.

The current management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument guides everything from the protection of sacred landscapes to the location of new campgrounds and is supported by the local Tribes and communities. The Congressional backdoor maneuver to eliminate the plan would wipe out decades of public input and scientific planning without any opportunity for public comment. Worse, it sets a dangerous precedent: if Congress can invalidate one monument's management plan through this process, no national monument is safe.

Take Action: You can help us stop this attack, but time is of the essence. Reach out to your members of Congress TODAY to urge them to vote against this dangerous plan to fast-track destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante!

New BLM Pick Wants to Sell Off Your Public Lands

Continuing the administration's agenda to sell off public lands, President Trump has nominated former New Mexico Representative Steve Pearce as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director . Pearce has a troubling and extensive record of supporting public land sell-offs and national monument reductions and we’re rallying our communities to oppose his nomination .

Along with his personal, financial conflicts of interest with the oil and gas industry, Steve Pearce’s ideology and track record make him the wrong choice to lead an agency that manages 245 million acres belonging to all Americans. The country needs a BLM Director committed to balanced stewardship, not someone who consistently puts extractive industries first and wants to bulldoze our natural resources.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah | Bob Wick

New BLM Director nominee supports public land sell-offs | Photo: Bureau of Land Management

Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, UT | Bob Wick

BLM Abandons Its Own Findings to Ram Highway Through Red Cliffs NCA

In an alarming turn of events, the BLM re-approved a four-lane highway through a National Conservation Area, reversing its own 2024 rejection and ignoring overwhelming public opposition, its own scientific analysis, and legal concerns. For decades, we’ve fought alongside our Utah Friends Grassroots Network members and the local community to successfully defend Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA), near St. George, UT, from a destructive four-lane highway.

Just as Congress's abuse of the CRA to overturn monument management plans threatens protections nationwide, this decision will have far-reaching consequences for protected public lands across the country. If they succeed here, no Congressionally-protected public land in America will be safe.

This battle will likely be fought in the courts and in the court of public opinion and outcry. We are strategizing the best steps on both fronts and will keep you posted on how to help. We do know that we’ll need more resources to ensure we have all the legal tools necessary to protect Red Cliffs and defend the integrity of protected public lands nationwide.

Congress Rejects Massive BLM Cuts

As a result of our relentless lobbying over the years to build support for BLM funding, there was bipartisan support to ensure flat funding for the BLM in Fiscal Year 2026 and reject the White House's proposed 75% cut to the National Conservation Lands system. The President signed the Interior appropriations bill into law last Friday.

"We applaud Congress for delivering clear bipartisan support for National Conservation Lands," said David Feinman, our Vice President of Government Affairs. "While current funding doesn't make up for decades of underinvestment, maintaining this level helps BLM protect these irreplaceable landscapes."

Now Hiring: Associate Program Director, Arizona/New Mexico

As attacks on public lands intensify, we want to ensure our Friends Grassroots Network members have the resources they need to successfully defend cherished places across the country. We’re seeking an Associate Program Director for Arizona and New Mexico to strengthen community support for public lands across the region.

This role will work collaboratively with Friends Network organizations, community partners, and other local advocates to build broad-based support for the National Conservation Lands. If you're passionate about public lands and skilled at coalition-building, we want to hear from you.

Know a great candidate? Please forward our job description to them before February 12!

Trail Snacks

�� Thank you to everyone who donated to our year-end campaign, enabling us to raise $298,076 in the last six weeks of 2025. These donations are the fuel that allows us and our Friends Network to start the year strong.

�� What can we expect in 2026? While we can’t say for certain what types of attacks on public lands we’ll see this year, we know that our collective voice is the most powerful tool we have to safeguard the places we love and need. Read our CEO Chris Hill's 2026 public land prediction in RE:Public’s Year Ahead article .

�� Friends Grassroots Network partner, Grand Staircase-Escalante Partnership, is featured in a new article by High Country News , which examines the impacts of chronic underfunding and flip-flopping federal policy changes on scientific discoveries in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah.

�� While we fight back against congressional and administrative attacks at the federal level, our Friends Grassroots Network partners like Get Outdoors Nevada continue showing up for the lands they love by organizing clean-ups, restoring trails, and improving outdoor access.

In January's CLiF Notes Edition:

Header Photo: Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, UT | Bob Wick

Congressional Attack Coming to National Monument Protections, Local Communities and Businesses Outraged

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:56:55 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

Kanab, UT / Washington, D.C. — In a dangerous first for America’s national monuments, U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) requested an opinion from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about whether Congress can create chaos within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by overturning the current management plan for the monument. The GAO opinion , released on January 15, 2026, says monument management plans qualify as “rules” and can be subject to Congressional reversal under the Congressional Review Act.

With the GAO opinion out, Utah’s federal delegation (Senators Lee & Curtis, Representatives Owens, Moore, Maloy, and Kennedy) is expected to introduce a bill under the Congressional Review Act imminently. If both chambers of Congress pass the bill, called a “resolution of disapproval,” by simple majority votes, the monument management plan will be eliminated and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future.

The GAO opinion opens the door to increasing use of the Congressional Review Act to threaten pristine wildlife habitat and Americans' outdoor access. This will mark the first time Congress will attempt to use the CRA to nullify a national monument management plan—an escalation that threatens the integrity of monument protections across the country.

SETS UP DIRECT ATTACK ON ALL NATIONAL MONUMENTS

“This is a deeply dangerous misuse of the Congressional Review Act. Congress has never before attempted to use the CRA to revoke a national monument management plan, and doing so will be a direct attack on America’s national monuments and the communities who have invested time and resources to ensure they are managed properly,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a nonpartisan, national network of community advocates solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.

“Grand Staircase-Escalante is a national treasure and no one ought to mistake the use of the Congressional Review Act as isolated–it’s part of a concerted effort by anti-public lands zealots to either privatize or industrialize the country’s public lands.

“If Congress is allowed to erase a monument plan developed through years of public and Tribal engagement, no national monument is safe from its political whims. Conservation Lands Foundation will fight alongside the majority of the public, our local Friends groups, and other allies to defend the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument,” said Hill.

IGNORES LOCAL INPUT, SCIENCE, AND TRIBAL CONSULTATION

“Using the Congressional Review Act to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante management plan is a disrespectful overreach that ignores years of local input, science, and Tribal consultation. This plan reflects years of hard work by the people who live nearby, work in, and care deeply about this place,” said Jackie Grant, Iron County, Utah resident and Executive Director of the Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, which is the local nonprofit that helps steward the national monument through science, conservation, and education.

“Grand Staircase-Escalante is central to our community because of the opportunities it provides for place-based stewardship, research, and responsible recreation. We are just starting to realize the importance of maintaining large landscapes that provide services such as clean water, wildlife habitat, and psychological refuge. Rolling back this management plan threatens not just the monument, but the partnerships and trust that have been built here over time.

“As a local organization, we will continue to stand with our neighbors, Tribes, educators, and conservation partners to protect this landscape and ensure it is managed for future generations,” said Grant.

CHAOS WITHIN MONUMENT PLAN PUTS REGION’S ECONOMY AND LIVELIHOODS AT RISK

“Grand Staircase-Escalante is a cornerstone of the region’s outdoor economy, sustaining small businesses and rural communities. As local guides, we remain committed to protecting this landscape and the people who make their living here,” said Nate Waggoner, Escalante, Utah resident and Board Chair at the Grand Staircase Regional Guides Association, which represents a regional network of outdoor guides who rely on the national monument for their local businesses.

“Overturning the Grand Staircase-Escalante management plan through the Congressional Review Act puts local livelihoods at risk and ignores the voices of those who depend on a stable, well-managed monument. Guides and outfitters require clear-cut management to run safe operations, promote our businesses, and support local jobs. We have spent countless hours collaborating with land managers to develop a plan that preserves recreational opportunities and employment for future generations. Rescinding this plan negates years of hard work and public exchange,” said Waggoner.

Background:

###

Updated March 9, 2026, to correct Jackie Grant's residence.

Federal Agency Re-Approves Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Abandons Own Scientific Findings

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:42:13 GMT

ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST

CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

CONSERVE SOUTHWEST UTAH

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION

SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY

WILDEARTH GUARDIANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 21, 2026

Federal Agency Re-Approves Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Abandons Own Scientific Findings

Coalition of Local Residents and State and National Organizations Vow to Continue Decades-Long Fight

St. George, UT – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) re-approved a proposal from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), at the behest of Washington County, for the construction of a four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, Utah. Today’s decision reverses a December 2024 rejection of the same proposal by the BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and marks the eighth time the controversial highway has been considered. The project has been halted on every previous attempt over concerns related to wildlife, public safety, legal compliance, and community opposition.

“This is a deeply disappointing decision for our organization and for the thousands of community members who have continually voiced their opposition to the highway,” said Stacey Wittek, the Executive Director of Conserve Southwest Utah. ”But the fight to protect Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is far from over. We are carefully assessing every available option to protect this important and iconic land for future generations.”

The proposed Northern Corridor Highway would carve a four-lane, high-speed road through designated critical habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise within Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, damage iconic red rock landscapes, disrupt treasured outdoor recreation opportunities, and set a dangerous precedent for Congressionally-protected public lands across the U.S.

BLM's 2024 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement found the project would increase wildfire probability and frequency, permanently eliminate designated critical tortoise habitat, spread noxious weeds and invasive plants, and harm more cultural and historical resources than any alternative considered.

“Despite BLM’s 2024 findings, Washington County and UDOT continue to push for an illegal highway while ignoring past promises to protect Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Wittek. “The idea that rock climbing, mountain biking, and other cherished recreation in the Greater Moe’s Valley can only be protected if the Northern Corridor Highway is approved is simply false. Local elected officials can decide to decouple the two issues, and commit to engaging stakeholders in finding ways to protect Greater Moe’s Valley and follow through on promises to protect Red Cliffs.”

Below are statements on behalf of local residents and Utah-based and national conservation organizations:

"When Congress designated Red Cliffs as a National Conservation Area, that was a promise to the American people that this landscape would be protected forever. Allowing a four-lane highway to bulldoze through a Congressionally-protected National Conservation Area betrays that promise, obliterates the very concept of permanent protection and puts every single acre of America’s protected public lands directly in harm’s way. Today it's Red Cliffs. Tomorrow it could be any of the millions of acres of protected public lands Americans and rural communities depend on. We won't let that happen, and we will fight this decision with everything we have," said Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs for Conservation Lands Foundation.

“This is a very disturbing decision. The pollution, lights, and noise will significantly reduce my quality of life. It also sets a precedent that public lands are open for development. I am highly disappointed in BLM for this reckless decision,” said Mary Jo Vilicich, Green Springs Neighborhood resident.

“I don’t understand how the BLM can move forward with a highway when the agency has already acknowledged how harmful it would be. The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement stated an increased risk of wildfires. A lot of us already struggle to get home insurance because of fire danger, and I honestly worry it’ll become impossible if the highway is built,” said Ken Bouvier, Green Springs Neighborhood resident.

“Today’s decision is a major misstep by the BLM, which is doing the bidding of Utah politicians insistent on punching a broadly opposed and illegal highway through protected public lands. We won’t stand idly by while BLM blatantly ignores its own scientific findings and a Congressionally-mandated requirement to manage Red Cliffs National Conservation Area for conservation and recreation,” said Hannah Goldblatt, staff attorney at Advocates for the West and counsel for conservation groups.

“The Bureau of Land Management’s decision to reverse itself is a disastrous mistake. Bulldozing a highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area would destroy some of the last best habitat for threatened desert tortoises and forever scar this rare natural refuge,” said Lisa Belenky, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’ll keep fighting this high-speed roadway because it’s both unlawful and unwise to sacrifice important wildlife habitat on our protected public lands for more urban sprawl.”

"The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is a shared public treasure that should continue to be managed for the purposes for which it was established by Congress in 2009: 'to conserve, protect and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational and scientific resources of the National Conservation Area' and 'to protect each species that is located in the National Conservation Area,'" said Gregg DeBie, senior staff attorney at The Wilderness Society. “Bulldozing a four-lane highway through this landscape would permanently destroy these irreplaceable resources and deny us the freedom to continue enjoying them."

“Even after a long history of analysis and rejection by federal land managers, the ill-advised Northern Corridor Highway proposal seems to return every few years,” said Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance . “Continuing the crusade to build a highway in a Congressionally-designated conservation area is not only illegal, it is–after more than a decade of failed attempts–downright foolish. But these public lands, and the critical habitat and cultural sites they contain, are too important to abandon, and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and our members remain committed to protecting them.”

“It’s pathetic that state and local politicians want to put a highway through the Red Cliffs and ruin what is an astonishing asset for all of us, but especially for the people of Washington County,” said Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney for WildEarth Guardians . “It’s even worse that BLM is bending over backward to endorse the scheme. So we’ll keep fighting for the Red Cliffs, regardless of how long it takes to overcome this short-sighted plan for the highway.”

“UDOT and Washington County have for years refused to engage their constituents in open discussions on issues with their proposed solution to anticipated future traffic congestion and on alternative solutions that would protect both Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and the Greater Moe’s Valley Area, which the county proposed as mitigation,” said Tom Butine, Washington County resident.

A History of Rejection

Today’s decision overturns the most recent federal rejection of the Northern Corridor Highway in a decades-long fight led by local residents, conservation organizations, and outdoor recreationists to block the highway. The Northern Corridor proposal has been rejected seven times since 2006, when local residents first raised concerns about routing a highway through protected public lands.

Despite immense local opposition, the BLM and Fish and Wildlife Service approved a right-of-way for the Northern Corridor Highway in the final days of the first Trump Administration. Conservation groups sued , arguing that the approval violated multiple federal laws, including the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and others.

The case resulted in a settlement agreement in August 2023 and a U.S. District Court decision sending back the project's 2021 right-of-way approval. Agencies acknowledged that the approval did not comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and required additional environmental analysis in light of recent wildfires that further degraded Mojave desert tortoise habitat and native vegetation. After updating its environmental analysis, the BLM again rejected the project in late 2024.

In October 2025, the agency said it would reconsider the application after UDOT argued that the federally endorsed alternative was economically infeasible, despite documented environmental and community costs associated with the Northern Corridor.

Background on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA):

The region supports key populations of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise and other at-risk plants and animals, including the Gila monster, burrowing owl, and kit fox. Researchers say the Mojave desert tortoise is on a path to extinction, and its habitat in Southwest Utah –– which houses some of the densest tortoise populations –– is especially vulnerable amid rapid growth in the region.

Additional Information and Resources:

Local Communities Urge Congress to Oppose Stevan Pearce for Bureau of Land Management Director, Citing "Betrayal of Public Interest"

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:56:38 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2026

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris(@)conservationlands.org

LAS CRUCES, NM / WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter submitted today to members of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, local residents, outdoor enthusiasts, and community leaders living adjacent to public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are calling on Congress to reject the nomination of Stevan Pearce for BLM Director. Mr. Pearce’s record in Congress, including his public support for selling off America’s public lands, his conflicts of interest with the oil and gas industry, and his efforts to undermine national monuments and the Antiquities Act, demonstrates that he is the wrong candidate to lead this complex multiple-use agency.

The opposition from more than 150 organizations that signed the letter comes as a direct response to Mr. Pearce’s long-standing advocacy for selling off federal public lands and his efforts to dismantle protections for national monuments.

A Record of Selling Out, Not Stewardship

The organizations point to Mr. Pearce’s vocal support for privatizing public lands as a primary disqualifier. As early as 2012, Mr. Pearce stated his intent to "reverse this trend of public ownership," (1) a stance that stands directly opposed to BLM’s mandate to manage public lands for multiple-uses, including conservation.

"The Director of the BLM is tasked to be a neutral arbiter of our shared resources," said Chris Hill, CEO of the nonpartisan, national nonprofit Conservation Lands Foundation. "You cannot entrust the stewardship of our public lands to someone who has spent his career trying to sell them to the highest bidder. This isn't just a policy disagreement; it’s a direct violation of the public trust and the responsibility of the agency," said Hill.

"We need a leader who actually understands, believes and implements the full scope of the BLM's multi-use charter, which includes managing conservation as equal to all other uses of the lands. We need a leader who understands the importance of stewarding our public lands and we urge the Senate to listen to the people who actually live on the doorstep of these lands and reject this nomination unequivocally," said Hill.

Conflicts of Interest and Industry Bias

The organizations point to Mr. Pearce’s history as the former owner of an oilfield services company as an inherent conflict of interest that favors unfettered drilling and fracking over the needs of local communities and the outdoor recreation economy, which contributes more to the U.S. GDP than the extraction industries and pumps more than $350 million into the economy every day . (2)

A Threat to National Monuments

Mr. Pearce’s record in his home state of New Mexico remains a central point of concern. “As a Congressman representing Las Cruces, New Mexico, he petitioned the Interior Secretary to reduce the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument by a staggering 88 percent, basically ignoring overwhelming local support and the monument’s proven role as a significant economic driver for the region,” said Patrick Nolan, executive director of Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and Las Cruces resident.

“And his co-sponsorship of legislation to weaken the Antiquities Act signals a broader intent to strip protections from America’s most culturally and scientifically significant landscapes,” said Nolan.

Congress Needs to Vote No on Pearce

“Under Pearce’s leadership, the country can expect BLM’s focus will be narrowed to favor extractive industries exclusively, effectively: limiting public access for hunting, fishing, and hiking; threatening local economies that rely on conservation and tourism; prioritizing short-term profit over the health of the land for future generations,” said Chris Hill.

“The nomination is viewed by local stakeholders as a clear signal that the current administration intends to prioritize fossil fuel interests over the people who live, work, and recreate on these lands,” said Hill.

About the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

####

(1) GOP Rep Promises To ‘Reverse This Trend of Public Ownership Of Lands ,” ThinkProgress, October 9, 2012

(2) New Economic Report Shows Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands and Waters as a Valuable Asset on America’s ‘Balance Sheet’ , Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, November, 2025

November FGN Call: Partnering To Protect Dark Skies

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:33:23 GMT

Sarah Burak, Education Director at the Bears Ears Partnership (BEP), presents on her organization's Dark Skies Program.

On our November Friends Grassroots Network call, Sarah Burak, Education Director at the Bears Ears Partnership (BEP), presented on her organization's Dark Skies Program. Participants will learn about what steps BEP took to designate the town of Bluff, Utah as an International Dark Sky Community, what organizations can do to protect dark skies in their area, and how to create a darky sky ambassador program. This video was recorded on November 18, 2025.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Congress for Supporting National Conservation Lands, Rejecting Drastic White House Funding Cuts

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:19:55 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 6, 2025

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@ conservationlands.org

Washington, DC - The bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 Interior appropriations bill Congress will be considering in the coming days rejects the steep cuts the White House requested for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and management of National Conservation Lands, which include nearly 40 million acres of the country’s iconic national monuments, wild and scenic rivers, and other special public lands.

The bill provides marginal reductions in funding for the BLM Lands and Resources account, while ensuring funding for the National Conservation Lands system is maintained at $59.135 million, equal to what was enacted in Fiscal Year 2025.

Below is a statement from David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs 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 National Conservation Lands.

"The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Congress for delivering clear bipartisan, bicameral support for National Conservation Lands and rejecting the White House's proposed 75% cut to the management of these critical public lands. While the current funding is not enough to make up for decades of underinvestment, maintaining the current funding level for the National Conservation Lands system helps the BLM protect these iconic and irreplaceable natural landscapes and the public’s access to them.

“We also applaud the inclusion of language in the bill that requires the BLM maintain staffing levels necessary to fulfill its multiple-use mission, including protecting natural and cultural resources, maintaining safe and appropriate access and recreation, conducting Tribal consultation, and managing the National Conservation Lands.

“The truth is, BLM and the National Conservation Lands system have been chronically underfunded by Congress and understaffed for decades, and we remain concerned about the historical underinvestment to the nation’s largest public land manager and the conservation lands it stewards.

“The agency needs meaningful funding increases to address decades of deferred maintenance, visitor services and resource protection, as well as to properly staff the agency to do this work. Nevertheless, we urge swift passage of the FY26 Interior funding bill, which at minimum provides stability for the agency to fulfill its mission.”

###

Policy Handbook (October 2025)

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:20:39 GMT

This comprehensive Policy Handbook details the foundation and future vision for the National Conservation Lands

National Conservation Lands Policy Handbook (Updated October 2025)

This comprehensive Policy Handbook details the foundation and future vision for the National Conservation Lands (NCL) , which currently encompasses over 38 million acres across 906 units —roughly 15 percent of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) surface estate.

This handbook serves as an essential resource, providing historical context , detailing key policy achievements (like the groundbreaking tribal co-management agreement at Bears Ears National Monument and the historic Public Lands Rule). It offers a technical overview of various NCL designations, including National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Scenic and Historic Trails.

The document outlines the critical planning processes and management practices used to govern these landscapes, such as Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) framework. It clarifies that, unlike other public lands, NCL units operate under a distinct conservation mandate that prioritizes the protection and enhancement of nationally significant resources over general multiple-use management.

This is a useful tool to underscore the vital role of the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) and the Friends Grassroots Network in advocacy, local stewardship, and securing the robust funding necessary for a resilient, ecologically robust, and widely supported NCL system.

Access the Policy Handbook here .

There’s No Future Without Nature and Local Leadership is Driving National Protections of Public Land: A Welcome Message from Our New Chief Development Officer

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:52:39 GMT

Some of my earliest and most formative memories are on public lands in New Mexico, where I grew up camping under impossibly starry skies, hiking rocky canyons, and exploring every sunbaked arroyo in Santa Fe for lizards and other small critters. Growing up in the Southwest made me deeply aware of both the beauty and the fragility of these landscapes. I saw how fire, drought, and mismanagement could threaten not only ecosystems, but the health and well-being of the communities who depend on them.

Those experiences shaped me. They taught me that caring for wild landscapes isn’t passive, it’s a collective responsibility. That belief has guided my career and approach to leadership: philanthropy is fundamentally about stewardship, community, and creating the conditions for impact to scale.

It’s also what drew me to the Conservation Lands Foundation. Its clarity of mission, its commitment to community-led conservation, and its track record of protecting and expanding the National Conservation Lands represent the future of protecting nature, one rooted in collaboration, shared power, and long-term investment.

The Conservation Lands Foundation sits at the center of a powerful model: local leadership driving national impact. Our Friends Grassroots Network , from Alaska to New Mexico to the Great Basin and beyond, demonstrates this every day. When people who know a landscape best are resourced, connected, and supported they safeguard places in ways that are durable, equitable, and deeply rooted in community priorities.

This approach is strategic by design. By pairing national advocacy with place-based leadership, the Conservation Lands Foundation builds influence and impact from the ground up. We’re able to respond to threats quickly, cultivate trusted local partnerships, and advance long-term protections that endure. It’s an approach that doesn’t just protect land, it builds community capacity, shifts power, and strengthens the civic fabric that will determine the future of our public lands.

People connect with nature in different ways and although those experiences aren’t uniform they are powerful. What I’ve consistently seen is that when a landscape becomes part of someone’s story, they show up for it. That spirit is alive across our Friends Grassroots Network and is one of the clearest indicators of what’s possible when communities lead.

As I step into the role of Chief Development Officer, I’m energized by what’s ahead. My work has always focused on building and diversifying the revenue, relationships, and systems that allow organizations to grow, adapt, and deliver impact at scale. The Conservation Lands Foundation is ready for its next chapter and that readiness is reflected in its strategic approach, its partnerships, and its people.

But meeting the scale of this moment requires strengthening the infrastructure that supports it. Public lands are facing pressures we’ve never seen at this pace or intensity. The Friends Grassroots Network needs expanded tools and sustained support.

Because the truth is simple: there is no future without nature and attacks against our natural resources in the U.S. are increasing exponentially . The choices we make collectively will determine the landscapes we pass forward. And this moment calls for meaningful action.

Today I invite you to learn more, engage with our mission, and stand with the communities leading it. When communities lead, landscapes thrive and that’s the future we’re building together: one that holds our history, health, and humanity for generations.

I’m deeply honored to join this team, and I’m excited to partner with the donors, allies, and supporters who make this mission possible. The horizon ahead is big and what we decide to do together will define it.

Conservation Lands Foundation staff with members of our Friends Grassroots Network in Washington D.C.

Senate Hears Five Public Lands Protection Bills

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:23:26 GMT

Washington, D.C. — The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard five conservation bills, which will enact much-needed new protections for public lands in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO 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 thank the champions in the Senate who introduced and continue to move forward these important bills that protect the public’s access to nature and essential wildlife habitats, while supporting Tribal culture and economies. It’s heartening to see the Senate advance meaningful public lands policy with the bipartisan support we know exists with their constituents. These bills include:

S. 1005 Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, sponsored by Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen of Nevada.
S.764 Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act, sponsored by Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper of Colorado.
S. 1195 Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act, sponsored by Senator Rosen of Nevada.
S. 1319 Pecos Watershed Withdrawal and S. 1476 M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act, both sponsored by Senators Heinrich and Luján of New Mexico.

“These bills honor our collective commitments to strengthen our bonds with the lands we know and love and we urge the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to ensure they are passed by the full Senate quickly.”

###

Gifts That Give Back: Support Public Lands This Holiday Season

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 23:16:55 GMT

The holiday season is a time for gratitude for the people we love and the places that sustain us. This year, we invite you to celebrate by giving gifts that protect the public lands and waters we all treasure.

Whether you're shopping for the outdoor enthusiast in your life or simply looking for a meaningful way to give, here are ways your generosity can help defend and protect nature.

Give the Gift of Conservation

There is no future without nature. And today, the future of public lands - our wildlife, water, and way of life - is under threat like never before. The most direct way to protect public lands is by donating to the Conservation Lands Foundation.

Thanks to a generous year-end match, your gift today will go twice as far to protect the public lands we love and need. Your year-end gift will protect irreplaceable lands, safeguard wildlife and water, and strengthen the movement that ensures these natural places remain thriving long into the future.

Give in Honor of Someone You Love

Looking for a meaningful gift for the public lands lover in your life? Donate in their name. Whether you're honoring a hiking friend, celebrating a parent who loves nature, or memorializing someone who cherished wild places, a gift to the Conservation Lands Foundation will be a lasting tribute. We'll send a personalized card letting them know about your gift in their honor—no wrapping paper required.

Patagonia + Adyen: Matched Donations at Checkout

This holiday season, you can donate to the Conservation Lands Foundation directly at checkout when shopping at Patagonia—in stores or online. Even better, payment partner Adyen is matching every donation to double your impact! Shopping with Patagonia this season means your purchase—and your donation—goes further.

Since 2010, Patagonia has supported our efforts to build and strengthen community-based groups across the American West to advance strong conservation policies on the ground and defend protected public lands from attack. We’re grateful to Patagonia and Adyen for meeting the urgency of this moment with the type of bold partnership we need to defend public lands against these unprecedented threats

Shop Patagonia

Icebug: Donating 100% of Black Friday Proceeds

Swedish footwear brand Icebug takes a different approach to the holiday shopping frenzy. This year, 100% of their U.S. sales on Black Friday will benefit the Conservation Lands Foundation. The company calls it "Green Friday"—rejecting overconsumption while channeling every dollar toward protecting nature. If you need quality, durable footwear built to last, Icebug's Black Friday sale lets you gear up while giving back.

Shop Icebug

Osprey: A Half-Century of Conservation Commitment

For 50 years, Osprey has been crafting packs built to last a lifetime and backing that commitment with conservation action. Osprey has been a longtime supporter of the Conservation Lands Foundation. Most recently, they sponsored our Foundations in Conservation Leadership training to help empower the next generation of public land advocates working to protect the National Conservation Lands.

Shop Osprey

Haglöfs: Climate Action Meets Public Lands Protection

This Swedish outdoor brand shares our belief that companies must be part of the climate solution. Haglöfs became climate neutral in 2021 and has committed to cutting emissions 50% by 2030. They've also partnered directly with the Conservation Lands Foundation and have donated in-kind apparel to outfit our Friends Grassroots Network. When you choose Haglöfs, you're supporting a brand that walks the talk on sustainability.

Shop Haglöfs

MiiR: Every Product Funds Change

Seattle-based drinkware company MiiR is a certified B Corp, Climate Neutral certified company, and 1% for the Planet member. Every product includes a trackable Give Code connecting your purchase to their conservation and community initiatives. A MiiR tumbler or bottle makes a thoughtful, lasting gift that keeps giving long after the wrapping paper is recycled.

Shop MiiR

Ben Mortensen, Friends of Rio Grande Del Norte's Director of Outreach, with his new Osprey bag

he won at our 2025 Foundations in Conservation Training

Why Your Support Matters Now

America's public lands face unprecedented threats from attempts to rescind protections and sell off millions of acres. When communities unite in defense of their public lands, we win. Your holiday giving through direct donations, a planned gift, or a purchase from one of our corporate partners, fuels our fight.

This season, give gifts that matter. Give gifts that protect the wild places we all need.

Shop With Purpose

When you shop with these brands, you're supporting companies that share our values—and directly funding conservation.

CLF Leadership Circle member Sarah Lavender Smith sports

Haglöfs gear in the outdoors

During NYC Climate Week 2025, the Conservation Lands Foundation partnered with Patagonia for an in-person conversation with leaders on the front lines of local public land protection campaigns throughout the West.

Impact Report 2025

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:49:18 GMT

Today, the future of public lands — our wildlife, water, and way of life — is under threat like never before. But, as with any darkness, there is always light, and that light shines through the people, organizations, and coalitions working with us to ensure clean water, healthy habitats, diverse wildlife, and thriving local economies. We believe deeply in the power of the people and the people are on our side.

Your partnership powers real solutions. Our 2025 Impact Report shows what we were able to accomplish together. Click the image or button below to read our report.

Protect Public Lands With Patagonia This Holiday Season

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:57:31 GMT

Patagonia, Adyen ask customers to protect public lands this holiday season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 20, 2025

VENTURA, Calif. — Patagonia and Adyen are teaming up with Conservation Lands Foundation to protect American public lands for Giving Tuesday , and they’re asking customers to pitch in too.

Patagonia’s customers will be able to donate to Conservation Lands Foundation during checkout this holiday season — which payment partner Adyen will match as a co-funded grant — at retail locations and on Patagonia’s website. The drive is in addition to Patagonia's nonprofit owner, Holdfast Collective, committing $1 million over four years to Conservation Lands Foundation and Adyen committing $250,000 to amplify the impact.

Since 2022, Ventura-based outdoor apparel company Patagonia has been owned by the 501(c)(4) Holdfast Collective, which donates profits not reinvested back into Patagonia to environmental causes, and the Patagonia Purpose Trust, which locks in perpetuity the company’s purpose to use business to save the planet. The company has pledged 1% of sales to environmental organizations since 1985 through its self-imposed Earth Tax, which led to the co-founding of 1% for the Planet in 2002.

“Using our business to protect the natural world, including public lands, is why Patagonia exists,” said CEO Ryan Gellert. “We’re thankful for the vital work Conservation Lands Foundation does and for Adyen’s incredible support. We always hope to work with companies that share our values, but Adyen’s partnership on this project is a step beyond.”

Donations to Conservation Lands Foundation will go toward grassroots organizing and support critical efforts including:

Defending millions of acres in Alaska’s Western Arctic and the Western U.S.
Opposing Senate attempts to gut the Wilderness Act and sell off public lands.
Protecting Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon and Ironwood Forest national monuments in Arizona.
Preventing a four-lane highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah and the revocation of protection for Wyoming’s Red Desert.

Patagonia and Conservation Lands Foundation have worked together for 16 years on efforts to protect public lands across the U.S., including pushing back against an attempt in Congress to force the sale of millions of acres of public land through the budget reconciliation process this summer. While the sale was ultimately prevented, public lands protections still face unprecedented threats from government agencies and industry interests.

“This administration is speeding up the decades-long push by political forces to sell off and privatize the country’s public lands system,” said Chris Hill, CEO of Conservation Lands Foundation. “But we know from experience that when communities unite in defense of their public lands, we win. We’re grateful to Patagonia and Adyen for meeting the urgency of this moment with the type of bold partnership we need to defend public lands against these unprecedented threats.”

Adyen and Patagonia have been working together since 2017, handling payments for in-store and online transactions in the U.S. and multiple global regions. Since Patagonia first started offering the option to donate at checkout through Adyen Giving in 2023, the partnership has generated more than $300,000 in contributions.

“For years, Patagonia has been a really important partner of Adyen’s and has had a hand in shaping our impact strategy, including the development of our donations product, Adyen Giving,” said Adyen Head of Impact Dominique Simons. “We know impact is multiplied when businesses come together in pursuit of a shared goal. That's why we're co-funding this impact grant with Holdfast Collective to support a cause we both believe in. We are proud to amplify the critical work the Conservation Lands Foundation is doing to protect public lands and ensure our customers' generosity goes further."

About Patagonia

We’re in business to save our home planet. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company based in Ventura, California. As a certified B Corporation and a founding member of 1% for the Planet, the company is recognized internationally for its product quality and environmental activism, as well as its contributions of more than $240 million to environmental organizations. Its unique ownership structure reflects that Earth is its only shareholder: Profits not reinvested back into the business are paid as dividends to protect the planet.

About Conservation Lands Foundation

The Conservation Lands Foundation is the only nonprofit leading a national movement of community-based advocates who care for America’s National Conservation Lands of natural, historical, cultural and recreational significance.

About Adyen

Adyen (ADYEN:AMS) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Meta, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft. The cooperation with Patagonia as described in this update underlines Adyen’s continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years.

###

Letter Warns Bureau of Land Management Reckless Use of Congressional Review Act Has Thrown Legal Foundation of Public Lands Management into Question

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:15:33 GMT

Washington — Six organizations sent a letter to the Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), warning that at least 5,033 oil and gas leases — covering nearly 4 million acres — may now be legally invalid. The letter asks the agency to halt all new leasing and permitting until it “ensure[s] compliance with the law and remed[ies] this grave legal uncertainty.” Ultimately, Congress must fix the legal crisis it created.

The letter details how Congress' unprecedented use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs) has called into question the legal efficacy of every land management plan finalized since 1996. These plans don't just guide management decisions; they enable everything that happens on public lands, from oil and gas drilling to recreation, grazing, and wildlife protection. If land use plans may now be invalid, then thousands of oil and gas leases and drilling permits issued under them may also be invalid

Congress Was Warned About CRA Consequences

When Republican members of Congress voted in October to use the CRA to overturn three RMPs in Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota, they ignored urgent warnings from conservationists, legal scholars, former BLM officials, and even some energy industry voices about the chaos this would unleash.

The agency's own Solicitor’s Office cautioned that treating RMPs as “rules” could call into question the validity of every BLM plan since 1996 — along with the leases, grazing permits, rights-of-way, and other decisions based on those plans. Thirty leading law professors warned that this move could jeopardize “thousands of leases and management decisions across hundreds of millions of acres.” Former BLM leaders said overturning land-use plans under the CRA would “undermine the basis for authorizations” and create widespread legal uncertainty for energy developers, ranchers, and recreation permittees, threatening the integrity of the entire planning system. But Congress ignored these warnings — and is now moving ahead with even more CRA resolutions that will escalate the crisis.

"By incorrectly treating land use plans as rules under the Congressional Review Act, Congress hasn't just overturned three plans — they've thrown every plan finalized since 1996, representing 166 million acres, into doubt. That mistake replaces a stable, science-based, community-driven system with needless chaos and uncertainty. It was lazy and irresponsible and is harmful to all land users," said Jocelyn Torres, chief conservation officer at the Conservation Lands Foundation.

Along with the at least 5,033 existing leases, the legal uncertainty extends to future leasing. According to the letter, 69.8% of all BLM lands available for oil and gas leasing are managed under RMPs finalized after 1996 that were never submitted to Congress. BLM is currently evaluating 850 parcels totaling 787,927 acres across 14 upcoming lease sales on lands that may lack a valid RMP.

This legal chaos affects far more than oil and gas. Land management plans for national forests, national parks, and national wildlife refuges finalized since 1996 may also be invalid, potentially calling into question grazing permits, timber sales, recreation authorizations, and wildfire management projects across hundreds of millions of acres nationwide.

"Congress was warned repeatedly that weaponizing the CRA against land management plans would create exactly this kind of chaos. They charged ahead anyway, putting short-term political gain ahead of stable land management. Now they've jeopardized the very oil and gas development they claimed to be protecting. Congress must immediately fix the mess it made." said Alison Flint, senior legal director for The Wilderness Society .

“Let’s be crystal clear: The Congressional Review Act is bad public policy. And it’s absolutely terrible public policy when used to overturn comprehensive public land planning decisions that radically reduces predictability for all public land users — in particular, as we have highlighted to the Bureau of Land Management, the oil and gas industry itself,” said Melissa Hornbein, senior attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center.

“Congress lit the fuse on a legal time bomb that now calls into question the validity of thousands of oil and gas leases covering millions of acres as well as grazing permits and numerous other authorizations. But equally concerning, use of the CRA unravels decades of community-led land-use planning and throws into disarray the legal foundation for how our public lands are managed,” said Laird Lucas, executive director at Advocates for the West.

“Congress’s use of the CRA to disapprove several Bureau of Land Management land use plans that were put in place following years of stakeholder and Tribal Nation input has sown confusion throughout the American West. This is not what Congress intended when it passed the CRA,” said Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

“As one of the principal architects of this newest line of attack on public lands, Sen. Daines opened Pandora’s Box. Using the Congressional Review Act to wipe out years of local work on Resource Management Plans is unprecedented, and it puts rural economies at risk, including the oil and gas industry. Inserting Congress into these processes threatens to unravel the foundations of public resource management and dismantle the systems that communities, businesses, and Montanans rely on. Congress is heading down a reckless path, yet another example of the pattern of attacks we’re seeing out of Washington D.C. on one of the most foundational aspects of Montana’s way of life: our public lands and resources,” said Aubrey Bertram, Staff Attorney & Federal Policy Director at Wild Montana.

The U.S. House Continues to Undermine Federal Public Lands Management with Passage of Three More Bills Removing Protections

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:10:29 GMT

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House last night used the Congressional Review Act to consider and pass three resolutions undermining public lands protections in three areas in Alaska and Wyoming. The three resolutions are:

S.J. Res. 80 – disapproving of the ‘‘National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision’’.
H.J. Res. 130 – disapproving of the ‘‘Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment’’.
H.J. Res. 131 – disapproving of the ‘‘Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision’’.

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:

“Today’s action by the U.S. House is part of a series of coordinated attempts to roll back common sense management of public lands. It’s simple - America’s public lands should be managed for the public good. These resolutions undermine the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s authority to manage public lands for the benefit of all Americans, not just those who seek to buy up and close public lands to public access and benefit.

“It is clear from the recent actions of this Congress to remove protections from key areas across the West that supporters of these actions are opponents of public lands. By removing the BLM’s authority to manage lands, these resolutions ensure that privatizing or industrializing them are the only viable remaining options. It’s a classic example of trying to solve a problem that was self-inflicted for the express purpose of achieving an outcome that benefits you.

“We remain opposed to these one-sided, destructive attempts to roll back the clock on public lands protection and we’ll continue to work with members of the Friends Grassroots Network to oppose these obvious attempts to use public resources for private gain. We’ll continue to remind members of Congress that the overwhelming majority of Americans support responsible, effective, balanced management of the public lands.”

###

Trump Administration Strips Protections for 13 Million Acres in Western Arctic

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:27:19 GMT

Rule repeal leaves irreplaceable wildlife habitat vulnerable to unchecked oil drilling, despite 300,000+ public comments in support of conservation

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Trump administration stripped critical protections for over 13 million acres of public lands in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (Western Arctic Reserve). The repeal of the Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska rule eliminates Special Area protections for vulnerable and valuable public lands and waters in the Western Arctic, leaving them vulnerable to unchecked oil and gas development.

The repeal comes as the House prepares to vote on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would dismantle the 2022 management plan for the Western Arctic and further undermine the Bureau of Land Management's ability to protect critical habitat for caribou, polar bears, and globally significant migratory bird populations that sustain Alaska Native subsistence traditions.

The timing of this attack is particularly egregious: the Bureau of Land Management is simultaneously moving to lease upwards of 16 million acres in the Western Arctic Reserve and has given the public just seven days—four workdays—to comment on ConocoPhillips' massive winter exploration program near Nuiqsut and within protected Special Areas. The company scheduled community meetings in Nuiqsut and Anaktuvuk Pass for after the close of the comment period, undermining any pretense of meaningful public engagement.

Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation:

“Time and time again, the American public has made it loud and clear that some places are too special to drill. The Western Arctic is one of those places. Over 300,000 Americans spoke out this summer to uphold these protections for the Western Arctic. Yet this administration continues to ignore the American people, sacrificing irreplaceable and priceless public lands in service of corporate profits.

The Trump administration’s repeal of Western Arctic protections in the name of an “energy emergency” is in stark misalignment with reality. The U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas , and the oil industry already has the majority of the nation's most valuable lands for oil and gas development under lease.

“The Special Areas Rule provided protections for millions of acres of public land in the Western Arctic that serve as an ecologically critical haven for wildlife, biodiversity and subsistence rights. Wiping away these protections with a stroke of a pen leaves this highly sensitive region vulnerable to additional oil and gas development that is already irreparably harming the land and its inhabitants.

"Expanded oil and gas extraction will further harm the threatened wildlife that call the Western Arctic home, disrupt caribou calving grounds and destroy habitat that supports millions of migratory birds. When Indigenous communities, public lands and wildlife are threatened, we cannot remain silent. We will continue to fight this reckless sell-off of public lands and waters by monitoring and opposing projects that will harm the Special Areas.”

Background

The National Petroleum Reserve Alaska encompasses nearly 23 million acres of critical habitat and is home to more than 40 Indigenous communities who depend on the Reserve for subsistence and cultural practices. In 2024, following extensive consultation with Alaska Native Tribes and corporations, the Biden administration finalized the Special Areas Rule strengthening protections for 13.3 million acres within the Reserve. The plan was widely supported by the public, with more than 250,000 comments favoring conservation.

In late 2020, the Trump administration revised the Reserve’s Integrated Activity Plan, which opened 82% of the Reserve (18.6 million acres) to oil and gas leasing, including in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area. Following a legal challenge by Conservation Lands Foundation and others, the Biden administration overturned these changes to the plan via an amendment and completed a final rule in 2024 (Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska) following extensive engagement with the public, Alaska Native Tribes, and Alaska Native Corporations.

The Trump administration’s repeal of the Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska rule and anticipated repeal of the amended Integrated Activity Plan reverts this country back to the reckless Reserve policies that overwhelmingly favor oil and gas, and harm local communities, biodiversity and cultural values.

###

Header Photo: Florian Schulz / ProtectTheArctic.org

Americans Rally Behind the Public Lands Rule

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:34:04 GMT

Members of Congress, local elected officials, Tribal leaders, outdoor industry executives, legal scholars and former BLM officials join calls for protecting public lands and preserving the Public Lands Rule.

November 10, 2025 – A broad cross-section of Americans voiced their support for protecting public lands and preserving the Public Lands Rule as the Trump administration's 60-day public comment period to rescind the rule closed today. Despite the administration's failure to host a single public meeting or conduct community outreach and Tribal consultation regarding the proposed rollback, the American public once again raised their collective voice in defense of public lands, calling on the administration to end its assault on America's outdoors and preserve common-sense rules that put conservation on equal footing with other land uses.

In addition to public comments opposing the Trump administration's push to rescind the rule, 61 Members of Congress (47 House/14 Senate) signed a letter calling on the administration to preserve it . They were joined by over 180 local elected officials from every western state , former BLM officials , legal scholars, outdoor recreation leaders , and multiple Tribal organizations and Tribes—all highlighting the need for greater focus on conservation and voicing support for the rule.

The rule's rollback comes on the heels of a failed effort by Utah Senator Mike Lee to sell off millions of acres of public lands as part of the budget reconciliation package, the rollback of the Roadless Rule that has protected national forests since the Clinton administration, mass firings of land managers across the country, and multiple executive and secretarial orders that hand over control of America's public lands to the oil, gas, and mining industries—all part of a broad attempt to privatize and exploit public lands.

Despite the administration's attacks, the rule has remained widely popular. Leading western newspapers have endorsed it, including the Salt Lake Tribune , which noted that "The only thing wrong with a proposed rule that would have the U.S. Bureau of Land Management officially consider conservation as one of the “multiple uses” intended for the huge swaths of public land it oversees is that it wasn’t written 47 years ago." Conservation and public lands champions and leaders across the country have echoed this overwhelming support. ( BLM backgrounder and analysis on public lands rule )

The Act Now for Public Lands coalition’s technical comments can be found here .

See below for more reactions to the proposed rescission from public lands supporters across the country.

____________

National

“Our support of the Public Lands Rule, which gives BLM the tools for responsible, balanced stewardship of America’s public lands, remains unchanged. Rolling this rule back is part of a broader intention to incite chaos and ruin our public lands via sell-offs, expanded oil and gas leasing, and the erosion of management plans that protect public access and wildlife habitat. It shows utter disregard and disrespect to everyone who supports the rule–including Congress, legal experts, former BLM leaders, local officials, nonprofits, and businesses. Instead of pushing this unpopular repeal through during the longest shutdown in American history, BLM ought to be fulfilling its obligation to the public and conservation and move forward with implementing the Public Lands Rule,” said Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer at the Conservation Lands Foundation .

"Interior’s rationale for repeal is on shaky footing – stating that it believes the rule is unnecessary and violates statutory direction. To the contrary, the Public Lands Rule was informed by many months of thoughtful public engagement and review, and it has solid grounding in a nearly 50-year-old directive from Congress. Indeed, it is necessary to ensure compliance with long-standing direction from Congress that protecting undeveloped landscapes, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources is central to BLM’s mission. The administration cannot simply overthrow that statutory authority because they would prefer to let drilling and mining companies call the shots.” - Alison Flint, Senior Legal Director, The Wilderness Society

“The Public Lands Rule ensures America’s lands are managed for long-term health, not short-term exploitation. Gutting it would mean more habitat loss, more fragmentation, and less accountability. Americans have been clear—they want their public lands protected, not sold off.” - Bobby McEnaney, Land Conservation Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).

“We’re watching in real-time the dismantling of proven best practices for managing and restoring national lands for wildlife and for the enjoyment of future generations,” said Maddy Munson, senior policy and planning specialist at Defenders of Wildlife . “If the BLM rescinds this rule, public lands will return to an outdated management approach that prioritizes resource extraction to the detriment of conservation. This would be an entirely inadequate way to address urgent issues like chronic drought and large-scale habitat loss.”

“The Public Lands Rule recognizes that BLM’s stewardship of our public lands must include conservation just as much as resource development,” said Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program . “It’s a commonsense policy, but common sense is in short supply in the Trump administration. Donald Trump and his allies in Congress see any conservation of our country’s natural heritage as illegitimate and an obstacle to their ultimate goal – selling out our public lands to billionaires and corporate polluters. These landscapes are priceless, and scrapping the Public Lands Rule would ignore the overwhelming support for the rule shown time and time again during extensive public outreach.”

“The Conservation Alliance represents outdoor businesses across the United States that depend on access to healthy, resilient, and well-managed public lands,” said Rebecca Gillis, Senior Director of Advocacy at Outreach at The Conservation Alliance . “The Public Lands Rule was developed through extensive input from the public, businesses, and Tribal communities. It provides much-needed regulatory clarity and a long-term framework for managing our shared lands on which our businesses rely. Rescinding this rule would introduce unnecessary risk and uncertainty for businesses across sectors, jeopardizing local communities and the strength of America’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy.”

California

California is home to the nation’s largest outdoor industry economy. Recreational activities that occur on the 15 million acres that BLM manages in California are a significant contributor to that economy. The Public Lands Rule helps to ensure that BLM takes a balanced approach in its land use decisions, so that extractive uses are no longer prioritized over recreational and other uses. Now that the comment period has closed on the proposed rescission of the Public Lands Rule, we urge the BLM to carefully consider the public comments that have been submitted and to come to the only appropriate conclusion – that the Rule should be retained in full. The BLM has not and cannot lawfully justify rescission of the Rule, said Linda Castro, Assistant Policy Director of CalWild.

Colorado

“Coloradans have spent decades working together to improve how we manage public lands so that they support healthy wildlife, world-class recreation, and the clean air and water that make this state such a great place to live. But the Trump Administration couldn’t care less. Their attack on the common-sense Public Lands Rule is another cynical step toward dismantling responsible public land management, and ultimately, getting rid of our public lands altogether.” – Soren Jespersen, Director, Colorado Wildlands Project

Idaho

Public Lands are the heart and soul of Idaho. They add immeasurably to our quality of life. Idahoans overwhelmingly want them to remain in public hands. We recognize that Public Lands are valued for multiple uses. The foundation for all these uses is sustainability and conservation. The Public Lands Rule clearly established that conservation deserves a seat at the table with other uses. By rescinding the Public Lands rule, the administration is undermining the balance and beauty that make our public lands so special. - John Robison, Public Lands and Wildlife Director, Idaho Conservation League

Montana

By ignoring the public and continuing to push this rollback, decision-makers are once again showing that they care more about exploiting public lands for private profits than supporting real people. Montanans made it clear that oil and gas corporations shouldn’t dictate what happens to our public lands, but they’re plowing ahead to cut public input, undermine local management, and give industry and billionaires control of the places where we hike, hunt, fish, camp, and ride. If it wasn’t clear before, it is now: this is part of a systematic approach to dismantling the public lands that support our way of life. Public lands are ours , and Montanans won’t let corporate interests and anti-public lands lawmakers privatize our heritage, erase our voices, or sell off our future. -Aubrey Bertram, staff attorney and federal policy director, Wild Montana

Nevada

“Public lands are the backbone of the Nevada outdoor lifestyle and our economy. Rescinding the Public Lands Rule makes no sense in Nevada where the balance of development and conservation is critical to maintaining our recreation economy, wildlife habitat, starry skies as well as robust mining and energy jobs. The rule provides tools for the BLM to more effectively maintain that balance as well as helping restore our lands that have been ravaged by wildfires and the spread of invasive species. We need people to come together and work towards a common goal of caring for our public lands. Political posturing is not helpful,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness.

New Mexico

“New Mexico’s 13.5 million acres of BLM-managed public lands provide many benefits to our state, including wildlife habitat, places for people to hike, hunt, camp, fish, and connect with nature, and economic gains. The Public Lands Rule provided needed tools to safeguard and restore New Mexico’s watersheds, ecosystems, cultural landscapes, and way of life. If we don’t have policies that balance natural and cultural values alongside oil and gas drilling and other extractive uses, we are failing in our obligation to leave a healthy New Mexico for future generations.” - Sally Paez, staff attorney for New Mexico Wild

Oregon

“Oregon's high desert, its cherished fish and wildlife, resplendent wilderness, irreplaceable cultural resources, boundless recreational opportunities, and the communities and economies that depend on healthy, intact public lands are all beneficiaries of the Public Lands Rule. Only unfettered extractive industry will profit from its elimination.” - Mark Salvo, Conservation Director, Oregon Natural Desert Association

Utah

“America’s public lands face unprecedented threats from the Trump administration and its repeated decisions to prioritize fossil fuel development and extractive industry over clean water, wildlife habitat, and wild open spaces. This is especially the case in Utah, where Trump’s policies are having devastating consequences for the nation’s redrock wilderness. The Public Lands Rule reiterates that Congress has directed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to put conservation on equal footing with other uses of the public lands and lays out a framework for the agency to restore degraded landscapes and protect intact landscapes for current and future generations. Americans and Utahns overwhelmingly support the Rule and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance mobilized our members and supporters to oppose the Trump administration’s shortsighted effort to undo it.” - Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA)

Oil Ties and Land-Sale Stance of Nominee for the Country’s Largest Public Lands Manager Threatens Local Communities and Agency’s 'Multiple-Use' Mandate

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:44:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kris Deutschman

kris@conservationlands.org

916-425-7174

Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, upon the announcement of President Trump’s nomination of Stevan Pearce as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. The Conservation Lands Foundation is a non-partisan nonprofit organization that represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

“Americans have time and time again, including just this past summer, rejected Mr. Pearce’s ideology and we urge Congress to do the same. As a former Congress member from New Mexico and former owner of an oilfield services company, Mr. Pearce has demonstrated that he is anything but a neutral arbiter. He’s been a vocal supporter of selling off public lands, and spent much of his political career undermining the public’s access to public land and the bedrock environmental laws that enable their protection.

“He tried to virtually eliminate the national monument in his former district, ignoring the overwhelming local support and its economic benefits to the local economy. He has shown the country that he will prioritize industry profits, sacrificing the sustained health of our public lands and the American public's right to access them for recreation.

“Under Mr. Pearce’s leadership, BLM’s mandate to sustainably manage public lands for "multiple-uses" will be narrowed to extractive purposes only, eliminating room for recreation and conservation. His priorities have and will continue to center on selling off public lands instead of preserving them for future generations and we urge Congress to reject this nomination unequivocally.”

####

1 “ Pearce Made Millions on Sale ,” Roll Call, April 28, 2008

2 GOP Rep Promises To ‘Reverse This Trend of Public Ownership Of Lands ,” ThinkProgress, October 9, 2012

U.S. Senate Votes to Repeal Western Arctic Protections

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:51:28 GMT

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.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2025

Contact: Kris Deutschman

kris@conservationlands.org

916-425-7174

NYC Climate Week 2025 - A Gathering for Nature: Public Lands Protection IS Climate Action Panel

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:14:40 GMT

Public Land Protection IS Climate Action!

The Conservation Lands Foundation partnered with Patagonia during NYC Climate Week 2025 for a powerful in-person conversation about the vital connection between public land conservation and climate resilience.

We brought together leaders from the front lines of public land protection campaigns across the West to share their experiences, insights, and practical ideas for how each of us can play a role in protecting the nature and wild places that sustain us all.

Our Panel Featured:

Chris Hill , CEO, Conservation Lands Foundation (moderator)
U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-New Mexico)
Carleton Bowekaty , Zuni Tribe, Policy Director of Bears Ears Partnership
Caroline Gleich , professional athlete & climate activist
Ryan Callaghan , VP of Conservation at MeatEater and North American Board Chair of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Watch the Full Conversation

From Indigenous-led conservation to the intersection of outdoor recreation and stewardship, this discussion explores why protecting public lands is one of our most powerful tools in the fight against climate change. Watch the full panel below:

Congressional Move to Overturn Land Use Plans Risks Widespread Chaos Across U.S. Public Lands

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 21:30:20 GMT

Washington, D.C. — In an unprecedented and alarming move for the country’s public lands, the U.S. Senate voted over the past two days to pass three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that overturn finalized, science-based Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land use plans that were developed over years of public engagement and stakeholder input. These plans—crafted with the involvement of local communities, Tribes, landowners, and land management professionals—were designed to ensure responsible, balanced use of public lands. This marks the first time the Congressional Review Act has been used to nullify land management plans, setting a dangerous precedent that threatens to destabilize how millions of acres of public lands are governed across the West.

Specifically, the Senate passed resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (or CRA) to strike down Resource Management Plans covering Central Yukon (AK) , Miles City (MT) , and North Dakota. All three passed in the House of Representatives in September.

Below is a statement from David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs at 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:

“This move is legally dubious and deeply irresponsible. Land use plans have never been considered ‘rules’ under the Congressional Review Act. To suddenly apply the CRA here—after these plans were developed through extensive public engagement—is a slap in the face to every community member, Tribal government, industry expert, and stakeholder who participated in good faith.

“Let’s be clear: these plans weren’t drafted in a back room—they were shaped over years of broad stakeholder collaboration, public comment, and scientific review, and they balance many uses on the land. Overturning them by congressional decree thousands of miles from these landscapes not only disregards the substance of those plans, it also throws the entire land management system into chaos. Virtually every single BLM land use plan is now potentially at risk—and with them, every use authorized by those plans, from grazing and energy development to mining, outdoor recreation, and wildlife conservation.

“This action doesn’t just hurt conservation—it hurts local economies and the ability of land users and communities across the West to know how public lands are being managed acre by acre. Everyone who cares about public land access, stewardship, and the multiple uses they provide the American people should be outraged by what’s happening here.”

###

Oil and Gas 101

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:39:24 GMT

While National Conservation Lands are generally protected from oil and gas development, adjacent leasing and drilling can undermine their ecological integrity and conservation values. Oil and gas planning and leasing remains a critical area of engagement to safeguard vulnerable BLM lands—including Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and lands with wilderness characteristics—that may be eligible for future conservation designations. This training will provide an overview of how the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas program works—from long-range planning in Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to individual lease sales—and how the Friends Grassroots Network can effectively engage at every stage.

Participants will learn how oil and gas development decisions are made on public lands, including how areas are designated for leasing, how lease sales are conducted, and where public input fits into the process. The attached resources will also cover threats to public lands and conservation goals posed by recent policy shifts, administrative rollbacks, or expanded leasing efforts.

Explore:

How the oil and gas program is structured and how decisions move from RMPs to lease sales.

Where and when grassroots advocates can intervene effectively.

Strategies for submitting public comments, organizing community pressure, and using local media and storytelling to elevate.

About our presenters:

Nashoba Consulting was formed by Nada Wolff Culver, former Principal Deputy Director for the BLM, and Natalie Landreth, former Deputy Solicitor for Lands for the Department of the Interior, to connect Tribes and the public with their public lands - and each other - drawing from their extensive experience working with advocates and the federal government on public lands and Tribal policy issues.

�� Resources From The Webinar:

CLF Workshop - Oil and Gas 101

DOI New NEPA Regs - Guidance - Advocating for Public Lands

Current DOI Authority Governing Lease Sales

BLM Planning Process Flowchart

Leasing Flowchart 2025

Tell Congress: Americans Value Their National Monuments

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:05:08 GMT

Urge Congress to oppose H.R. 521 and S. 220 the Senate companion to eliminate the Antiquities Act and strip Presidents of their authority to designate monuments that protect ou r natural resources and cultural heritage.

Respect. Connect. Protect

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:07:55 GMT

Led by Conservation Lands Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and an array of local and other groups, “Respect. Connect. Protect.” is a campaign to su pport enthusiastic, respectful and safe visits on National Conservation Lands.

Conservation Leaders Denounce Reopening of Balanced Public Lands Plan in Southwest Wyoming

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:17:31 GMT

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

Monuments For All

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:08:55 GMT

National monuments can help honor the historical, cultural, and natural stories of our country. We work to defend national monument protections and ensure these landscapes have strong conservation-focused management plans. Through our Monuments for All campaign, we strengthen public demand and policymaker support for current and new national monuments.

From Celebration to Action: Your September Review

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 22:18:16 GMT

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.

Public Lands Under Attack: Two Urgent Threats

From a proposed federal rule rescission to legislation in Congress, your voice is urgently needed to defend public lands from two emerging threats.

Speak Up for Conservation

The Interior Department is proposing to rescind the Public Lands Rule , which guides the Bureau of Land Management to consider conservation, recreation, cultural resource protection, and sustainable use alongside development, and provides long overdue guidance for the agency to make smart, science-based decisions about where and how different uses are permitted on the 245 million acres it stewards.

The Impact: Without this guidance, the agency can more easily offer public lands to corporations for mining, drilling, and other uses that destroy their natural values and block the public’s access. A wide swath of the public raised their voices–loudly and clearly—in support of this rule and need to do so again by November 10.

Our Take: The proposed rescission of the Public Lands Rule ignores the voices of Tribes, public land users, and communities across the West. The Public Lands Rule represents common-sense management that benefits all Americans, not just extractive industries. Your comment is essential to defend balanced and science-based public lands stewardship.

Take Action: Submit your public comment in support of the Public Lands Rule

New bills in Congress threaten national monuments in Arizona. Photo: Bureau of Land Management

Defend National Monuments

U.S. Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced two bills that would, if signed into law, abolish two national monuments in Arizona: Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and Ironwood Forest. The bills also seek to undermine and weaken the Antiquities Act by requiring congressional approval to designate or expand these national monuments in the future.

The Impact: These bills would eliminate protections for over 1 million acres of public lands in Arizona and set the stage for weakening national monument protections across the country. A strong majority of voters from both sides of the aisle oppose shrinking national monuments.

Our Take: This legislation disrespects Tribal sovereignty and ignores Western voters’ overwhelming support for national monument designations. Local governments in Arizona—including Tucson and Pima County—have passed resolutions defending these monuments. Congress must hear from us that national monuments are not for sale.

Take Action: Email your members of Congress today

Celebrating and Giving Back to Public Lands

In times of alarming threats to public lands, it’s important to take time to gather as a community and recommit ourselves to protecting the places that matter. This month brought two powerful reminders of why we're stronger together.

Left to right: Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Executive Director Patrick Nolan, Vice President of Outreach and Las Cruces High School Student Sofia Amato,

New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, and Conservation Lands Foundation CEO Chris Hill and New Mexico Associate Program Director Romir Lahiri at CAMP OMDP.

National Public Lands Day

On September 27, our Friends Grassroots Network hosted over 30 stewardship events across the West in celebration of National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Our public land champions in Congress joined the celebration by introducing a bipartisan resolution , led by Representative Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and co-sponsored by Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-Arizona), that recognizes September 27 as National Public Lands Day.

Event highlight: As part of the weekend’s celebrations, the Conservation Lands Foundation, Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, and Visit Las Cruces hosted CAMP OMDP in Las Cruces, New Mexico to celebrate the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands system.

Left to right: Ryan Callaghan of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Carleton Bowekaty of Bears Ears Partnership

Climate Week in New York City

The Conservation Lands Foundation partnered with Patagonia during NYC Climate Week to convene a public event: “A Gathering for Nature: Public Lands Protection IS Climate Action,” featuring U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), professional athlete Caroline Gleich, Ryan Callaghan of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Carleton Bowekaty of Bears Ears Partnership, moderated by our very own, Chris Hill.

Panelists shared stories of how public lands protection is central to climate action, aggressive public action remains our winning strategy, and how supporters living on the East Coast play a crucial role in defending Western public lands. Keep an eye out on our social media channels for a recording of the panel! In the meantime, please enjoy this clip of Representative Stansbury from the event where she emphasizes how much your advocacy continues to make an impact.

Celebrating 25 Years of National Public Lands Day

The George Wright Society's Park Stewardship Forum Journal recently released a special edition dedicated to the National Conservation Lands system. This special issue, guest-edited by Conservation Lands Foundation staff, brings together voices from across our Friends Grassroots Network, the Bureau of Land Management, and the broader conservation community to celebrate the National Conservation Lands' remarkable diversity and Bureau of Land Management’s innovative management philosophy. Continue reading .

In Memoriam: Richard Moe

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Richard Moe, one of the founding trustees of the Conservation Lands Foundation. Richard’s influence and passion shaped every aspect of our organization—from our Friends Grassroots Network to our commitment to protecting historic and cultural sites on public lands. Richard was relentless in his belief that we cannot chart our path to the future unless we understand where we come from, and that there are “times when ordinary people can - and must - do extraordinary things” His legacy lives on in every acre we protect and every community we empower. Read a letter from our founding chair Ed Norton in memory of Richard Moe.

Join Our Team: Associate Director of Digital Advocacy

Want to turn your digital skills into real-world conservation wins? We're seeking a dynamic communicator to join our team as an Associate Director of Digital Advocacy, a two-year grant-funded position. If you're passionate about using digital advocacy to amplify the voices of local communities across the West in support of protecting public lands, visit our job description and instructions to apply here .

Smart Giving for Public Lands: Donor Advised Funds

Maximize your 2025 tax advantages while supporting public lands for years to come with a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). It's simple to set up through your community foundation, bank, or firms like Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab. As supporter Milton Chen says: “My DAF makes it easy to give thoughtfully and reliably to the Conservation Lands Foundation — recommending grants is quick, and I love knowing those gifts help conserve the landscapes and coastlines I care about."

Click here to make a donation from your DAF or contact your administrator to request a gift to the Conservation Lands Foundation.

Trail Snacks:

�� Conservation Lands Foundation CEO Chris Hill and Visit Las Cruces Executive Director Rochelle Miller-Hernandez recently published an oped in the Las Cruces Bulletin reflecting on 25 years of the National Conservation Lands system and envisioning the next 25 and beyond.

��Osprey Packs features the Conservation Lands Foundation in their latest blog , highlighting our Friends Grassroots Network, the 25th anniversary of National Conservation Lands, and their continued support of our work to defend and protect public lands.

��️A big thank you to MeatEater for bringing Conservation Lands Foundation CEO Chris Hill on a recent podcast episode to discuss our community-based advocacy model and how vital public comments are in defending crucial public land policies.

The next 25 years of the National Conservation Lands will be written by the choices we make today. Your voice will determine whether these landscapes remain protected for future generations.

Thank you for being here with us,

Chris Hill

Chief Executive Officer
Conservation Lands Foundation

Will Government Shutdown Be the Next Step in Effort to Sell Off Country’s Remaining Unprotected Public Lands?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:59:37 GMT

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.

####

Special Issue of Park Stewardship Forum Journal Commemorates 25 Years of National Conservation Lands

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:08:37 GMT

Twenty-five years ago, a bold vision took root—one grounded in people, place, and possibility. In 2000, the Department of Interior established the National Conservation Lands system, a remarkable system of protected public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that has grown to encompass over 38 million acres across more than 900 extraordinary landscapes.

As we celebrate a quarter-century of conservation triumphs and community-driven stewardship, we're delighted to share a new publication from the George Wright Society's Park Forum Journal: a special edition dedicated to the National Conservation Lands. This special issue of Parks Stewardship Forum , guest-edited by Conservation Lands Foundation staff, brings together voices from across our Friends Grassroots Network, the Bureau of Land Management, and the broader conservation community to celebrate the National Conservation Lands' remarkable diversity and BLM's innovative management philosophy.

The research and insights gathered in this Park Forum Journal special edition offer both celebration of achievements and roadmaps for the future. Whether you're interested in the history of the National Conservation Lands system, partnership models, or the on-the-ground stories of stewardship success, these papers provide a deep dive into one of America's most dynamic land management systems.

View the Park Forum Journal National Conservation Lands themed articles below:

New Legislation Seeks to Undo Ironwood Forest National Monument

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:05:38 GMT

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

Conservation Lands Foundation Condemns Legislation to Abolish Arizona’s National Monuments

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:01:56 GMT

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

###

From the Grassroots Up: A Deeper Partnership to Build a Stronger Conservation Movement

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:29:47 GMT

At the Conservation Lands Foundation, we've always believed that the most impactful strategies start with people. It begins with the passionate individuals and dedicated local organizations on the front lines, working tirelessly to protect America's National Conservation Lands. Our mission isn’t just about conserving the public’s land; it's about nurturing the community-based movement that makes this work possible and successful.

That's why we're so excited to announce a deeper, more robust collaboration with TREC–Together Rising As An Environmental Community–the nation’s leading environmental nonprofit capacity building advisors. This new partnership isn't just about a one-time project; it’s a long-term commitment to strengthening the foundation of our work—the people.

Investing in the Roots of Grassroots Advocacy

Our Friends Grassroots Network is made up of more than 80 community-based organizations. These groups are the heart of our movement, leading essential work from local advocacy to on-the-ground stewardship. But to be effective, they need more than just passion—they need resources, skills, and stability.

This partnership with TREC is designed to provide just that. By integrating TREC's expertise and collaboration in non-profit management and leadership development directly into our long-term planning, we can offer our Friends Network the kind of tailored support that is often overlooked and underfunded. This includes resources focused on TREC's core "lantern areas":

Board Development
Fund Development
Strategic Planning
Campaigns and Organizing
Leadership Support
Culture and Resiliency
Boards
Campaigns & Organizing
DEI & Culture
Executive Director Support & Planning
Fund Development
Fiscal Management
Human Resources & Supervision
Intentional Leadership
Networks, Collaborations, & Coalitions
Strategic Planning

A Ripple Effect for the Entire Conservation Movement

This collaboration is a model for how the public lands movement can grow stronger by investing in its people. It allows us to build a more cohesive and robust program for our Friends Network.

By deepening our collaboration, we also hope to create a ripple effect that extends beyond our immediate networks. This partnership will foster greater peer networking and knowledge sharing across TREC and our own organization and partners. It's an opportunity to share best practices, exchange wisdom, and collectively grow the influence of the public land conservation movement as a whole.

Our work has always been rooted in the belief that when communities are strong, the lands they love are strong too. This deeper partnership with TREC is a significant step forward in our shared mission to build a powerful, resilient, and enduring movement for the protection, restoration, and expansion of America’s National Conservation Lands.

These are the essential building blocks of resilient, impactful organizations. By expanding our ability to provide these resources, we are strengthening the professional growth and organizational stability of our Friends Network and partners, ensuring they are better equipped for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Writing Comments Without NEPA Regulations

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:46:22 GMT

These tools will train participants to write strong, effective comments in response to BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and other implementation activities without relying on weakened NEPA regulations. The materials presented focus on using enduring statutory authorities—FLPMA, NHPA, and National Conservation Lands laws—to ground comments in legal requirements that remain intact. Further, we’ll discuss high-level talking points to keep campaigns on message, rather than succumbing to distracting announcements from the administration.

Key Objectives:

Learn how to utilize enduring legal mandates to write strong comments.

Use FLPMA’s multiple-use and sustained yield requirements and the laws and mission of the National Conservation Lands to challenge extraction-heavy plans.

Emphasize NHPA’s consultation obligations and the need to protect cultural/historic resources.

About our presenters:

Nashoba Consulting was formed by Nada Wolff Culver, former Principal Deputy Director for the BLM, and Natalie Landreth, former Deputy Solicitor for Lands for the Department of the Interior.

�� Resources From The Webinar:

Workshop slides

BLM planning process flowchart

Advocating for public lands in the new NEPA environment

Advocating for BLM landscapes through commenting

Relevant laws and regulations for comments

Administration’s Repeal of Public Lands Rule Threatens Balanced Land Management, Ignores Public Input

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:08:49 GMT

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.

“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

Fall Forward: August Updates from the Conservation Lands Foundation

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 22:42:06 GMT

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.

Funding Fight Ahead

We're gearing up for aggressive advocacy during the high-stakes negotiations over federal funding for Fiscal Year 2026. This begins when Congress returns to work on September 2. Both chambers rejected the White House’s devastating budget cuts to the Bureau of Land Management, thanks in large part to the collective advocacy of the Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network partners. However, the House appropriations bill contains harmful policy riders, including language that would force Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah to operate under an outdated management plan based on President Trump’s illegal shrinking of the monument in 2017.

Impact: An underfunded Bureau of Land Management cannot properly maintain and improve trails, visitor amenities, public safety measures, and wildlife habitat. Meanwhile, harmful policy riders buried in the House appropriations bill ignore the public’s interest for balanced land management, and replace it with antiquated approaches that prioritize extraction over conservation.

The big picture: These funding games are deliberate attempts to hamstring public land management and open the door to privatization. In partnership with our Friends Network, we will mobilize public land supporters across the country to demand Congress provide adequate funding for the Bureau of Land Management and reject policy riders that undermine science-based management and the public’s interest.

Defending Chuckwalla National Monument in Court

The Conservation Lands Foundation has joined eight other organizations in filing a motion to intervene against a lawsuit aimed at dismantling Chuckwalla National Monument in California, just months after its designation by former President Joe Biden in January 2025. Our motion followed the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and three other Tribal Nations who also filed to intervene in the case.

Impact: We seek to stop a lawsuit that challenges the Chuckwalla National Monument designation and threatens to strip protections from lands sacred to 13 Tribal Nations and eliminate guaranteed public access for camping and off-highway vehicle recreation.

Our Take: Chuckwalla National Monument represents the best of conservation and community-based engagement, earning widespread support through years of Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration, and advocacy from local communities, local businesses, and elected officials. We remain committed to defending this and other treasured National Conservation Lands.

Increasing Public Access to National Conservation Lands

After years of planning and partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and our Friends Grassroots Network members in the region, we’re delighted to announce the public opening of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies in California, which was previously accessible only through guided tours. Named for the Cotoni (“Chuh-toe-knee”) people who originally inhabited the land, this site located near Santa Cruz was added to the California Coastal National Monument by former President Barack Obama in 2017.

Impact: The newly opened trails welcome hikers, cyclists, e-bikes, on-leash dogs, and equestrians (via permit), with adaptive mountain biking available, and mark a major milestone in designing access to nature that is led by communities and grounded in responsible stewardship.

Visit: Trails are open sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Visit the BLM website for more information.

The Heart and Engine of Our Mission

This summer, we hosted eleven emerging leaders from across the Friends Network in Las Vegas, Nevada for our Foundations of Conservation Leadership training. The four-day retreat combined advocacy campaign skills with policy education and is part of how we’re investing in the next generation of grassroots power needed to protect and defend public lands.

Rally for the Rio Grande del Norte

We joined partners in July for a three-day celebration of the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument in New Mexico and the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands system. Volunteers installed fishing line recycling bins near popular river access sites and the event culminated in a community rally featuring New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich.

Bureau of Land Management rangers in Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. Photo: Bob Wick.

Chuckwalla National Monument, California. Photo: Bob Wick

Our Friends Grassroots Network includes 80+ community organizations across the West fighting to protect the places they call home. We empower the Friends Network with the tools, skills, and connections they need to be effective advocates for National Conservation Lands.

Upcoming Trip: Adventure in California’s Eastern Sierras

Alabama Hills, California. Photo: Bob Wick

Join us October 1-5 for an immersive adventure combining camping, photography, and advocacy in California's Eastern Sierra Nevadas. Guided by writer and photographer Josh Jackson, author of The Enduring Wild and Conservation Lands Foundation Leadership Circle member, you’ll connect with fellow advocates, learn landscape photography basics, and experience why these landscapes deserve protection.

Join Us: Space is limited. For trip details and to RSVP, click here.

Join Our Team: Chief Development Officer

The Conservation Lands Foundation is seeking a Chief Development Officer who is a fundraising maverick, thinks big, brings people-centered energy to their work, and is passionate about protecting public lands.

For the complete job description and how to apply, click here.

Estate Planning: Your Gift to Future Generations

A will is one of the most thoughtful and practical gifts you can give to your family to ensure that your wishes are clear and your loved ones are cared for. August is National Make-A-Will Month, the perfect time to take this important step. Once you've provided for your family, we hope you’ll consider including the Conservation Lands Foundation in your plans to make sure the public lands we love and need are there for them too.

Trail Snacks:

��️ Hear our Public Lands Director, Kara Matsumoto, describe how overwhelming bipartisan public support for BLM lands caught Congressional leaders by surprise on the Center for Western Priorities’ Keep Parks Public podcast tour. Listen to the live recording here.

��️ Take to the skies with our Communications Director Shevawn Bell, Friends of the Owyhees, and EcoFlight on this recent flyover of the stunning Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon, one of the largest remaining intact–and currently unprotected–landscapes in the United States.

�� Say hello to the newest residents at Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Idaho thanks to prairie falcon nest cameras installed at the start of breeding season.

Thank you for being part of this movement to protect the places that ground us, inspire us, and remind us of what's worth fighting for.

August FGN Monthly Call (2025): NPLD Planning

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 19:50:18 GMT

Bruce Passmore of TREC co-hosted our August call as we rolled out our National Public Lands Day Action campaign. Viewers will learn about events from around the Network and access tips to assist their NPLD activities.

Recorded: August 19, 2025

Watch the Zoom recording.

Conservation Lands Foundation Celebrates Grand Opening of Public Access Trails at Cotoni-Coast Dairies

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 22:25:20 GMT

Santa Cruz, CA - Today, the Conservation Lands Foundation joins the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and our partners, the Bureau of Land Management, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, Sempervirens Fund and local communities in celebrating the long-anticipated opening of nine miles of public-access trails in the Cotoni-Coast (“Chuh-toe-knee”) Dairies Unit of the California Coastal National Monument. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in expanding equitable outdoor access on public lands.

Named for the Cotoni people who inhabited the land, the general public has historically only accessed the land through guided tours on the property. The 9 miles of trails opening today are the first of 19 miles that are planned for Phase 1 development on the 6,000-acre unit which allows hikers, cyclists (adaptive MTB on Loop 1), e-bikes, on-leash dogs and equestrians (via permit only). Visitors should be aware of cattle actively grazing on the property. Access hours are sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week with parking available at the intersection of Cement Plant Road and Warnella Truck Trail.

Below is a statement from Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director at 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 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands.

“The opening of public access to Cotoni-Coast Dairies is a powerful example of what the public can achieve through partnership, persistence and a shared love of the outdoors. As we celebrate 25 years of the National Conservation Lands, today’s grand opening reflects our commitment to meaningful access to nature led by communities and grounded in responsible stewardship.

“The Conservation Lands Foundation is proud to have played a role in the designation of the California Coastal National Monument and the inclusion of Cotoni-Coast Dairies. We are equally honored to continue our support through on-the-ground partnerships with members of our Friends Grassroots Network in the area. We congratulate all of our partners on this tremendous achievement and look forward to the next phase of work to bring even more trails, and more people, into connection with this special place.”

Additional Resources

Organizations Seek to Intervene in Lawsuit to Protect Chuckwalla National Monument

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 22:21:08 GMT

Palm Desert, CA — Today, the Conservation Lands Foundation joined eight other organizations — ranging from Coachella Valley-based, to state-wide and national groups — to file motions to intervene in a lawsuit to defend the Chuckwalla National Monument , following the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and three other Tribal Nations.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by an Idaho-based motorized recreation special interest group, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and an individual miner from Michigan, against the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). These plaintiffs, represented by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Mountain States Legal Foundation, seek to undo the designation of the monument, established in January 2025. The monument is located on desert lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in California’s Riverside and Imperial Counties.

The organizations filing for intervention spent years carefully vetting boundaries and collaborating with Tribes, veterans, business owners, local elected officials, recreation and conservation groups, and community members to identify and document Chuckwalla’s unique tribal resources and values worthy of monument-level protections. These organizations each have interests and expertise in the monument’s designation, and intervention by interested parties is critical. Even if the U.S. government vigorously defends the monument, it does not have the same interests as local Tribes or this intervening coalition.

“Chuckwalla National Monument is more than just land to me — it’s a part of my personal story,” said Colin Barrows, CoFounder of CactusToCloud Institute . “I grew up exploring the winding Painted Canyon on foot, and continue to find new adventures driving along the network of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails on the Chuckwalla Bench. It has become a sanctuary where I have found solitude, shared special moments with my wife, and introduced countless others to the unique beauty of our desert. This Monument is a living classroom for geology, rare plants, and climate change, and a vital, sustainable economic driver for the Coachella Valley. Its designation ensures that everyone, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity, can experience the exceptional beauty and rich culture of our desert.”

Chuckwalla National Monument benefits local economies, protects lands significant to 13 Tribal Nations, ensures equitable access and outdoor recreation (including camping, picnicking, driving off-highway vehicles, hunting and more) and safeguards numerous historical, scientific, and ecological values. The monument designation was called for and celebrated by local Tribes, local and state governments, state and federal elected officials, veterans, 300+ businesses, business groups and Chambers of Commerce, 370+ scientists and residents of surrounding communities.

“California veterans spent years advocating for the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument not just because of its breathtaking landscapes, but because it tells the story of our service. From the World War II training grounds scattered across the desert to its proximity to active duty bases, Chuckwalla is a place where military families can reconnect with each other, with the land, and with their sense of purpose,” said Janessa Goldbeck, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation . “Veterans have a long history of protecting America’s public lands, going all the way back to Teddy Roosevelt, who was both a soldier and an outdoorsman. This monument continues that legacy of service.”

“People of all political affiliations love America’s national monuments and the public access they provide. Chuckwalla National Monument protects some of southern California’s most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes as part of the National Conservation Lands system,” said Elyane Stefanick, California program director for the Conservation Lands Foundation . “Chuckwalla National Monument earned widespread support during its designation process through years of Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration, and advocacy from local communities, local businesses and elected officials. Any attempts to dismantle Chuckwalla’s monument designation would undermine public access, Indigenous cultural connections, vital wildlife habitats and local economies. We remain committed to defending this treasured landscape."

The applicants filing this motion to intervene include CactusToCloud Institute, California Native Plant Society, CalWild, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Lands Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Vet Voice Foundation, and The Wilderness Society. They are represented by Earthjustice and the Law Offices of Joseph Lavigne.

See all client quotes

###

Rally for the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 22:17:00 GMT

In July, the Conservation Lands Foundation proudly joined the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Trout Unlimited, NM Wild, and Friends of the Rio Grande Del Norte (FRGDN) for the "Rally For The Rio Grande Del Norte" to celebrate the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument and the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands system. The three-day event (July 25-27) featured camping, service projects, and culminated in a community gathering on July 26 at New Mexico River Adventures.

On the morning of July 26, CLF team members Shi-Lynn and Romir joined event coordinators and volunteers for an important service project: installing monofilament recycling bins along the Rio Grande River. Working with local partners, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) identified several locations where these bins were needed to address wildlife and environmental hazards caused by discarded fishing lines.

The Challenge: Discarded fishing line poses serious threats to wildlife and degrades the natural beauty of our waterways.

The Solution: Strategically placed recycling bins that provide anglers with an easy, environmentally responsible way to dispose of used fishing line.

Getting to Work

Bard Edrington, stewardship coordinator for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, organized volunteers and distributed tools before teams dispersed to their assigned locations. The CLF team partnered with Ben and Nick from FRGDN to install PVC pipe recycling bins at two popular fishing spots.

The design is both simple and effective: PVC pipes fitted with curved open tops for easy line disposal and screw-on bottom enclosures for maintenance access. After installation, teams added FRGDN and BHA stickers, with the BLM planning to complete the setup by adding instructional signage.

Left to Right: Romir Lahir, Ben Mortenson, Nick Streit, and two FRGDN volunteers pose next to our first installed monofilament recycling bin.

The combined crew pose next to a newly installed monofilament recycling bin.

Enjoying the Monument

After our service project, Nick, executive director of FRGDN, took us on a hike along the Vista Verde trail. As we made our way along the marked trail, Nick provided Romir and I with a history of the area and insights on how the FRGDN plan to assist the BLM with capacity needs around the Monument. Our hiking turned into a scoping adventure as we noticed some damage during our hike. Heavy monsoon rains rutted parts of the trail and FRGDN will work with the BLM and volunteers to perform maintenance in the near future. Halfway through our hike, we rested at an overlook and enjoyed this beautiful vista before returning back to our truck (below).

Rally For The Rio Grande

Hands-On Conservation: Installing Recycling Bins in the Monument

Bard Edrington (center, green shirt) kicks off the stewardship project

Romir and Ben secure the first PVC pipe into position.

Our group moved on to the next area where we met up with Bard and company. Volunteers collected a light amount of trash, while our combined team erected another recycling bin.

Results: Six monofilament recycling bins installed in one day, with FRGDN and the BLM Taos Field Office planning to install another dozen in the coming months.

The weekend's efforts culminated in the Rally for the Rio Grande at New Mexico River Adventures on Saturday afternoon. More than 150 attendees gathered to celebrate conservation and community, with representatives from New Mexico Wild, Trout Unlimited, CLF, BHA, and FRGDN sharing their missions and achievements.

A Powerful Message

The celebration was punctuated by the encouraging words of New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich who reminded attendees about the importance of public lands and working together in these trying times.

"All of these groups are filling the gap right now. We need you more than ever to volunteer for these folks," said Senator Heinrich.

Local musician Max Gomez provided the perfect soundtrack with original songs and crowd favorites, creating an atmosphere where new friendships formed and existing partnerships strengthened.

The Power of Partnership

The Rally for the Rio Grande Del Norte exemplified what's possible when diverse organizations unite around shared conservation goals. From installing practical infrastructure to building community connections, this event demonstrated that meaningful conservation work happens when we work together.

As we continue celebrating the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands, events like this remind us that our public lands thrive through the dedication of passionate individuals and collaborative organizations committed to preserving these treasures for future generations.

Empowering the Next Generation of Public Land Advocates

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 21:55:01 GMT

Earlier this summer, the Conservation Lands Foundation hosted the Foundations of Conservation Leadership, which is designed to prepare attendees for a successful career in conservation by providing them campaign tools and skills, grounding them in policy and the history of the environmental movement, and connecting them to one another through team building exercises and networking opportunities.

Foundations is open to staff and board members with less than two years in their role at any of our 80+ enrolled Friends Grassroots Network organizations. For this year's Foundations, we gathered eleven staff members from the Network in Las Vegas, Nevada. We lodged at the Retreat on Charleston Peak, far away from the bright lights of The Strip. The Spring Mountains provided some relief from the dry Mojave desert while adding another layer to the group’s experience. On the first night, we checked into our rooms and enjoyed dinner together. After, we played icebreaker bingo and prepared for the next three days of learning, fellowship, and reflection.

Day One: Corn Creek to Fremont Street

Day one and two were spent at the Corn Creek Visitor’s Center on the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Day one was a full day of programming with CLF staff covering a wide variety of topics from non-profit 101 to environmental justice. After our training, the team headed to the Arts District for dinner at Nevada Brew Works. Following dinner, a group of staff and participants headed over to Fremont Street to experience Old Vegas and let off some steam.

Day Two: Night Life NCL-Style

After a short day at Corn Creek, the crew had lunch and headed back up to the mountain for free time. The group split up and enjoyed hikes and exploring the Visitors Gateway at Mt. Charleston. We met back up for dinner and group photos. Following dinner, the group headed to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) where Bureau of Land Management rangers led us on a night hike and dark sky viewing. This night hike was coordinated by Save Red Rock, a Friends Grassroots Network organization currently working on a Dark Sky designation for the NCA. It was a special time as the group observed a shooting star, scorpions with black light flashlights, and the full moon through the BLM’s telescope. With all the excitement, we were surprised that the majority of our group woke up the next morning for a 7AM birding outing with Red Rock Audubon.

Day Three: Birding & Chill

Day three started with birding at the Deer Creek picnic area on Mt. Charleston. The group, led by Red Rock Audubon, observed birds through binoculars and downloaded birding apps to identify bird species by sound. After a short hike, we returned to the Retreat where we held our training sessions in one of the hotel’s meeting rooms. I led the group in storytelling and resilience exercises and allowed time for reflection and feedback. The group had become very close over the three and a half days of training and bonded through collective storytelling and team building. The atmosphere was refreshing and light. With so much information and activities packed into a four-day week, we were amazed by how engaged and excited everyone was at the end of our training. We will continue to work with this group and meet virtually before the year’s end to continue our mentorship of the next generation of conservation leaders.

The Team

Left to right: Rachel Frederico (Development Associate), Nick Mills (Public Lands Policy Associate Director), Jamie Wienk (Associate HR and Administrative Director), and Kara Matsumoto (Public Lands Policy Director) joined Shi-Lynn Campbell (Grassroots Engagement Associate Director, pictured in front) in leading Foundations 2025. Each CLF staff contributed with presentations, coordination, and execution of the training retreat. Jocelyn Torres and Bertha Gutierrez (not pictured) also assisted with trainings at Corn Creek. A huge thank you to our staff for their awesome leadership.

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

A big thank you to our longtime partner Osprey Packs for once again sponsoring our Foundations in Conservation Leadership training! With Osprey’s support, we're able to empower the next generation of public land advocates working to protect the National Conservation Lands.

We'd also like to thank Haglöfs outdoor clothing and apparel for their in-kind donations.

July FGN Call: Recess Event Planning

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:51:55 GMT

Recorded: August 19, 2025

Watch the Zoom recording.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Senate for Rejecting White House Cuts to National Conservation Lands

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:22:02 GMT

Washington, DC - Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2026 Interior appropriations bill, which rejected the steep cuts the White House requested for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The bill provides marginal reductions in funding for the BLM, while ensuring funding for the National Conservation Lands system is maintained at $59.135 million, equal to what was enacted in Fiscal Year 2025. The bill cleared markup with a bipartisan vote of 26-2.

"The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds the Senate Appropriations Committee for delivering a clear bipartisan, bicameral rejection of the White House's proposed cuts to critical public lands programs. While we are disappointed by the slight reductions in overall Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funding, we applaud the Committee for recognizing the need to protect the National Conservation Lands system from the nearly 75% cut in funding proposed by the White House.

“We particularly commend Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Rep Dina Titus (D-Nevada) for their exceptional leadership in championing funding for the BLM and National Conservation Lands. We’d also like to thank the members of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee including Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) for understanding the vital need to properly fund the National Conservation Lands system, which protects 38 million acres of irreplaceable public lands across the United States.

“While we are pleased that the bill maintains National Conservation Lands funding at $59.135 million, preventing harmful cuts proposed by the White House, we remain concerned about the historical underinvestment to the nation’s largest public land manager and the conservation lands it stewards.

“The BLM and National Conservation Lands system have been chronically underfunded for years, and the agency needs meaningful funding increases to address decades of deferred maintenance, visitor services and resource protection. Nevertheless, we urge swift adoption of the Senate's funding levels, which at minimum provide stability for the agency to fulfill its mission.

“In addition, we applaud the Committee for including provisions that will ensure the BLM maintains adequate staffing levels and protects vulnerable and valuable landscapes across the West. Prohibiting preleasing and leasing activities within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument boundaries in Utah, protecting the Chaco Canyon cultural landscape in New Mexico, and directing the BLM to conduct government-to-government consultation with Tribal governments in relation to Caja del Rio in New Mexico demonstrates principled stewardship of irreplaceable cultural and natural treasures.

“These provisions are in stark contrast to the several harmful policy riders included in the House FY26 Interior appropriations bill, which would prevent the implementation of widely-popular policies and land management plans shaped by and for the public like the Public Lands Rule and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan.

“The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to swiftly pass the Senate's responsible approach to public lands funding and reject the harmful policy riders in the House Interior appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026.”

###

Contact: Shevawn Bell, shevawn(at)conservationlands.org

Organizations urge House Leadership to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante and stop attacks on National Monuments

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:35:32 GMT

Contacts:

Shevawn Bell, Communications Director, Conservation Lands Foundation,
shevawn@conservationlands.org

Washington, DC - Yesterday, more than 65 organizations urged House Leadership to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from House members who are attempting to use the appropriations process to open the monument to development and destruction. The letter calls on leadership to remove language from the House Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill that would prohibit funding for the monument, unless it is managed pursuant to an outdated management plan from the first Trump administration.

Specifically, Section 137 (pg. 75) of the House 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill would require the Department of the Interior to manage Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument “in compliance with the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans…dated February 2020.” If passed, this language effectively implements Trump’s 2017 illegal shrinking of the Monument, and sets a dangerous precedent for not only Grand Staircase-Escalante, but all of our nation's National Monuments. Quotes and additional information can be found below.

“The agency cuts and harmful policy riders included in the House 2026 Interior Appropriations bill is another backdoor attempt to attack America’s cherished public lands and national monuments,” said Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “This bill will severely impact the cultural, natural, and historical resources of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by prohibiting the Bureau of Land Management from implementing the updated monument plan, which was carefully developed through extensive public input and meaningful engagement. This misguided language, along with the deep cuts to land management agencies like the BLM, ignores the voices of local communities, Tribal nations who hold this land sacred, and the rural communities who depend on these monuments as economic drivers.”

“Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the most treasured public landscapes in America. But what makes it like nowhere else—remarkable paleontological discoveries and cultural connections, jaw-dropping scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems—is at risk if the 2026 Appropriations bill passes,” said Travis Hammill, DC Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) . “While members of Utah’s House of Representatives and other public land opponents continue their attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante, SUWA, our members, and our partners will unwaveringly continue to protect and defend the Monument for current and future generations.”

As stated in the letter:

“... Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah is the first and largest national monument entrusted to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conserve, restore, and protect. First designated a National Monument in 1996 and reinstated to its full boundaries in 2021, Grand Staircase-Escalante contains unique scientific and historic resources that offer unparalleled research opportunities for earth and climate scientists, paleontologists, geologists, archaeologists, historians, and conservation biologists. In addition, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, with its slot canyons and sweeping vistas, has become a destination place for people around the world in search of a unique wilderness experience…

The BLM initiated a resource management planning (RMP) process for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on July 28, 2022 in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10286. A final RMP was released on August 29, 2024 and includes the full boundaries of the established monument. As with all National Monuments, the development and implementation of an RMP is essential for providing guidance on management and clarity to the public on management decisions. Sec. 137 would usurp this important public process.”

Read the full letter here.

About the Monument

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was designated as a national monument in 1996 to protect the incredible scientific, ecological, and paleontological resources within its 1.9 million acres. This crown jewel of America’s national public lands was the first monument managed by the BLM, and was the first unit in the agency’s now robust and expansive “National Conservation Lands” system.

Since its establishment, heightened protections for the Monument’s geology, paleontology, wildlife, plant communities, and ancestral sites have succeeded in preserving these unique values for generations to come, and local communities on the Monument’s doorstep have benefited as well. More than 25 years later, the numerous benefits of protecting Grand Staircase-Escalante are clear: the monument preserves a remarkable ecosystem at the landscape-level and sets the stage for future discovery about human, paleontological, and geologic history on the Colorado Plateau.

On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and eliminated large swaths of the Monument, slashing it by 47 percent – roughly 900,000 acres. Thankfully, on October 8, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its full, original boundaries. In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a new management plan for the full Monument. During both the scoping phase of the current planning effort and after a draft plan was released, CLF and SUWA members and supporters of public lands conservation across the country submitted comments to the BLM calling for a holistic, conservation-based management plan worthy of this remarkable place.

In August 2023 , a Federal District Court Judge in Utah dismissed lawsuits brought by the State of Utah, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and others challenging President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to restore the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The state and other plaintiffs quickly appealed that decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which held oral argument on September 26, 2024, and will issue a decision in the coming months. SUWA, CLF and eight other conservation organizations have intervened on behalf of the United States to defend President Biden’s restoration of the Monuments, as have four Tribal nations.

###

Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) leads the national movement of community-based advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.

Learn more at www.suwa.org.

Organizations urge House Leadership to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante and stop attacks on National Monuments

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:17:38 GMT

Contacts:

Shevawn Bell, Communications Director, Conservation Lands Foundation, shevawn@conservationlands.org

As stated in the letter:

Read the full letter here.

About the Monument

Since its establishment, heightened protections for the Monument’s geology, paleontology, wildlife, plant communities, and ancestral sites have succeeded in preserving these unique values for generations to come, and local communities on the Monument’s doorstep have benefited as well. More than 25 years later, the numerous benefits of protecting Grand Staircase-Escalante are clear: the monument preserves a remarkable ecosystem at the landscape-level and sets the stage for future discovery about human, paleontological, and geologic history on the Colorado Plateau.

On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and eliminated large swaths of the Monument, slashing it by 47 percent – roughly 900,000 acres. Thankfully, on October 8, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its full, original boundaries. In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a new management plan for the full Monument. During both the scoping phase of the current planning effort and after a draft plan was released , CLF and SUWA members and supporters of public lands conservation across the country submitted comments to the BLM calling for a holistic, conservation-based management plan worthy of this remarkable place.

###

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards a world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org.

FY 2026 House Appropriations Bill Betrays America’s Commitment to Public Lands

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:22:37 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Shevawn Bell, shevawn (at) conservationlands.org

Washington, DC – The Fiscal Year 2026 Interior appropriations bill introduced in the U.S. House today betrays America’s commitment to public lands and waters by slashing budgets for public land management agencies and blocking the implementation of land management plans shaped by the public.

Below is a statement from David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs of the Conservation Lands Foundation, on the introduction of this funding package. CLF 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.

“This proposed Interior appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 introduced in the House betrays this country’s decades-long commitment to managing public lands for the use and enjoyment of all Americans.

“The House Interior spending bill proposes significant cuts to the Department of the Interior ($61 million below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level) and Bureau of Land Management ($110.4 million below the FY2025 enacted level) as well as draconian policy riders that block implementation of critical land management plans that ensure public lands are managed responsibly for all who use them.

“These decisions by the House have real world impacts, including risks to public safety, the erosion of visitor services and irreparable harm to cultural and ecological resources on public lands. A well-funded Bureau of Land Management is essential to preserving access, supporting rural economies and ensuring safe and sustainable recreation.

“Public lands stewarded by the BLM are growing rapidly in popularity and visitorship, yet Congressional funding for the agency to manage and protect these lands has not kept pace. Adequately funding the BLM is one of the most efficient and effective ways we can prevent wildfires, ensure public access to outdoor recreation and preserve the ecological and cultural values of National Conservation Lands.

“The package also prevents the implementation of widely-popular policies like the Public Lands Rule and land management plans shaped by and for the public like the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan.

“This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands. On behalf of the millions of Americans across the country who value public lands and waters, we call on Congress to develop and pass a funding bill that invests in America’s public lands, the civil servants who steward them and the processes that ensure their proper management is an essential national priority.”

President Trump Signs Worst Environmental Legislation in America’s History

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:06:10 GMT

Washington, DC – Today, President Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill into law. The final package includes several provisions that represent a sweeping rollback of conservation progress that will irrevocably damage public lands and waters, greatly diminish wildlife habitat and erode one of the few things that connects us all, regardless of race, religion or political party. Here are just a few egregious elements of the bill:

Slashes royalty rates for onshore and offshore drilling—giving Big Oil sweetheart deals at taxpayers’ expense.
Reinstates noncompetitive leasing and mandates unprecedented quarterly oil and gas lease sales across nine Western states.
Opens vast swaths of the Western Arctic to new oil development, reversing critical protections under the Biden administration.
Cuts coal royalty rates nearly in half, further subsidizing the fossil fuel industry with public land giveaways.
Rescinds $500 million from the Inflation Reduction Act intended for ecosystem restoration and resilience on public lands.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation.

“The leader of the most powerful country in the world believes America’s public lands, wildlife and rural economies are nothing more than an opportunity to fill billionaire's pockets. The passage of the budget reconciliation bill is in direct contradiction to the majority of voters on both sides of the aisle who believe public lands are what makes America great and are worth protecting, conserving and maintaining for the good of all, not just the wealthy few.

“While we remain strongly opposed to the actions of this President and the elected officials who enacted this deeply unpopular and anti-American bill through Congress, we are grateful to the bipartisan group of lawmakers who successfully defeated one of the most dangerous proposals in the bill: an attempt by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) to sell-off 1.2 million acres of public lands. In particular, we thank Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and James Risch (R-ID) for their principled stand against the public land liquidation scheme.

“The next battle is in the appropriations process, where we will push for critical funding for the Bureau of Land Management and the National Conservation Lands. America’s public lands belong to all of us—not to oil companies, mining executives or lawmakers who live in fear of presidential retribution.“

###

Contact: Shevawn Bell, shevawn @conservationlands.org 208-890-2778

Interior’s Rescission of NEPA Rule Undermines Environmental Protections, Evades Public Input

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:31:10 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shevawn Bell

shevawn@conservationlands.org

Washington, D.C. — The Department of the Interior today announced the release of an interim final rule rescinding its own implementing regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—a bedrock environmental law that has safeguarded communities, public health and natural resources for over 50 years. The rule represents a sweeping rollback of common sense and public participation tools that Interior agencies use to evaluate the environmental impacts of major projects. If finalized, this move could severely undermine NEPA’s core purpose of ensuring informed decision-making, government accountability and meaningful public engagement in managing our shared environment.

“The administration’s rollback of NEPA regulations threatens the integrity of balanced and commonsense land use planning on federal public lands. By weakening the environmental review process and limiting public input, the Interior Department is undermining the careful, science-based decision-making that’s essential to protecting public lands and managing them for long-term health and sustainability.

“NEPA ensures that land management decisions reflect the values of the American people—clean water, healthy ecosystems and access to nature. Stripping away these tools opens the door to rushed development and fragmented planning, which will put irreplaceable landscapes, watersheds and local economies at risk.

“Public lands exist for the benefit of all, not just for short-term interests. Gutting NEPA’s implementing regulations is a shortsighted move that threatens balanced, sustainable land use and eliminates the public’s voice in shaping the future of our shared resources.”

###

Conservation Lands Foundation’s Statement on Senate Passage of H.R.1

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:16:13 GMT

Washington, DC - Today the Senate passed the most dangerous environmental legislation in modern U.S. history, which includes sweeping measures that gut environmental safeguards, fast-track development on cherished wildspaces like the Western Arctic, and give sweetheart deals away to big oil and gas companies.

"The Senate's budget reconciliation package is a wholesale assault on America's public lands and waters. Voters from all walks of life should know that policymakers who passed this package have only corporate financial interests at heart when it comes to our nation’s cherished public lands and waters.

“Among the most destructive elements of this bill include language to mandate quarterly oil and gas lease sales on unprecedented amounts of national public lands; bring back noncompetitive leasing - the bargain basement of oil and gas leasing - on public lands; lower royalty rates paid to U.S. taxpayers for drilling on public lands; and mandate lease sales every two years in the Western Arctic (NPR-A) with a minimum of 4 million acres offered per sale.

"Selling out America’s public lands, most notably the Western Arctic, to oil and gas companies would cause devastating harm to largely intact ecosystems that support Indigenous and local communities, outdoor recreation, local economies and wildlife habitats.

"We call on the House of Representatives to act on behalf of the majority of the American public by rejecting this destructive bill. America's public lands are integral to the fabric of our nation: protecting them for the benefit of all Americans is in the national interest.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Shevawn Bell, shevawn@conservationlands.org

Interior’s Rescission of NEPA Rule Undermines Environmental Protections, Evades Public Input

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:14:31 GMT

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shevawn Bell

shevawn @conservationlands.org

Senator Lee Withdraws Public Lands Sale Amendment After Bipartisan Opposition, Harmful Arctic Drilling Provisions Remain

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:09:16 GMT

Washington, DC - Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) yesterday withdrew his amendment to the One Big Beautiful Act that would have mandated the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands across 11 Western states, citing his inability to guarantee the lands wouldn't be sold to foreign interests like China. The withdrawal came after sustained bipartisan opposition from elected officials and the American public who understood that America's public lands should remain in public hands.

"While the Conservation Lands Foundation celebrates this critical victory for public lands, the Senate's budget reconciliation package still contains many harmful provisions that sell out America's public lands and waters, most notably Western Arctic drilling requirements that will decimate critical wildlife habitat in America's largest remaining piece of intact public land.

“Senator Lee’s public land sell-off amendment was on the wrong side of history and the American people. Polling consistently shows overwhelming bipartisan support for protecting public lands, and millions of Americans expressed fierce opposition to his sell-off scheme through calls, emails, and public comments.

"We thank the senators and representatives from both parties—including Senators Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), and others who stood on the right side of this issue—for their principled opposition to selling off America's public lands. Their voices, combined with the overwhelming public opposition, forced Senator Lee to abandon his dangerous proposal to sell off 1.2 million acres of public lands and shut out public access to irreplaceable places local communities use and rely on daily—beloved trailheads and access points for hiking, biking, hunting, off-highway vehicle recreation, and fishing.

"While we celebrate this important victory for public lands, we remain deeply concerned about the provisions mandating oil and gas lease sales in the Western Arctic. Selling out the Western Arctic to oil and gas companies would cause devastating harm to largely intact ecosystems that support Arctic Indigenous communities and subsistence access, millions of migratory birds, the Western Arctic and Teshekpuk Lake caribou herds, spawning fish and other marine life.

"More than 250,000 people commented in support of Western Arctic protections. We call on all U.S. Senators to act on behalf of the majority of the American public by rejecting this shortsighted proposal to decimate one of the largest intact wild landscapes in the U.S.

"America's public lands are integral to the fabric of our nation: protecting them for the benefit of all Americans is in the national interest. The American public’s passionate and loud opposition to Lee’s amendment sends an unignorable message to elected officials that Americans care deeply about public lands, but our work is far from over. Public lands must remain in public hands for everyone to enjoy, not just the greedy few."

CLF Joins Senate Roundtable Conversation on Public Lands Protections

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 19:07:24 GMT

Washington, DC - Today Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) Chief Conservation Officer Jocelyn Torres joined a group of public officials and public lands advocates for a “roundtable conversation” in the U.S. Senate on congressional plans to sell vast tracts of public lands. Convened by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), this conversation also included representatives from American Hunters & Anglers, the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

The conversation was focused on recent and ongoing attempts by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and other congressional leaders to include a provision in the budget reconciliation bill mandating the sale of millions of acres of public lands across the West to the highest bidder. While the latest attempt to include this provision in the bill has been blocked by the Senate Parliamentarian, these efforts to take public lands out of public hands continue. Many of these public lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the nation’s public lands administrator, which manages 245 million acres of land for the benefit of the public.

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 the 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands . As the Chief Conservation Officer for the CLF and a resident of Nevada living among these precious public lands, Jocelyn Torres has a lifetime of experience to share. Here are excerpts of what she had to say in her comments at the Roundtable event today:

“I’ve already learned firsthand what it means when one of your favorite outdoor places is sold off. One of the places where we had spent so many weekends together —where we built countless memories—was sold and turned into an industrial project. We were fenced out and could no longer spend weekends there. That loss was far more than just losing access to one piece of land; it was about losing a piece of our family's story.

“This experience opened my eyes to how quickly we can lose irreplaceable spaces. Many cherished public lands where I grew up —where I'm now teaching my own children the same outdoor traditions my father taught me—are being proposed for sale, including the proposed additions to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as part of the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act. Red Rock Canyon and the surrounding area welcomes more than 3 million visitors annually—families just like mine who depend on these lands for recreation, reflection, and building lasting memories.

“Public lands are an essential part of my life and the lives of so many Americans. And they have value well beyond what can be placed on a balance sheet.

“Indiscriminately selling public lands is shortsighted and hurts the vast majority of Americans who rely on these lands and waters, and is certainly not a solution to solving affordable housing problems in communities like Las Vegas.

“The lack of affordable housing in my community is a serious problem that deserves a well vetted solution. But no one should be fooled that Senator Lee’s proposal is an effective solution. The vast majority of public lands in his proposal are simply unsuitable for housing development. And where land availability may be a factor, communities should participate in careful land management and planning processes at the local, state and federal level to determine not only the appropriate lands but also what the community may be losing by expanding its development footprint.

“I've seen what happens when we lose special places—the fenced-off area where my family used to spend weekends is a constant reminder. But I've also seen what's possible when communities work together thoughtfully.

“History has shown that public lands are best managed when an active community of local people work together. We are here today on behalf of communities across America, to make it clear that public lands and waters are not for sale to benefit a greedy few - they are our children’s. For them, we will not be silent while Senator Lee and other anti-public land politicians attempt to act against the will of the people.”

CLF Statement on Senate Parliamanetarian Ruling Ousting Public Land Sales from Reconciliation Bill

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:50:11 GMT

Washington, DC - On Monday night, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) proposal requiring the sale of up to 1.8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management lands in the Senate amendment to the One Big Beautiful Act was ruled out of the reconciliation package because it violates the “Byrd Rule.”

Below is a statement from David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs 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 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands.

“Conservation Lands Foundation applauds the decision by the Senate Parliamentarian to remove Senator Mike Lee’s misguided, ill-intended, and deeply unpopular provision to sell off public lands as part of the reconciliation package.

“While this decision is based on a technical legislative process, it reflects the views of an overwhelming majority of Americans across the country and political spectrum that America’s public lands are not for sale, and that they should not be used to finance tax cuts for the wealthy or to line the pockets of billionaires who seek to profit from these priceless lands and waters.

“We urge Senator Lee to abandon this effort, and call on Congress to act on behalf of the rights of all Americans to enjoy their access to public lands by rejecting any additional attempts to mandate the sale of millions of acres of public land and line the pockets of campaign donors and out-of-state special interests. Public lands must remain in public hands for everyone to enjoy, not just the greedy few.”

“We Love Public Lands Rally” to Be Held to Protest Proposed Public Land Sales and National Monument Reductions

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 17:50:15 GMT

SANTA FE, NM — On Monday, June 23, New Mexico Wild and its partners are inviting members of the public to join its peaceful Public Lands Rally and March through downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. The rally will send a loud message to elected officials that New Mexicans value public lands and national monuments and oppose any attempts to sell off public lands and reduce national monument boundaries.

The rally will be held at De Vargas Park (302 W De Vargas St) at 3:30 pm MT, followed by a march to the El Dorado Hotel (309 W San Francisco St.) where Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will be speaking at the Western Governors Association Annual Meeting.

The brief speaker program will include representatives from conservation organizations, pueblos, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico Union. Participants are encouraged to bring signs in support of public land protection.

Parking is available at Sandoval Parking Garage (217 W Water St.), Water Street Municipal Lot (100 E Water St.), Railyard Public Parking, and the State Capitol Facility (485 Galisteo St.).

The rally comes at a critical time for public lands and waters. New Mexico and national organizations shared the following statements in response to the rally and emerging threats to New Mexico’s public lands and national monuments:

“To New Mexicans, public lands aren't some line item on a budget spreadsheet. Public lands are our lifeblood. Wild, public places and the wild things that inhabit those places are integral to the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of countless people across the West. Public lands are not just about outdoor recreation and all the health and economic benefits associated with that. These places house our identity. It's where we go to obtain our food, the firewood to heat our homes, and the solace we need to overcome the challenges of modern society. Public lands are our gym, our church and our grocery store. In short, our public lands are not for sale, they are in our DNA.”

- Jesse Deubel, Executive Director, New Mexico Wildlife Federation

“Republican attempts to sell off public lands are coming at a time when the protections for Greater Chaco are being rescinded, our national monuments are being targeted for abolishment, and national park units are on the table to be transferred to states, with no resources to manage. If you hunt, fish, camp, mountain bike, hike, or just value our public lands, know that your favorite places are at risk like never before.

These places are not merely lines on a map but critical ecological havens, sacred cultural sites, and irreplaceable natural treasures that help define our identity. Public lands are the backdrop to our state's outdoor heritage and way of life. Plans to sell off our children’s inheritance to benefit connected billionaires are a theft of historic proportions and should make all Americans ashamed and outraged.” -

- Mark Allison, Executive Director, New Mexico Wild

“Efforts to sell our public lands is an attack on the millions of people who celebrate these places every day. It's a significant step towards the dismantling of our public lands system. Our community in Southern New Mexico understands that our landscapes bring us together. These lands hold so much more than their potential for a cheap buck. They hold our stories, they are homes to essential wildlife and they improve the health of our communities. These efforts, coupled with President Trump and Secretary Burgum’s efforts to roll back protections on monuments and other areas, does not benefit any of our communities. The selling of public lands and dismantling of the system meant to safeguard our lands for generations is all being done to benefit the already wealthy. We protest today to urge Secretary Burgum to keep public lands in public hands.”

- Patrick Nolan , Executive Director, Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks

“The current Senate budget reconciliation package threatening to sell off millions of acres of public lands, combined with the administration's attacks on national monuments and the Western Arctic, is an unprecedented assault on our Western way of life and everyone's access to the outdoors. These coordinated threats will shut all of us out from our favorite outdoor places from New Mexico's Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and Río Grande del Norte to Alaska's Western Arctic. Public lands and national monuments support local businesses, hunters, anglers, guides, and communities who depend on these landscapes economically, spiritually, and culturally. We are proud to join communities across the country in calling on Interior Secretary Burgum and Western governors who are meeting this week to let them know we're counting on them to do what's right: keep public lands in public hands."

- Romir Lahiri, Associate Program Director for Conservation Lands Foundation

“Public lands are home to places that have shaped New Mexico’s history. They are an integral part of our communities’ diverse cultures and ways of life, providing critical habitat for wildlife, and offering millions of people places to hike, hunt, fish, and experience the outdoors. Attacks on our public lands, including National Monuments, and the laws that created them, are shady attempts to rip apart the landscapes and ecosystems that safeguard clean air and water, buoy the outdoor recreation economy, and preserve a national heritage rich in culture and natural beauty.”

- Leia Barnett, Greater Gila New Mexico Advocate, WildEarth Guardians

About the Senate Budget Reconciliation Package

The Senate budget reconciliation proposal makes over 258 million acres of public lands eligible for being sold off, mandating the sale of up to 3 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest lands across the west. Local recreation areas, Wilderness Study Areas, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Inventoried Roadless Areas, and critical wildlife habitat, including notable big game migration corridors, could all be sold under this proposal. The following acreages by state are eligible for sale:

Additional Resources:

Public Lands Available for Sale in the Senate Reconciliation Bill (Wilderness Society)

A Rapid Assessment of the Senate’s Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands (Getches-Wilkinson Center School of Law)

What To Know About the Senate’s Public Lands Sell-Off (CAP)

A United Front Protecting Public Lands (Letter)

About the Interior Department’s National Monument Review:

On Monday, February 3, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a series of secretarial orders that direct officers within the Department of the Interior to offer more parcels of public land for oil and gas leasing and revisit and potentially “revise” protections of national monuments and other public lands previously withdrawn from extractive use.

The call to review monuments (SO 3418 - Unleashing American Energy, Section 4c) asks for steps to “review and, as appropriate, revise” certain public land protections while conspicuously avoiding using the words “national monuments” and “Antiquities Act.” The process outlined by this order puts national monuments in the crosshairs and could lead to rollbacks.

According to a recent analysis from The Wilderness Society , Burgum’s secret monuments review puts 13.5 million acres of land-based national monuments under review. This includes 6.7 million acres of critical wildlife habitat for 32 endangered species, plus 1.2 million acres of big-game wildlife migration corridors. These places protect 5,000 miles of streams and rivers, plus watersheds that collectively supply drinking water to about 2.4 million people.

The Trump Administration Department of Justice recently quietly issued a legal opinion that reverses 100 years of consensus by permitting presidents to entirely revoke national monument protection.

Americans overwhelmingly support national monuments and oppose seeing them dismantled or destroyed. Fifty dense pages from the Trump Administration’s kowtowing Justice Department attempting to rewrite history will not change the overwhelming support Americans have for national monuments. Seventy-two percent of Westerners prefer public land protections over energy development . Eighty-nine percent oppose any changes to national monument protections. Last time Trump attempted to go after Americans’ national monuments, nearly 3 million Americans rose in protest.

Powering The Network: Grant Opportunities with the Foundation for America’s Public Lands

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:55:08 GMT

Join us for a special conversation with Taldi Harrison, Chief Program Officer at the Foundation for America’s Public Lands—the official charitable partner to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). With nearly two decades of experience in public lands policy and partnership building, Taldi will share insights into the Foundation’s mission to ensure BLM-managed lands work for all communities now and into the future. She’ll also highlight upcoming grant opportunities, the Foundation’s approach to community engagement, and how grassroots organizations can align with their strategic goals.

Learn how your work connects to this vital national vision and how to tap into resources to support your efforts.

Recorded: June 13, 2025

Please register to watch this Zoom recording.

Rep. Gabe Vasquez Rallies Outdoor Advocates to Defend Public Lands at OMDP Hike and Press Conference

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:50:33 GMT

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) joined conservation advocates, local leaders, and community members at the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP) to rally against renewed efforts to sell off federal public lands. The event featured a press conference and community hike, highlighting the cultural, economic, and environmental importance of public lands to southern New Mexico.

The event comes amidst a revived push by Senate Republicans to advance one of the most extreme public land sell-off proposals in recent history of over 3.3 million acres. While these provisions were blocked in the House thanks to Rep. Vasquez’s leadership in the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, they have resurfaced in the Senate’s version of the budget reconciliation bill, reigniting concern across the West.

WATCH: REP. VASQUEZ DELIVERS REMARKS AT PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS PRESS CONFERENCE

“Standing here at Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks, I’m reminded that what’s at stake isn’t just this monument—it’s the future of millions of acres of public lands across New Mexico and the West that could be sold off because of Republican proposals in Congress,” said Vasquez . “These lands are part of our identity. They support local jobs, protect sacred Tribal sites, and give our kids a chance to connect with the outdoors. Our public lands are not for sale. Period.”

“There are a number of reasons why keeping OMDP intact and untouched is so important. Not only are conservation and preservation instrumental in this argument, but in Las Cruces, our community has embraced this monument because of the hiking and camping, the outdoor recreation opportunities, and so much more,” said Carrie Hamblen , CEO and President of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce and New Mexico State Senator. “Our local businesses rely on the tourism that brings visitors into our stores and restaurants and creates a memorable experience for all to enjoy. Our monument isn't for sale, and our community has proven to this administration that it should be left alone.”

“Our community in Southern New Mexico understands that our landscape brings us together. These lands hold so much more than what can be extracted or profited from them. They hold our stories, they are homes to essential wildlife, they improve the health of our communities,” said Patrick Nolan , Executive Director of Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks. “The value of our lands cannot be summed up by what can be extracted from them. We hope Congress, with the help of Representative Vasquez, understands that the value of our lands cannot be summed up by what can be extracted from them. That these lands hold value as they are protected and conserved for generations to come.”

“New Mexico Wild and our thousands of members object in the strongest possible terms to any attempts to shrink, eliminate, or remove protections for Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks or any other national monument. These monuments were created as a result of local communities working for years to protect these one of a kind places,” said Mark Allison , Executive Director of New Mexico Wild. “Nearly 90% of New Mexicans — people of all political persuasions — support keeping our monuments intact. They are not merely lines on a map but critical ecological havens, sacred cultural sites, and irreplaceable natural treasures that help define our identity. Public lands are the backdrop to our state's outdoor heritage and way of life. Plans to sell off our children’s inheritance to benefit connected billionaires is a theft of historic proportions and should make all Americans ashamed and outraged.”

“To New Mexicans public lands aren't some line item on a budget spreadsheet. Public lands are our lifeblood. Wild, public places and the wild things that inhabit those places are integral to the culture, traditions and lifestyle of countless people across the West,” said Jesse Duebel , Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “Public lands are not just about outdoor recreation and all the health and economic benefits associated with that. These places house our identity. It's where we go to obtain our food, the firewood to heat our homes, and the solace we need to overcome the challenges of modern society. Public lands are our gym, our church and our grocery store. In short, our public lands are not for sale, they are in our DNA.”

“The broad scheme to sell off our public lands, national heritage, and outdoor access to the wealthy and well-connected will block access to regular Americans for hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. It also willfully ignores or disrespects the Indigenous, Hispano, and local communities who rely on these lands for cultural, spiritual, economic, and recreational reasons, said Romir Lahiri , Associate Program Director for Conservation Lands Foundation. “These lands are part of what makes New Mexico so special. New Mexico’s national monuments, including Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks and Río Grande del Norte, exist because the people demanded it. From local business owners and family campers to mountain guides and outdoor adventurers, the majority—regardless of political affiliation—want these treasured natural places protected and accessible for generations to come.”

“Our public lands are living landscapes. Any effort to weaken their protections threaten the health, heritage, and well-being of their connected communities and stand in direct opposition to the voices of New Mexicans. Despite overwhelming support for our public lands, the Trump Administration is systematically degrading the laws and agencies that manage these irreplaceable places and jeopardizing the legal duty to engage meaningfully with Tribal leadership,” said Maude Dinan , New Mexico Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. “Prioritizing oil and gas drilling or mining, erasing national monuments, or transferring public lands to states is short-sighted and will cause irrevocable harm to our landscapes and people.”

Earlier this year, Vasquez launched the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus alongside Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) to bring together lawmakers from both parties who support the protection of public lands. The caucus has quickly become a driving force behind efforts to conserve our public lands and fight for the outdoor recreation economy.

In addition to fighting against this latest effort to sell public lands in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, Vasquez also joined a letter earlier this year to the administration urging the Department of Interior to leave OMDP intact, highlighting its significant landscapes, cultural resources and economic impact.

As the reconciliation package and other efforts to sell off public lands move forward, Vasquez pledged to continue building bipartisan support for protecting public lands for future generations.

CLF Calls on Congress to Keep Public Lands Sell-Off and Western Arctic Amendments Out of Budget Reconciliation Bill

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:50:39 GMT

Washington, DC - Yesterday, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced text for the Senate amendment to the One Big Beautiful Act requiring the sale of up to 1.8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands managed by the federal government for the benefit of the American people, reviving a failed effort that was stripped out of the bill before it passed the House. The amendment also adds Western Arctic drilling provisions back into the budget reconciliation package that were previously removed in the House version.

The House provision on public lands sales would have mandated the sale of millions of acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada to the highest bidder. Senator Lee’s new amendment would expand that mandate to millions of acres across nine Western states, puts units of the National Conservation Lands at risk, and provides no requirement for public hearings on the disposal of these lands.

The Western Arctic drilling provisions would require six lease sales over the next ten years and eliminate the Biden administration’s regulations that safeguard the livelihood of Indigenous people and critical wildlife habitat in America’s largest remaining piece of intact public land.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO 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 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands.

“Selling off public lands will not benefit the people of Utah, Alaska or any other state, but it will benefit billionaires who seek to profit from these priceless lands and waters.

“America’s public lands are integral to the fabric of our nation: protecting them for the benefit of all Americans is in the national interest. When we continue to protect public lands, we continue to support the multi-faceted benefits that public lands bring to everyone: access to hunting and fishing, camping and hiking and the ability to enjoy unspoiled wilderness and natural areas that belong to all of us.

“Allowing development in the country’s largest remaining piece of intact public land, which is in the Western Arctic and which supports the livelihood of Indigenous people as well as critical wildlife habitats, is a shortsighted action that silences the voices of the Alaska Native communities and disregards the overwhelming public support for its protection – support that included over two hundred and fifty thousand comments.

“Watching rogue politicians try to destroy America’s system of public lands protection is like watching the movie “Groundhog Day”. They keep trying to sell off America’s natural resources to oil and gas companies and people from all across America keep stopping them. We must remind the rest of Congress once again that support for public lands is both robust, bipartisan and common sense.

“Senator Lee’s latest amendment must be rejected to send a strong and lasting signal that America’s public lands are not for sale. We call on Congress to act on behalf of the rights of all Americans to enjoy and have access to public lands by rejecting these appalling attempts to mandate the sale of millions of acres of public land and line the pockets of campaign donors and out-of-state special interests. Public lands must remain in public hands for everyone to enjoy, not just the greedy few.”

White House Budget Guts Bureau of Land Management and Slashes Conservation Funding by Nearly 75%

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:51:19 GMT

Washington, DC – The Conservation Lands Foundation today condemned the White House Office of Management and Budget’s FY26 budget proposal for the Bureau of Land Management, which delivers devastating cuts that would cripple the agency's ability to steward America's public lands and fulfill its legal mandates.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of Conservation Lands Foundation:

“The White House’s FY26 Bureau of Land Management budget blueprint is the latest assault in this administration's relentless campaign to dismantle public lands and gut the agencies that protect them. By cutting the Lands and Resources account by more than $460 million and slashing the National Monuments and National Conservation Areas account by 72.%, the administration is making it clear that it does not value these irreplaceable public lands and waters, the communities and rural economies that depend on them, the wildlife that calls them home, or their essential role in our climate future. Instead, the White House would rather gut vital programs like the National Conservation Lands to fund tax breaks for billionaires.

“The Bureau of Land Management oversees more public land than any other federal agency—245 million acres across the American West—yet has been chronically underfunded and understaffed by Congress for decades. A well-funded BLM is essential to preserving outdoor recreation and public access, supporting rural economies, and safeguarding local watersheds and wildlife, but has been historically underfunded and understaffed.

“Now the White House is slashing the National Conservation Lands system to just $15 million - $16.3 million less than the lowest amount Congress has provided in the program's history ($31.301 in FY2010). Since then, the National Conservation Lands system has grown by more than 12 million acres through acts of Congress and Antiquities Act proclamations by presidents of both parties. These staggering budget cuts mean closed trails and visitor centers, damaged wildlife habitats, and forsaken conservation commitments that span generations of bipartisan leadership.

“This budget blueprint follows Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's testimony last month before the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees, which revealed an administration more interested in extracting short-term profits than protecting our lands, water, wildlife and the public’s access to the outdoors. Despite carefully crafted rhetoric about 'responsible resource management,' the Secretary’s actions tell a different story: this administration prioritizes corporate interests ahead of the American people and future generations.

“While we recognize the need to balance the use of public lands with responsible energy development and production of domestic critical minerals, we believe in the longstanding, bipartisan tradition that all activities on public lands must respect outdoor recreation access, environmental laws, the rights and traditions of Indigenous people, and the long-term preservation of the land and essential wildlife habitats that are part of the natural and national legacy that belongs to all of us.

“We’re encouraged that lawmakers from both parties support keeping America’s public lands in public hands and we commend Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) for their statements opposing public land sell-offs in the recent budget hearings. Since the White House refuses to provide the BLM with the resources necessary for the agency to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Congress must take the lead where the administration has fallen short.

“We’re grateful to America’s public lands champions in Congress, including Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada), who led letters in the Senate and House of Representatives , respectively, and their 33 colleagues who signed their letters urging appropriators to reject the White House budget request and provide robust funding for the BLM and National Conservation Lands in FY2026.

“We call on Congress to reject the administration’s proposal that shortchanges effective stewardship of America’s public lands. Congress must also scrutinize this administration's continued wasteful spending on legally questionable efforts to weaken national monument protections. We will hold Secretary Burgum to his commitment—made to Senator Heinrich—that no monument boundaries will be altered without meaningful local consultation.

“America's public lands belong to all of us. Full Stop. Congress has the opportunity—and the responsibility —to ensure these treasures remain protected for current and future generations.”

###

The Administration’s Multi-Front Assault on the Western Arctic Continues with Illegal Repeal of Protections and Looming Congressional Threats

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:51:10 GMT

Washington, DC – The Trump Administration today announced its intention to dismantle critical protections for 13.3 million acres in the Western Arctic’s National Petroleum Reserve. This alarming action, which initiates a 60-day comment period, comes alongside ongoing threats that Western Arctic drilling provisions could be added back into the budget reconciliation package as it moves to the Senate. Together, these actions demonstrate a clear intent to fast-track the liquidation of public lands while minimizing public scrutiny.

“Let’s be clear–there is no energy crisis. The U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas and the oil industry already has the majority of the nation’s most valuable lands for oil and gas development under lease. The administration knows how popular protecting these public lands are, which is why they’re trying to invent a fictional energy crisis and set the public up with a false choice of either protecting the environment or producing more energy.

“By ignoring established procedures and scientific expertise, this administration is putting at extreme risk the critical habitats for iconic wildlife, from endangered whales and polar bears to the migratory birds that connect this region to all corners of the globe. Removing these safeguards, particularly for areas like Teshekpuk Lake, which is vital for caribou calving and millions of nesting and molting birds while supporting the Iñupiat people for millennia, will inflict profound and lasting damage.

“This rollback comes alongside a destructive partisan budget reconciliation push by Congress that would mandate biennial oil and gas sales on at least four million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve, gut key environmental safeguards, and strip judicial oversight, all as an attempt to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.

“This shortsighted pursuit of fossil fuels in a region warming at four times the global average will only accelerate climate chaos, all while failing to deliver meaningful relief at the pump. Instead of more energy development on public lands, the vast majority of Westerners want their elected officials to protect more clean water sources and wildlife habitats, and provide more opportunities to visit and recreate.

“Protecting public lands is a political priority for voters from all walks of life and we won’t stand by as the administration touts a fake ‘energy crisis’ to take away these enduring benefits from the American people. We call on the Senate to reject any language that mandates oil lease sales in the Western Arctic, and we urge the American public to participate in the 60-day comment period to voice their opposition to the dismantling of Western Arctic protections.”

###

Background on the Western Arctic

The Reserve is the largest single unit of public lands in the nation, spanning nearly 23 million acres. It contains vital habitats for wildlife like polar bears, muskox, fish, and millions of migratory birds and their eggs. It is home to three caribou herds, including the 150,000-strong Western Arctic Caribou Herd.

Today, more than 40 Indigenous communities continue to rely on sustenance resources within the Reserve. Within the Reserve exist five designated Special Areas covering more than 13 million acres that have significant ecological significance – Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay.

In late 2020, the Trump administration revised the Reserve’s Integrated Activity Plan, which opened 82% of the Reserve (18.6 million acres) to oil and gas leasing, including in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area. Following a legal challenge by Conservation Lands Foundation and others, the Biden administration overturned these changes to the plan and completed a final rule in 2024 (Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska) following extensive engagement with the public, Alaska Native Tribes, and Alaska Native Corporations.

The 2024 rule and guidance for managing the Reserve successfully balances the needs of tribes, local communities, and ecosystems, and ensures maximum protection for significant land, water, and wildlife for 13.3 million acres of Special Areas in the Reserve while supporting subsistence uses and needs for Alaska Native communities.

The Trump administration’s current policy is an attempt to revert back to the reckless Reserve policies from 2020 that harm local communities, biodiversity, and cultural values.

Interior Secretary Burgum Testimony Highlights the Trump Administration’s Use of America’s Public Lands as a Piggy Bank

Thu, 22 May 2025 17:51:29 GMT

Washington, DC – Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of Conservation Lands Foundation.

“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's testimony this week before the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees laid bare the administration's troubling vision: treating America's priceless public lands as little more than a piggy bank. Despite his carefully crafted rhetoric about 'responsible resource management,' Burgum's actions as Secretary tell a different story entirely. This administration's relentless pursuit of short-term profits from public lands and waters isn't putting America first—it's putting corporate interests ahead of the American people and future generations.

“While we recognize the need to balance the use of our public lands with responsible energy development and production of domestic critical minerals, we believe in the longstanding, bipartisan tradition that all activities on public lands must respect outdoor recreation access, environmental laws, the rights and traditions of Indigenous people, and the long-term preservation of the land and essential wildlife habitats that are part of the natural and national legacy that belongs to all of us.

“We were gratified to see that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support keeping America’s public lands in public hands and we commend Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) for their statements opposing public land sell-offs in the recent budget hearings.

“A well-funded Bureau of Land Management is essential to preserving access, supporting rural economies, and ensuring safe and sustainable recreation on our shared public lands, and Congress must take the lead where the administration has fallen short.

“We’re grateful to America’s public lands champions in Congress, including Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada), who led letters in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and their 33 colleagues who signed their letters urging appropriators to provide robust funding for the BLM and National Conservation Lands in FY2026.

“In addition we urge lawmakers to scrutinize the administration’s proposal that shortchanges effective stewardship of America’s public lands. The nearly $200 million cut to conservation programs will hamper the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Even more troubling, this administration continues to spend taxpayer dollars on illegal efforts to weaken protections for national monuments. We will hold the Secretary to his statement on not making any monument cuts without local consultation, as Senator Heinrich requested.”

Republicans Strip Sell-Off Provisions but Public Lands still on the Chopping Block

Wed, 21 May 2025 17:51:40 GMT

Washington, D.C. — After weeks of public outrage and mounting bipartisan backlash, House Republicans quietly removed a provision that would have mandated the sale of thousands of acres of public lands. But while the immediate threat of sell-off may be gone, advocates across the country say the damage remains.

The budget bill—deemed by many as the most dangerous environmental legislation in modern U.S. history—still includes sweeping measures that gut environmental safeguards, fast-track development, and strips the public of any voice in how their lands are managed.

The provision to sell off land was originally slipped into the bill by Reps. Mark Amodei (NV) and Celeste Maloy (UT) just before midnight on May 6 during a Natural Resources Committee hearing. Members had less than 30 minutes to review it. The amendment passed 23–18 along party lines, with Rep. Jeff Hurd (CO) as the only Republican opposing it.

Citizens across the country called the removal a “temporary concession” that does not change the bill’s core threat to public lands, wildlife, and climate action. The bill is now set for a vote by the full House later this week.

Here is what people across the country are saying:

“Selling our shared public lands to pay for tax cuts for the rich was and is an awful, un-American idea, and we appreciate Rep. Zinke's work to keep it out of the bill. His colleagues never should have considered it in the first place. Unfortunately, even without selling off public lands outright, this budget reconciliation proposal remains the most extreme legislative attack on public lands in our nation’s history. We call on Congress to reject this mass giveaway to powerful corporate interests.”

- Lydia Weiss, senior director for government relations, The Wilderness Society

"We are heartened to see the removal of language from the House budget reconciliation package that would have sold off public lands in Nevada and Utah, opened up drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, and blocked the implementation of science-based land management plans. We are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Dina Titus of Nevada and Ryan Zinke of Montana in ensuring the public lands sell-off provisions were removed from this package, along with many other bipartisan representatives who spoke out on this issue. Despite the removal of these provisions, the budget reconciliation package remains a wholesale assault on America's public lands and waters by rescinding crucial conservation, restoration and resilience funding for the Bureau of Land Management. Considering these facts, we call on the House to reject this destructive bill.”

- David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs, the Conservation Lands Foundation

“Public lands are not a luxury or bargaining chip in budget negotiations. They are owned by every American and cherished by residents and visitors alike,” said Greater Yellowstone Coalition Executive Director Scott Christensen. “More than 70 percent of the lands in the Greater Yellowstone region are public and include the national forests, parks, and rangelands where millions of people recreate and make a living. Proposals that seek to sell-off public lands represent a dangerous, slippery slope that would harm local economies and our country’s most important natural assets. We must continue to protect our treasured public lands now and for future generations.”

“The American people have spoken loud and clear – our public lands should not be for sale. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle were right to throw this proposal in the trash can, but a bad bill is still a bad bill. As written, Donald Trump’s reconciliation package is a giveaway to corporate polluters that would make it easier for billionaires to drill, mine, and log the public lands that belong to all Americans, from the Arctic Refuge to the desert landscapes of the southwest. We will continue to work to keep the ‘public’ in public lands and make sure that big corporations pay their fair share.” - Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program

“This bill remains the most dangerous attack on public lands in a generation,” said Katie Umekubo, Managing Director, Lands, NRDC. “It guts environmental safeguards, shuts out the public, and turns over millions of acres to drillers, miners, and loggers. Congress should reject this reckless blueprint for industrializing our most cherished places.”

“There is still much wrong with the reconciliation bill, but thanks to overwhelming outcry from people across the country, public lands have been saved from privatization—for now. But we must remain vigilant. The profiteers and their allies in Congress are certain to regroup and come back with a different scheme to grab public lands. They always do.” - Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney, WildEarth Guardians

“Americans across the political spectrum have spoken loudly in support of keeping public lands in the hands of the American people, and we are grateful that Congress has listened and removed the public lands sell-off amendment from the budget reconciliation package. Unfortunately there is little else to celebrate, as this budget reconciliation package still amounts to an early Christmas gift for mining companies, the oil and gas industry, and other polluting industries. This battle is far from over, and we will continue to be vigilant and fight for our wild public lands and waters now and for future generations.” - LD Delano, Board Chair, Great Old Broads for Wilderness

“Today we breathe a sigh of relief that Congress came to its senses and stripped the Amodei/Maloy amendment to sell off our public lands on the Colorado Plateau,” said Tim Peterson, Cultural Landscapes Director for the Grand Canyon Trust. “In Utah, lands bordering Zion National Park should never have been on the table for sale, especially without the opportunity for the public to weigh in on whether it was a good idea. We hope Congress will get the message that Americans want to keep their public lands, not sell them off to corporate interests.”

"The removal of the public land sale provision is a very welcome step, but the House GOP’s budget bill still seeks to remove the “public” from “public lands” by eliminating nearly all meaningful environmental review and public involvement from a litany of proposed actions on our public lands, including providing a pay for permit scheme for polluters,” said Brien Webster, Public Lands Campaign Manager, Conservation Colorado. “Coloradans love our public lands, not just because they are integral to our way of life, but also because they support vital industries such as ranching and an outdoor recreation industry that generated over $65.8 billion in economic output statewide and supported 404,000 jobs in 2023. We trust that as this bill moves towards a floor vote, our House delegation members will represent our values.”

“Coloradans of all political stripes have made it clear: they do not support the sell-off of our public lands,” said Keeley Meehan, Policy Director for the Colorado Wildlands Project. “The removal of sell off language in the budget reconciliation package is a hard-won victory – but the bill as a whole remains a sweeping attack on public lands and rural communities. The bill contains numerous provisions that sideline local voices and dismantle the collaborative processes that protect the wild places we all cherish.”

“Public lands are a core part of our identity and belong to all Americans,” said John Robison, Public Lands Director with the Idaho Conservation League. “While we are deeply concerned with other provisions in this bill, these fast-tracked public lands sales would have set a terrible precedent and done permanent damage to the fabric of communities throughout the West. The people prevailed.”

“This amendment would have given handouts to private interests at the expense of regular people,” said Emily Cleveland, Senior Program Director at Wild Montana. “Selling off public lands, now or ever, threatens our freedom to hunt, hike, fish, camp, and ride. These places belong to the American people, and we’re glad Rep. Zinke and the rest of Montana’s delegation led the way in stopping our public lands from being fenced off and handed over to corporate interests.”

Since Nevada was ground zero for the public lands sell-off, we are deeply grateful for the efforts of all those who worked to remove that provision from the budget reconciliation bill. While the remaining bill is still deeply flawed, Nevadans appreciate people across the country standing up for the importance of our public lands” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director at Friends of Nevada WIlderness.

It is not a coincidence that the Republican majority has been sneaking around like a thief in the dark. They attempted to use this deeply cynical maneuver with no debate and no transparency literally in the middle of the night because they know Americans of every political stripe are vehemently opposed to selling off our public lands,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild. “Squandering our children’s inheritance by liquidating cherished places like Caja del Rio, Otero Mesa, the San Juan Badlands, and the areas around Chaco for the sake of tax cuts for billionaires? Hurting our ability to prepare for and combat wildfires? Sacrificing our traditional uses and cultural resources? Putting a “No Trespassing” sign at our favorite place to camp with our families? New Mexico votes NO!”

“Oregon’s high desert is a wonderful legacy of public lands and resources bestowed on all Americans to use and enjoy, but with the expectation that we pass them on to future generations,” said Mark Salvo, Conservation Director for Oregon Natural Desert Association. “The mere notion of selling them off for private gain would not only deprive us of this priceless gift, but would be a dereliction of duty to our children and grandchildren.”

"As we hoped would be the case, Rep. Maloy's stunt failed. She's just the latest in a long list of politicians with the bad idea to try and sell off public lands," said Travis Hammill, DC Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) . "The through line of those failed efforts is this: love of public lands transcends geography and political party. Americans don't want to see these lands sold off and time and time again have risen up to make their voices heard.”

“We applaud the removal of the provision selling off hundreds of thousands of acres of public land and are glad that Congress is recognizing that land sell-off is untenable. But the underlying budget reconciliation bill would still be devastating for American wildlife and the habitats they depend on,” said Robert Dewey, vice president of government relations at Defenders of Wildlife. “It puts a bullseye on already imperiled polar bears, whales and hundreds of other species that depend on the integrity of federal lands and waters for their survival. Congress shouldn't be allowing these vital and cherished wildlife habitats on public lands to be ruined by extractive industries for bigger profits.”

“We appreciate the bipartisan support for ultimately removing the public lands sell off provision in the budget bill,” said Tom Uniack, Executive Director at Washington Wild. “There was little doubt that if this provision remained that we would see additional efforts to sell off national parks, forest and other federal public lands in states beyond Utah and Nevada.”

“Thankfully, the most overt attempt to privatize our public lands has failed - for now. But the Republican Reconciliation bill still contains provision after provision that will turn over public lands to extractive industries, exclude the public from decision making processes, and ultimately lead to environmental destruction and species extinctions,” said Josh Osher, Public Policy Director for Western Watersheds Project. “Americans have been loud and clear that we value healthy public lands, wildlife habitat, clean water, and clean air over privatization, development, and pollution. At least on this one point, it seems our voices have been heard.”

Despite last-minute walk-back, Americans still see worst environmental bill in a generation as a blueprint for public land sell-off.

Championing Diversity Equity, & Inclusion Under Challenging Circumstances

Tue, 20 May 2025 19:58:51 GMT

This two-part webinar series supports small, largely rural organizations to continue to build an effective and equitable conservation movement, even in the face of attacks on public lands and DEI work. Our facilitators, Aparna and Cianna, are from the Avarna Group. The Avarna Group works to empower nonprofit, private, and public sector institutions driven by people-centered values to transform their ecosystems toward justice, fairness, and belonging. They complete this mission through strategic planning, facilitation, assessments, coaching, learning experiences, curriculum development, toolkits, and resources.

Webinar 1 - Having Difficult Conversations Across Values Divides

In this first webinar of a 2-part series, the Avarna Group will provide information to FGN members on some frameworks and practices for engaging in difficult conversations with partners and community members whose life experiences and values may differ from yours or your organization’s. The content will focus on how to build bridges and find common ground while still maintaining your values and the organization’s values.

Presented by: The Avarna Group.

Resources

CLF_Webinar_Difficult_Conversations.pdf

Reps. Vasquez and Zinke Launch Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus to Champion Conservation and Access

Fri, 09 May 2025 17:51:47 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) announced the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus , a bipartisan congressional coalition focused on conserving America’s public lands and expanding access for all Americans. The caucus will build upon the trusted working relationship between Vasquez and Zinke, forged over the past two years, partnering on conservation legislation, along with the momentum of a new Congress and a new generation of Western lawmakers to bring a new voice to the conversation around public lands.

The Public Lands Caucus is founded on the belief that public lands are “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” It will bring lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to advance practical, consensus-driven public lands policy that conserves natural resources while supporting recreation, local economies, and public access. Caucus members are committed to bridging ideological divides and advancing pragmatic solutions to protect and manage public lands.

WATCH: Public Lands Caucus Press Conference

“Public lands are where I learned to fish, hunt, and connect with my family and culture—and those experiences shaped who I am,” said Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02). “These lands don’t belong to one party or one group of people; they belong to all of us. The Public Lands Caucus is about protecting that birthright—bringing Democrats and Republicans together to preserve access, defend conservation, and invest in the outdoor economy that powers rural communities like mine in southern New Mexico. This is personal for me, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to keep our public lands in public hands.”

“I follow the Theodore Roosevelt motto that public lands are ‘for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,’ and that means making sure we both conserve and manage those lands to ensure public access for the next generation,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-02). “Public lands aren’t red or blue issues, it’s red white and blue. The bipartisan Public Lands Caucus brings together lawmakers who don’t agree on much, but we agree on and are ready to work together to promote policies that advance conservation and public access. I look forward to working with Co-Chair Vasquez, the vice chairs, and all the members of this caucus so future generations can enjoy the same opportunities to hunt, hike, fish, make a living and enjoy our uniquely American heritage.”

“We should be focusing on expanding public access to federal lands, not auctioning them off. And we should be investing in our National Parks System and National Wildlife Refuges, not making it harder for Americans to visit these special places,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06). I’m proud to be Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus because conservation has historically been, and should continue to be, a priority regardless of party. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect our precious natural resources, federal lands, and beloved species.”

“Idahoans live in Idaho because we love our public lands," said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-02). "This trend is common across the West, where public lands are a part of our daily lives. As a lifelong Idahoan and Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I remain committed to preserving access to our public lands and defending our way of life. Being named Vice Chair of the Public Lands Caucus is an honor, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure future generations can enjoy the same benefits that we do today. I’m thankful to Rep. Zinke for his leadership here."

“As someone born and raised in the Coachella Valley, I know how sacred our public lands are. Places like Joshua Tree and the new Chuckwalla National Monument are more than landscapes—they’re part of our identity, history, and culture,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25) Conserving public lands means protecting cultural heritage, preserving critical ecosystems, and expanding access to nature’s healing power, especially for underserved communities. I’ll continue fighting to ensure every family—no matter where they live—can experience the beauty, health, and enjoyment that public lands offer.”

“Public land access is integral to Montana,” said Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-02). “Montanans rely on the Treasure State’s more than 30 million acres of public lands to hunt, fish, recreate, graze their livestock, and so much more. I applaud Co-Chairs Zinke and Vasquez for their efforts and look forward to working with my colleagues to find common sense solutions that preserve my constituents’ access to this fundamentally American resource.”

“As a representative of Coastal Virginia, I know how vital our public lands and waters are to our economy, our culture, and our quality of life – from supporting tourism and outdoor recreation to sustaining jobs and protecting natural habitats,” said Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02). “I’m proud to join the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus to bring a balanced, commonsense approach to protecting these resources. From our shorelines to our forests, we must ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from healthy and accessible public lands across the country for years to come."

Caucus Leadership

Co-Chairs

Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02)
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01)

Vice Chairs

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06)
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-02)

Members Include

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25)
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)
Rep Joe Neguse (D-CO-02)
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02)
Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA-06)
Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-01)
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV-04)
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04)
Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV-03)
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06)

Organizational Support

“On both sides of the aisle, Americans cherish our public lands,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “From the Northern Rockies of Montana to the Gila Mountains of New Mexico, these lands and waters provide invaluable opportunities to millions of hunters and anglers. We join our nation’s sportsmen and women in thanking Representatives Zinke and Vasquez for their leadership in forming the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus which will continue to advance America’s outdoor legacy.”

Whitney Potter Schwartz, Senior Vice President, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable: “The creation of the Public Lands Caucus is a significant and welcome step forward in protecting and expanding access to our public lands and waters that power America’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy and enrich the lives of millions of Americans. Keeping public lands public is a business imperative. There couldn't be a more important time to stand up for America's best return on investment and keep public land selloff out of reconciliation. ORR thanks Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Ryan Zinke for their leadership and all the bipartisan members of the Caucus who have come together to champion public lands access, stewardship, and infrastructure investments. We look forward to working with the Caucus to ensure that public lands remain public and continue to be a foundation for outdoor experiences, local economies, and healthy communities for generations to come.”

Phil Ingrassia, President of the national RV Dealers Association (RVDA): “Public lands are essential to the emotional and economic well-being of our nation. RVDA applauds the creation of the Public Lands Caucus and its commitment to enhancing access and expanding the infrastructure that supports millions of Americans who enjoy these shared spaces.”

Julie Sutton, Senior Director Government Affairs, VF Corporation: VF Corporationand our portfolio of iconic outdoor brands applaud Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) for their bipartisan leadership in establishing the Public Lands Caucus. This caucus has an opportunity to improve management of public lands, protect and conserve our natural resources and maintain access for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. We thank you for your commitment to our public lands.

Myke Bybee, Senior Director of Federal Relations, Trust for Public Land: “Trust for Public Land strongly commends Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) for their bipartisan leadership in launching the Public Lands Caucus and introducing legislation — The Public Lands in Public Hands Act — which affirms the importance of our shared national landscapes. With Congress and the Administration considering proposals to sell off federal land, and as Americans visit public lands in record numbers—to hike, hunt, and connect with nature—their leadership could not come at a more critical time.”

Jenn Dice, President & CEO, PeopleForBikes: “Public lands are an important part of the American experience and critical to the outdoor recreation economy, including the bicycle industry. We applaud the leaders of the Public Lands Caucus who are committed to protecting, managing, and staffing our most treasured natural spaces that are a source of our national pride.”

Caryn Short, America Outdoors: “America Outdoors applauds Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership in launching the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus. Continued access to our public lands is vital to the health of the outfitting industry, rural economies, and the millions of Americans who rely on these landscapes for connection, livelihood, and adventure.”

Rachel Franchina, Executive Director, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals: “Public lands are part of the shared national identify of Americans. They are treasured places – both close to home and in iconic protected areas - for people to spend time with family and friends, recharge themselves and reconnect with nature. The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals supports Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)’s Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus. High-quality experiences on public lands are something the vast majority of American value and their commitment to ensuring access to our shared heritage is more important now than ever.”

Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President & CEO, The Corps Network: "Americans love our public lands. Hundreds of millions of people visit our national parks, forests, and grasslands every year, helping drive local economies. The Corps Network proudly represents 150 Corps programs across the country that work with resource management agencies on critical maintenance projects that keep our public lands safe and open for all to enjoy. Through service on public lands, thousands of Corps participants every year gain invaluable work experience for the modern workforce. We appreciate the goal of the Public Lands Caucus to ensure Americans have access to the Great Outdoors.”

Julie M. Broadway, President, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation: “According to American Horse Council’s latest economic impact study, 39 million U.S. households include a horse enthusiast, with recreational trail riders representing the largest segment of the equine industry — underscoring the critical need for access to public lands. Federal data supports this: the Bureau of Land Management estimates three million annual horseback riding visitors, along with 46,000 participating in pack use; the U.S. Forest Service cites 206,000 horseback riders, and the National Park Service reports 1.6 million. Conserving public lands, supporting local economies, and ensuring access for all Americans is essential to the equine community, and we strongly applaud the creation of this congressional caucus as a step toward protecting these shared resources.”

Dan Mahoney, Government Affairs Manager, American Prairie: “American Prairie applauds Representatives Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez for launching this bipartisan caucus to protect our country’s public lands. These lands are a cherished piece of America’s heritage, and one that American Prairie is committed to conserving and expanding access to in Montana. This new caucus’s dedication to the same is worth celebrating and so are the members of Congress leading the way to do so.”

Jordan Schreiber, Director of Government Relations, The Wilderness Society: “The Wilderness Society celebrates this bipartisan caucus's commitment to protecting public lands and access to them, which starts with keeping them in public hands. We look forward to working with members to ensure that any future efforts to sell off these national treasures to the highest bidder are defeated."

Tom Cors, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, The Nature Conservancy: “Public lands need to be kept in public hands. They are not just picturesque selfie backdrops. People across America depend on them for jobs, to recharge their internal batteries, and to clean our water and air. Also, wildlife depend on them for food and shelter. Through this caucus, Representatives Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez are ensuring our public lands will last forever, giving life to us all.”

David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs, Conservation Lands Foundation: “Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Ryan Zinke for working across the aisle to launch the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, which will hold Congress accountable to protect access to America’s public lands and ensure they remain in public hands. Our nation’s public lands contain remarkable and irreplaceable ecological, historical and cultural resources that reflect thousands of years of human connection to lands and waters, and we look forward to the Public Lands Caucus reflecting the overwhelming bipartisan support across America for keeping public lands in public hands.”

Maite Arce, President and CEO, Hispanic Access Foundation: “Hispanic Access Foundation applauds the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus and the leadership of Representatives Vasquez and Zinke. Public lands are essential to our way of life—they support local economies, provide space for recreation and reflection, and contribute to the health and well-being of communities across the country. This caucus is an important step toward protecting these treasured places and ensuring they remain accessible and well-managed for future generations.”

Chris Wood, President and CEO, Trout Unlimited: “Public lands are the backyard of the little guy, demonstrating our commitment to leaving the world a better place for our children than the one we inherited from our parents. On behalf of Trout Unlimited members across the nation, I thank Congressmen Zinke and Vasquez and the members of the newly minted bipartisan Public Lands Caucus for their leadership upholding our legacy of public lands. Preventing large-scale transfer or sale of federal public lands helps to maintain access to some of the best places to fish and hunt on the planet. We look forward to working with the caucus to keep it that way.”

Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club ’s Lands Protection Program: “Our public lands are part of what makes this country great. They preserve critical habitat, provide our communities with clean air and water, and exploring these places has been a rite of passage for countless generations of Americans. It is more critical than ever that these treasured landscapes remain in the hands of we the people. The Public Lands Caucus will play an important - and bipartisan - role in ensuring Congress does its part to keep it that way.”

Tom Kiernan, CEO, American Rivers: Public lands are the source of clean drinking water for millions of Americans. The rivers that flow across our national parks, forests, and rangelands provide recreation and awesome scenic beauty to our country. We are excited to continue working with Congress to support the protection of these lands and rivers on behalf of all Americans. Thank you to Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for launching this caucus.

Joel Pedersen, President and CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: “On both sides of the aisle, Americans cherish our public lands. From the Northern Rockies of Montana to the Gila Mountains of New Mexico, these lands and waters provide invaluable opportunities to millions of hunters and anglers. We join our nation’s sportsmen and women in thanking Representatives Zinke and Vasquez for their leadership in forming the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus which will continue to advance America’s outdoor legacy.”

Lesli Allison, Chief Executive Officer, Western Landowners Alliance: “The Western Landowners Alliance applauds the formation of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus to protect our public lands and thanks Representatives Vazquez and Zinke for their leadership on this issue. Care for our public lands is a priority across party lines and fence lines in the West. Western Landowners Alliance members steward tens of millions of acres of private and public land, and recognize the challenges facing federal land management and budgets. We are also acutely aware of the nation’s real housing deficit. But disposal of federal land is not a practical solution to either problem.”

Paul Hendricks, Executive Director, The Conservation Alliance: “Conservation has been supported by folks from both political parties and nearly all demographics for generations - America's best and most durable public lands protections have come from members of Congress working together across party lines. Yet many of those places are now at risk of losing those protections, which would be detrimental to our nation's economy. Safeguarding nature creates jobs, supports local economies as well as the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy, and ensures these benefits exist for future generations. The Conservation Alliance and our 200 business members are excited to see the launch of the Public Lands Caucus and thank Representative Vasquez and Representative Zinke for taking the lead."

Devin O’Dea, Western Policy & Conservation Manager, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers strongly supports the creation of the Public Lands Caucus and thanks Representatives Vasquez and Zinke for bringing together a bipartisan force to defend against ongoing threats to sell or transfer our wild public lands. Our public lands define who we are as Americans — places where anyone, regardless of background, can hunt, fish, camp or explore. The Public Lands Caucus is a crucial step in ensuring our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife endure.”

Ariel Wiegard, Vice President of Government Affairs, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever: “America's upland hunters and grassland advocates applaud today's launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, and we stand ready to work with Reps. Vasquez, Zinke, and the other Caucus members to advance public land conservation policies, increase and improve habitat and access, and energize and engage the upland conservation community. America’s grassland and sagebrush shrub-steppe ecosystems are among the most at-risk environments in the world, resulting in the decline of our most cherished grassland species and fewer places to hunt on high-quality habitat—we are confident this Caucus will help ensure our treasured public lands deliver the promise of more wildlife and more hunters, alongside other natural resource and quality of life benefits, to the American people.”

Jason Burckhalter, Co-CEO, National Wild Turkey Federation: "The NWTF extends deep gratitude to Congressmen Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership in founding the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus. This crucial effort bolsters the unique American public trust, ensuring our public lands—vital habitats for wildlife, cornerstones of our hunting heritage, and cherished spaces for outdoor recreation—remain a shared resource, held in trust for all citizens, preserving their accessibility and stewardship for future generations."

Louis Geltman, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations, Outdoor Alliance: “Outdoor Alliance is grateful to Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Ryan Zinke for their leadership in creating the Public Lands Caucus. Public lands need champions, and we look forward to working with members of the caucus to protect public lands and waters and outdoor recreation experiences. Outdoor recreation is a bipartisan value and benefits the millions of Americans who get outside each year. We look forward to building momentum for the caucus’s work to support outdoor recreation, public lands and waters, and conservation.”

Caroline Gleich, professional athlete , advocate and former candidate for U.S. in Utah: “As someone who has spent my life exploring and advocating for public lands, I’m thrilled to support the launch of the Public Lands Caucus. These lands are more than lines on a map—they’re where we connect with nature, with each other, and with something larger than ourselves. I applaud Representative Vasquez for his leadership in creating a space in Congress to prioritize conservation, recreation, and access for all. At a time when public lands are under threat from extractive industries and political indifference, this caucus sends a clear message: our lands are not for sale. They belong to the people—and we’re here to protect them.”

America Fitzpatrick, Conservation Program Director, League of Conservation Voters: “We applaud the establishment of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus led by Representatives Vasquez and Zinke. The bipartisan nature of this caucus underscores how public lands unite us. Public lands across the country provide countless recreational, cultural, health, and economic opportunities. Proposals like the dark-of-night amendment to sell-off public lands in Utah and Nevada during last night’s House Natural Resources Committee markup have no place in the Budget Reconciliation process and we look forward to working with the caucus to ensure our lands and waters are protected for generations to come.”

Kellis Moss, Managing Director of Federal Affairs for Ducks Unlimited: “Public lands make hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation activities accessible for millions of Americans. Some of our most critical conservation programs, such as NAWCA, invest in habitat on public lands. We’re glad to see Congress prioritize conserving America’s natural places for the next generation of outdoorsmen and women, and we’re happy to support the Public Lands Caucus in this effort.”

House Natural Resources Committee Continues Attack on America’s Public Lands

Wed, 07 May 2025 17:52:36 GMT

Washington, DC – Earlier today, the House Natural Resources Committee passed a reconciliation package that sells off and sells out public lands in the name of filling corporations' coffers at the expense of the public's access to nature and recreation, wildlife and clean air and water. The committee included a last-minute amendment that would sell off public lands in Nevada. The bill also sells out public lands across the West, including America’s Western Arctic; gives sweetheart deals to Big Oil; allows corporations to buy their way out of environmental review and oversight; and rescinds money provided in the Inflation Reduction Act for the Bureau of Land Management to carry out conservation, ecosystem and habitat restoration, and resiliency projects.

Below is a statement from David Feinman, Conservation Lands Foundation’s (CLF) Vice President of Government Affairs, on the advancement of this package. CLF 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.

“Voters from all walks of life should know that policymakers who passed this package have only corporate financial interests at heart when it comes to our nation’s cherished public lands and waters. With this vote, the House Natural Resources Committee is working to fill corporate coffers at the expense of the beautiful, priceless public lands across our country that they view as a ‘balance sheet.’

“Among the most destructive elements of the reconciliation bill are efforts to mandate the sell-off of more than a hundred thousand acres of public lands in Nevada, require quarterly oil and gas lease sales on unprecedented amounts of national public lands; bring back noncompetitive leasing - the bargain basement of oil and gas leasing - on public lands; lower royalty rates paid to U.S. taxpayers for drilling on public lands; mandate lease sales every two years in the Western Arctic (NPR-A) with a minimum of 4 million acres offered per sale; bypass a popular funding mechanism in Southern Nevada that provides community benefits, including outdoor access and public education, when public lands are sold; and amend the National Environmental Policy Act to allow corporations to pay for expedited environmental reviews.

“In addition, the legislation rescinds money for public lands stewarded by the Bureau of Land Management provided in the Inflation Reduction Act and blocks sensible management of public lands by preventing the BLM from implementing several recently completed land management plans, short-circuiting years of public input, science and land management expertise.

“Today’s vote signals that America’s public lands and waters are once again under attack by anti-public land elected officials who are working in service of a radical, corporate-driven agenda. We urge the full House of Representatives to reject this bill and direct the Committee to start over again with the best interest of all Americans at heart.”

Your Voice Matters: From Personal Stories to Policy Change

Tue, 06 May 2025 18:25:30 GMT

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.

Bringing Local Voices to Washington, DC

The Fallon-Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Conservation Lands Foundation, and Nevada and Utah-based
Friends Grassroots Network members meet with Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.

We recently assembled a diverse coalition of community leaders from across the Friends Grassroots Network to bring their stories and messages to the halls of Congress, recognizing the emerging threats to public lands and the need for policymakers to hear directly from the people most impacted by these decisions.

Impact: Our 40 face-to-face meetings with 35 members of Congress resulted in several elected officials signing onto efforts to prevent public land sell-offs, demonstrating the power of our Friends Network.

Our Take: Personal stories from constituents continue to cut through political noise. Through our efforts, we identified unexpected allies and potential champions who will be crucial as we face mounting challenges to public lands.

Public Lands in the Crosshairs in Federal Budget Proposals

With the help of our partners and all of you, we successfully fought off proposals to sell off public lands in the House Natural Resources (HNR) Committee's budget reconciliation bill. However, the bill still includes harmful provisions to public lands and waters, including mandated oil and gas lease sales in the Western Arctic. Meanwhile, the President released his Fiscal Year 2026 "skinny budget,” which proposes drastic funding cuts to Bureau of Land Management conservation programs and severe reductions to national monuments protections.

The Impact: This new, financially irresponsible approach hands over control of public lands to corporations, overrides years of public input on balanced land management approaches, and slashes public land agencies’s ability to properly take care of our shared national legacy.

Our Take: We must continue to oppose these efforts and demand that Congress protect our access to nature, maintain conservation protections, and properly fund the agencies that steward these irreplaceable landscapes for future generations. Join us in calling on members of Congress to heed their constituents' clear desire to keep public lands in public hands.

Take Action: Email your members of Congress to tell them public lands are not for sale.

Leaked Document Reveals Plans to Remove Monument Protections

Photo: Bureau of Land Management

A leaked Interior Department document reveals that the new administration is considering removing protections for at least six national monuments - if not more - across the West. The targeted monuments include Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon and Ironwood Forest in Arizona, Chuckwalla in California, and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks in New Mexico.

Impact: Shrinking or removing national monument designations would allow extractive development, including mining and drilling, and cut off public access. Attacking national monuments is wildly unpopular with Americans from all political identities and walks of life because it takes public lands out of public hands and puts them into the pockets of the wealthy and extractive corporations.

Our Take: This renewed attack on national monuments threatens sacred Tribal lands, outdoor access, crucial wildlife habitat, and irreplaceable cultural resources that local communities fought for decades to protect.

Take action: If you live near any of these special places, call your members of Congress (202-224-3121), urge them to ask the administration to leave the monuments intact, and share what they mean to you.

Fast Tracking Resource Extraction on Public Lands

Photo: Oil drilling on public lands in California | Bureau of Land Management

The administration announced its intent to rescind the widely popular Public Lands Rule and protections for the Western Arctic. In addition, the Department of the Interior imposed a radical and unrealistic 28-day maximum timeline for reviewing and approving energy projects on national public lands.

Impact: These decisions, which roll back balanced and fair public land management policies, will harm wildlife, Indigenous communities, the public’s access to nature, and future generations who deserve healthy public landscapes.

The Public Lands Rule, finalized in 2024 after extensive public engagement with 92% of public comments supporting it, balanced conservation and outdoor recreation with resource extraction of public lands. Its rescission returns the Bureau of Land Management to prioritizing drilling and mining. Meanwhile, the 28-day review deadline makes it functionally impossible to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act, which require the government to consult with Tribes, conduct archaeological surveys, endangered species reviews, and hold meaningful public comment periods.

Our Take: Despite overwhelming public support for balanced management of public lands, officials are reverting to outdated approaches that favor industry interests above all else. The true solution to streamlining permitting is to ensure the Bureau of Land Management has proper staffing, resources, and expertise to approve projects while complying with environmental laws.

New Mexico Delegation Makes Moves to Protect Nature

Photo: Chaco Canyon Cultural Heritage Area, New Mexico | NPS

New Mexico's congressional delegation has taken important steps to proactively protect the state's most treasured lands and waters by reintroducing the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act and the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act . Both of these initiatives represent years of collaborative work with the New Mexico delegation, Tribal leaders, our staff, local Friends Grassroots Network organizations, and other partners.

Impact: The Chaco bill would safeguard federal public land within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historical Park from oil and gas development, while the Gila River legislation would protect some of the last wild, free-flowing rivers in the Southwest.

Our Take: New Mexico's delegation is dem onstrating what true conservation leadership looks like by building broadly supported, durable protections for valuable and vulnerable lands and waters. We urge everyone to contact their members of Congress (202-224-3121) and ask them to support these critical bills.

Pictured left to right: Conserve Southwest Utah's Executive Director Holly Snow Canada, Conservation Lands Foundation's CEO Chris Hill, Former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, and Advocates for the West's Senior Attorney Todd Tucci

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Washington, D.C. last week for our “Community Power for Public Lands: A Fireside Chat” event.

We'd also like to extend our gratitude to our speakers: Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary of the Interior and Co-Founder of the Conservation Lands Foundation; Holly Snow Canada, Executive Director of Conserve Southwest Utah; Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney at Advocates for the West; Natasha Hale, Conservation Lands Foundation board member; Mary Phillips, enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe of New Mexico; and Josh Jackson, Forgotten Lands author and CLF Leadership Circle member.

Trail Snacks

�� Conservation Lands Foundation staff members, Chris and Char, recently partnered with High Country News and Friends Grassroots Network member, Native Land Institute, to present at the Society of Western Environmental Journalists 2025 Conference (like Coachella..but for the environment).

�� Friends of the Lost Coast and the Bureau of Land Management hosted a community volunteer party at King Range National Conservation Area in California to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands system.

��️ Follow Wyoming Outdoor Council’s Public Lands Manager Gabby as she journeys from the forests of the Cowboy State to the halls of Congress to deliver 1,000 petition signatures in support of public lands and the federal employees who steward them.

��‍��‍➡️ Friends Network members Trail Access Project and Friends of Red Rock Canyon spearheaded the installation of new adaptive gates at three trailheads in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada.

Thank you for being part of this movement to protect our public lands and waters. The threats are real, but our collective voice is powerful.

See you on the trail,

Chris Hill
Chief Executive Officer

Conservation Lands Foundation Welcomes Three New Board Members With Deep Roots in Conservation, Climate Policy, and Equity

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:28:41 GMT

Durango, CO — Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF), a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s National Conservation Lands, is pleased to announce the addition of three distinguished new members to its Board of Directors: Laura Daniel Davis, Dr. Natalie Dawson, and Tarn Udall . These leaders bring decades of experience in public policy, conservation science, environmental law, and community advocacy to further CLF’s mission to safeguard public lands for future generations.

“These remarkable women bring not only deep expertise, but also visionary leadership grounded in community, science, and justice,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation. “Laura, Natalie, and Tarn have each shaped the future of public lands in powerful ways, and we are honored to welcome them to our board. Their presence will strengthen our ability to meet the moment—advancing conservation, equity, and climate resilience on America’s most treasured lands.”

Laura Daniel Davis joins the CLF board following a career spanning more than 30 years in public lands policy and environmental stewardship. Most recently, she served as the Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Biden Administration, where she helped lead efforts to conserve public lands, designate national monuments, and align land and water use with national climate goals.

Davis also served as Chief of Staff to Interior Secretaries Ken Salazar and Sally Jewell during the Obama Administration, and held multiple senior roles in the Clinton Administration. She played a critical role in strengthening the federal government’s relationship with Tribal nations and in overseeing landmark conservation efforts.

Prior to her most recent Interior role, Davis was Chief of Policy and Advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation and led Interior appointments for the Biden-Harris transition team. A graduate of Wake Forest University, she resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her family.

Natalie Dawson, PhD is a wildlife biologist and educator with over two decades of experience in building community-led conservation programs rooted in science, storytelling, and Indigenous knowledge. She previously served as Executive Director of Audubon Alaska and a Vice President at the National Audubon Society, where she led regional strategies to protect critical bird habitat and Arctic ecosystems. Dawson also taught at the University of Montana and built global and national environmental training initiatives for protected area managers with support from the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, and State.

Whether as a biologist on the Tongass National Forest or a fellow in Washington, DC, Dawson has remained committed to place-based conservation rooted in equity and partnership. She lives in the Chilkat Valley of Southeast Alaska, home to the Jilkaat Kwaan and Jilkoot Kwaan.

Tarn Udall, a Senior Attorney with Western Resource Advocates (WRA), has a background in environmental law, land use policy, and community engagement. At WRA, she works to protect Western lands from development, restore wildlife habitat, and secure equitable access to outdoor spaces.

Raised on the Western Slope of Colorado, Udall’s deep connection to the region has fueled her commitment to environmental justice and intergenerational conservation. Her legal career has included work in both the public and private sectors, including time as legal counsel in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

With degrees from Colorado College and the University of Colorado Law School, Udall’s community service includes board leadership with the Colorado Outward Bound School and the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. Prior to law school, she instructed for Outward Bound, leading extended wilderness courses for teenagers and adults on Utah’s rivers and in its mountains and canyons. She resides in Carbondale, Colorado, with her husband, two children, and their beloved dog, and enjoys outdoor adventures and writing.

As public lands face unprecedented challenges, Conservation Lands Foundation is doubling down on efforts to protect the legacy of America’s public lands. The addition of Davis, Dawson, and Udall marks a significant step in strengthening the organization’s leadership and impact.

Diverse Stakeholders Applaud New Mexico Delegation for Reintroducing Legislation to Permanently Protect Gila-Area Rivers and Streams

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:50:36 GMT

Silver City, NM – A diverse coalition of New Mexico residents, local businesses, organizations, and elected officials celebrate the reintroduction of the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act in the Senate (S.1476) and the House (H.R. 2903) by Senator Martin Heinrich and Representative Gabe Vasquez. The coalition also thanks Senator Ben Ray Lujan, Representative Melanie Stansbury, and Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez for cosponsoring this important legislation. This legislation – which has previously been introduced three times – would designate approximately 446 miles of the Gila, San Francisco, and East Fork of the Mimbres Rivers and their tributaries under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, permanently protecting these rivers and streams in their free-flowing condition. The local community has been advocating for the protection of these waterways for a decade, which led Senator Heinrich and former Senator Tom Udall to first introduce this legislation in May 2020.

The M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act has broad, grassroots support of Pueblos and Tribes, faith leaders, private property owners, local governments, civic organizations, sportsmen and women, conservation groups, and more than 150 small businesses in Grant County and surrounding communities. Additionally, polling has found that 81% of voters across New Mexico are supportive of protecting these rivers and streams through Wild and Scenic designation.

The Gila River is New Mexico’s last remaining free-flowing mainstem river. It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities to fish, hunt, hike, kayak, camp, picnic, view wildlife, and more. The popularity of these segments is an important economic driver for the communities in southwestern New Mexico, as many businesses in the region rely on revenue from outside visitors traveling through communities like Silver City to access the Gila and San Francisco Rivers. Data released in 2023 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found that the state’s outdoor economy is an important and growing sector, contributing $3.2 billion to New Mexico’s GDP and that more than 29,000 people statewide work in the outdoor recreation industry.

Established by Congress in 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed to protect our nation’s free flowing rivers that have outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values. Wild and Scenic designation ensures that water quality is maintained and, where possible, enhanced; restricts activities that would harm a river segment’s special values for which it was specifically designated; and prohibits the construction of new federally-licensed dams and other water development projects that could impact designated segments. Importantly, these designations have no effect on traditional uses such as livestock grazing, hunting, and fishing; maintain existing water and private property rights; and protect critical habitats for threatened and endangered species. Less than one-half of one percent of rivers and streams nationally are protected as Wild and Scenic.

The M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act is needed due to persistent threats to Gila-area rivers. At least four significant proposals to dam or divert the Gila River have arisen since the 1960s and in 2021, a dam was proposed on the Lower San Francisco River that would have created a 10-mile-long slack water reservoir on the river and flooded the river canyons of the Lower San Francisco Wilderness Study Area. Though this proposal was ultimately withdrawn, our extraordinary rivers in Southwestern New Mexico will continue to face the prospects of damming and ruin until they are permanently protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

The Wild Gila River Coalition is comprised of the Gila Conservation Coalition, Gila Resources Information Project, Heart of the Gila, Upper Gila Watershed Association, New Mexico Wild, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Rio Grande Restoration, American Rivers, American Whitewater, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Lands Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Wilderness Society, and Trout Unlimited

Statements of Support for M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act:

“There is no greater gift we could leave our grandchildren than the permanent protection of New Mexico’s last free-flowing river, whose headwaters start in the birthplace of America’s first designated Wilderness,” said New Mexico Wild Executive Director Mark Allison . “This bill honors the original vision of Aldo Leopold and river champions like the late Dutch Salmon, without whose efforts this river we love would have been greatly diminished. The legislation also aims to preserve sites held sacred to communities that have called the Gila region home for centuries. New Mexicans know how irreplaceable our natural and cultural heritage is and overwhelmingly support this effort. We thank Senators Heinrich and Luján and Representatives Vasquez, Leger Fernandez, and Stansbury for their leadership and for this gift of hope for the future.”

“Rivers like the greater Gila and San Francisco rivers in southwest New Mexico are exactly what the framers hoped to protect under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: rivers that are free-flowing and highly cherished,” said Mike Fiebig of American Rivers. “As the largest intact headwaters remaining in the Colorado River system, these rivers are also an important source of clean water for people, agriculture, and wildlife. A Wild and Scenic designation will make sure that doesn’t change. We thank the New Mexico delegation for having the forethought to propose the Gila and San Francisco rivers for protection.”

“The time to provide forever protection to the Gila River is now,” said Patrice Mutchnick, Director of Heart of the Gila. “What better legacy can we leave for future generations than clean, free flowing water? Our cultural history, our economic livelihoods, and our children’s futures, will all be more secure with this final designation of the Gila as a Wild and Scenic River.”

“As we struggle to mitigate the ecological impacts of the climate and extinction crises, Wild and Scenic designation will ensure long-term protection of the Gila’s riparian ecosystem and its threatened and endangered species,” said Allyson Siwik, Executive Director of the Gila Conservation Coalition.

“As the last free-flowing river in New Mexico, the Gila River and its tributaries hold profound ecological and cultural significance for the people of New Mexico, serving as a recreational haven, a local watershed, and a sacred landscape,” said Romir Lahiri, Associate Program Director for Conservation Lands Foundation. “We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Heinrich, Representative Gabe Vasquez, Senator Luján, Representative Stansbury, and Representative Leger Fernández for reintroducing the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act. This vital legislation will permanently safeguard the Gila River, its tributaries, and a way of life treasured by the local communities who call the Gila home.”

“We strongly support extending protections to the Gila River and its tributaries under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act,” said Jesse Deubel, Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “Our nation last year celebrated the 100th anniversary of the designation of the Gila Wilderness. The great conservationist Aldo Leopold suggested setting aside the area for federal protections because he recognized that development was fast encroaching on our nation’s remaining wild places. Today, we have the obligation to carry on his work and protect the Gila River and associated tributaries. The periodic and ill-considered proposals to dam up the Gila and drain its flows for irrigation projects show the pressing need for permanent protection.”

“The Gila River is woven into the fabric of our local community — it’s part of our history, our culture and our most cherished memories,” said Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director of The Wilderness Society. “It’s where we’ve gathered with loved ones, and where many of us first learned what it means to be connected to the land and water. We are proud to see the community come together to protect the Gila River so future generations can make their own memories. Thank you to the entire New Mexico congressional delegation for standing with our community and reintroducing this vital legislation. Now it’s time for Congress to act.”

“For decades, a diverse coalition has been working to protect more than 450 miles of the Gila and San Francisco rivers and their tributaries,” said Patrick Lane, senior manager, U.S. conservation project, The Pew Charitable Trusts. “Sponsors of this bill have hosted roundtables, held comment periods, and met with hundreds of stakeholders to craft a balanced bill that would ensure that future generations can always have access to clean water, ample fisheries, and outdoor recreation opportunities. In fact, a 2020-economic study found that if the Gila and San Francisco rivers and their major tributaries were designated as Wild and Scenic, recreation spending by existing visitors could increase by at least $144 million, contributing to a durable and diversified southwestern New Mexico economy.”

“The headwaters of the Gila River are the only place on Earth where native Gila Trout – one of the rarest trout species in existence and one of only two native trout species in New Mexico – are found. As we work to restore tributary streams from the impacts of wildfire and create more resilient habitat for wild trout, designating segments of the watershed as Wild and Scenic will protect that progress, contributing to a free-flowing, healthy river system for the communities that depend on it.” – Eric Head, Gila Trout project manager, Trout Unlimited

“The Gila River is an iconic landmark in the Southwest, holding special significance for Indigenous cultures. Preserving the river’s free-flowing nature will create a safe haven for wildlife during this time of climate and biodiversity crises”, said Caro l Ann Fugagli, Executive Director of the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance.

Tribal Government

“Much of the Gila and San Francisco rivers are located within the Fort Sill (Chiricahua-Warm Springs ) Apache Tribe’s original 14-million-acre homeland that our ancestors were removed from by force. The Gila River and its tributaries provide a cultural roadmap to our ancestors who thrived in the surrounding lands for centuries.” Said Tribal Chairwoman Jennifer Heminokeky.

She further st ates, “This legislation reflects my belief that it is our responsibility to protect these cultural and natural resources for future generations, just as our ancestors cared for these lands and rivers before us. We will continue to stand with others in this community to protect the Gila and San Francisco rivers.”

Local Government

“The Gila Wild and Scenic designation will pay tribute to our rich natural heritage and boost Grant County’s outdoor recreation economy,” said Grant County Commissioner Nancy Stephens.

“Each member of this community has a different story of their experience and connection to the forest and the river, but protection of the Gila is extremely important to all of us. As our community continues to grow and evolve, our love of the Gila is the one thing that stays the same,” said Guadalupe Cano, Silver City Councilor, District 4 and Mayor Pro Tem. She continued, “The reintroduction of the Gila Wild and Sc enic legislation will protect the land while still providing access for everyone to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. As we continue to welcome visitors who also contribute immensely to our local economy, we will ensure this incredible public land will be protected for many generations to come.”

Community Voices

“The free-flowing Gila River is the true cornerstone of the Gila Wilderness Area. This river remaining free-flowing state, in perpetuity, greatly benefits outdoor recreation-centric businesses like ours in the present, and into the future. We strongly support a Wild and Scenic Designation for the Gila River,” said Eric Payne, co-owner of Gila Hike & Bike in Silver City.

“Wild and Scenic for the Gila River is one of the most important pieces of legislation for my lifetime,” said Brett Myrick, 5th generation New Mexican who served in Seal Team 5. He continued, “I will go to my grave with a smile on my face knowing the Gila River is protected this way in perpetuity.”

Alexa Tubbs, CEO of Open Space Brewing in Santa Clara, NM said , “Wild and Scenic is vital for our business and the future of our community. The Gila River is where we play and why we live here. Let’s finally protect the river that gives us so much.”

“I have been recreating on the Gila River since I was a small child; the river means more to me than I can explain in two sentences,” said Cindy “Renee” Provencio, Grant County resident and local community organizer. “The Gila River has a value to so many in our community that cannot be monetized and it should be protected with the highest level of protection for future generations to come.”

“A Wild and Scenic designation is important to our area’s preservation. The Gila River is to be left alone. Keeping it for the next generation is important. Not only is recreation one aspect, but is habitat and healing waters for those in need,” said Frances Gonzales, Bayard City Councilor. She added that, “as Steve Erwin once said, ‘If we save our wild places, we will ultimately save ourselves.’”

“As a 43-year resident of Glenwood, New Mexico, I know that the incredible natural beauty that surrounds us here is what makes this area so unique. Wild, free flowing rivers are a part of that. Protecting these rivers for future generations is one of the best things we can do for this special place,” said Beth Menzcer, Catron County resident.

“After 45 years of living on the western slope of the Gila Mountains, I have experienced a connection with and concern for our water and air factory reliant on the 5 vegetative zones and natural flowing tributaries,” said Stanley King, Owner Operator at Silver Creek Inn in Mogollon, NM . “Because of the unique Southwest location of this watershed, the fragile environment, and endangered residents, our obligation is to protect this ecosystem from human interference.”

“The Gila River has been an inspiration to me and has taught me many things about the heritage and history of New Mexico. Keeping the Gila untamed is important in the conservation of such history” – Anthony Canari, student at WNMU in Silver City

“As a student attending WNMU from Oregon, I am all too aware of dams and the harm they can cause,” said WNMU student Aidin Wilson. “That’s why I see protecting the Gila River with great importance. Let’s keep rivers free.”

“The headwaters of the Gila River are the only place on Earth where native Gila Trout – one of the rarest trout species in existence and one of only two native trout species in New Mexico – are found. As we work to restore tributary streams from the impacts of wildfire and create more resilient habitat for wild trout, designating segments of the watershed as Wild and Scenic will protect that progress, contributing to a free-flowing, healthy river system for the communities that depend on it,” said Eric Head, Gila Trout project manager, Trout Unlimited.

Administration Continues Attacks on Public Lands and Western Arctic Rules

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:06:12 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Trump administration took a significant step toward dismantling key protections for America’s public lands by placing several widely supported conservation rules under regulatory review. Among them are the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule (“Public Lands Rule”) and the Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Rule (“Western Arctic Rule”). These safeguards are essential to preserving public access and ecological health across the Western Arctic and the broader western United States.

“The Public Lands Rule and the Western Arctic Rule reflect what most Americans—across the political spectrum—want: stronger protections for our shared lands, clean water, and wildlife. These rules are grounded in science and robust public involvement.

“The Western Arctic is one of the last intact landscapes in the U.S., vital to Indigenous communities and wildlife. The Public Lands Rule helps ensure conservation and recreation are treated on par with energy development.

“Despite the administration’s claims, there is no energy crisis—the U.S. is already the world’s top oil and gas producer. What Americans are asking for is balance. These rules deliver that balance, and we are fully prepared to defend them—because the future of our public lands, communities, and climate depends on it.”

###

Background on the Public Lands Rule:

2025 Communications Cohort

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:11:26 GMT

Session 1 - Social Media Bootcamp ��

Join us for an engaging and action-packed webinar—the first in a dynamic two-part series! The experts from Diversify Social Media will dive into game-changing strategies to boost your online presence, drive traffic to your website and social platforms, and supercharge engagement. But this isn't just another social media training—this session is tailored specifically to the Friends Grassroots Network, giving you real-world, actionable insights to strengthen your advocacy and educational efforts. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your impact and connect with your community at a deeper level.

0:00 Intro (Shi-Lynn)

2:16 Communications Cohort Introduction (Milly)

6:25 About The Diversify Social Media Team (Milly)

8:55 Current Challenges In Conservation (Milly)

10:24 Why Social Media? (Milly)

14:11 Know Your Organization (Diana)

17:29 Organizational Voice Examples (Linda)

22:34 Anatomy Of A Post (Linda)

27:45 Best Practices (Linda)

33:02 Resources (Max)

38:07 Ideas For Content (Max)

40:38 Platforms (Max)

44:05 Instagram (Max)

48:44 YouTube (Max)

52:49 Facebook (Diana)

56:58 LinkedIn (Diana)

1:02:01 Let's Recap (Q&A and Closing Comments)

Resources

Social_Media_Bootcamp_Session1_Handout.pdf

Session 2 - Optimizing Your Online Presence

In this session of the Social Media Bootcamp, Shi-Lynn Campbell, Milly Tamarez, Max Lasher, and Diana Scholl discuss key strategies for enhancing your social media game. The agenda covers content pillars, community management, influencer partnerships, fundraising, and crisis communications. Our presenters will also walk through practical examples and tips on maintaining organizational voice and strategy.

Key takeaways include:

Understanding the importance of social media for action and awareness
Defining content goals and audience
Leveraging community engagement techniques
Exploring influencer collaborations
Effectively managing crises

00:00 Welcome and Introduction (Shi-Lynn)

00:44 Recap of Session One (Milly)

07:02 Content Pillars Explained (Milly)

11:15 Community Management Basics (Max)

19:35 Engaging with Your Audience (Max)

26:23 Influencer Marketing Overview (Max)

29:37 Leveraging Micro Influencers for Contract Work (Max)

30:18 The Power of User-Generated Content (Diana)

32:06 Finding and Engaging with Influencers (All Hosts)

36:33 Building Brand Partnerships (Max)

41:05 Effective Fundraising Strategies on Social Media (Diana)

48:06 Crisis Communication and Management (Diana)

54:31 Q&A and Final Thoughts (All Hosts)

Resources

Social_Media_Bootcamp_Session2_Handout.pdf

Survey

Let us know what you learned from the Communications Cohort. Provide us with your email in the survey if you would like any assistance with your communication needs.

New Mexicans Applaud the Reintroduction of Legislation to Protect Public Lands Surrounding Chaco Canyon

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:15:27 GMT

New Mexicans Applaud the Reintroduction of Legislation to Protect Public Lands Surrounding Chaco Canyon

Indigenous communities, conservationists, preservationists, and other stakeholders in New Mexico urge Congress to pass important bill

(Santa Fe, NM) – New Mexicans are applauding the reintroduction of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, supported by the entire New Mexico delegation – Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez. The legislation will permanently protect federal public lands within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park from new oil and gas leasing. Originally introduced and passed with bipartisan support by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019, the legislation would protect nearly 339,000 acres of federal public lands, containing thousands of significant cultural properties and sites. The land that is being considered for withdrawal from future leasing does not include any private lands or Tribal allotments; is historically, spiritually, and ecologically significant to numerous Tribes in the Southwest; and its protection is critical.

The reintroduction comes at a critical time when representatives outside of New Mexico are attempting to reverse the historic 20-year administrative mineral withdrawal of federal lands and minerals surrounding Chaco Canyon from future oil and gas leasing, for which the Bureau of Land Management received over 80,000 public comments in support. Today’s reintroduction further demonstrates the growing momentum behind lasting protections for this significant landscape.

The Greater Chaco Landscape includes Chaco Culture National Historical Park and dozens of ancient villages, roads, and shrines that were built by the ancestors of the Pueblos and other Indigenous Nations which emerged and flourished in Chaco Canyon between 850 and 1250 A.D. Chaco Canyon has also been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site based on its importance as a center of trade, political activity, and ceremony, as well as its monumental buildings and distinctive architecture. The culture and heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest are inextricably linked to lasting protections for the Greater Chaco Landscape.

Over the years, drilling has caused significant harm to the health of Indigenous and other local communities, air quality, and cultural values in the landscape surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Oil and gas wells, roads, pipelines, and other infrastructure have destroyed significant cultural sites and transformed others into industrial parks . To allow more drilling in this area would completely disregard the calls from the Pueblos, Tribes, and other communities who share a deep connection to Chaco Canyon.

New Mexicans from across the state are joining the All Pueblo Council of Governors and others who have advocated for protection of the greater Chaco Canyon landscape to celebrate the reintroduction of the proposed legislation. Passage of the bill would ensure the permanent protection of roughly 339,000 acres of public lands surrounding the park, which contain thousands of archaeological and cultural sites , and would also help protect local communities from the impacts of additional drilling.

Below are several statements supporting increased protections for the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act.

“The Greater Chaco Landscape is a living cultural site that is central to the history of Pueblo people. It is a place of prayer, ceremony, and connection that continues to sustain our people and the world around us,” said Keegan King, Executive Director of Native Lands Institute . “Permanent protection through the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act is not only the right decision, it is an act of deep respect and responsibility. We thank New Mexico’s delegation for standing with Tribal Nations and future generations of New Mexicans.”

“Our Pueblo communities have long advocated for permanent protections of the Greater Chaco landscape. The codification of a buffer zone is only the first of many meaningful steps towards ensuring that Chaco Canyon’s Pueblo descendants continue living in harmony with this living cultural landscape. The attacks on the Greater Chaco landscape can exacerbate under the current political climate so we witness rescindment of environmental justice for minority populations under the second Trump administration. This is a meaningful step to build momentum for strong landscape protections in the future. Pueblo Action Alliance remains committed to working against the violent legacy of extraction as environmental justice initiatives continue to be impacted.” Julia Bernal, Executive Director, Pueblo Action Alliance

“We at Archaeology Southwest are gratified that Senators Luján and Heinrich, and Representatives Leger Fernández, Stansbury, and Vasquez, are once again going to bat for all New Mexicans by reintroducing the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act,” said Paul F. Reed, New Mexico State Director and Preservation Archaeologist for Archaeology Southwest . “Protection for the fragile Indigenous landscapes and sacred sites of Greater Chaco cannot wait a minute longer.”

“New Mexico Wild stands united with Pueblo leadership in calling upon our elected officials to seize this moment and pass legislation that will forever safeguard the Greater Chaco Landscape. This action is crucial to protect its cultural heritage, ecological importance, and sacred sites, many of which lie outside the Park’s boundaries, where oil and gas development threatens to destroy artifacts, history, wildlands, habitat, and dark skies,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild . “Furthermore, prohibiting new leasing is vital for combating climate change, improving air quality, and enhancing public health. We are grateful to our full congressional delegation for standing in solidarity with local communities and all those who have advocated for these vital protections through a robust stakeholder engagement process.”

“The Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act is an important measure needed to provide permanent protection for the cultural and historical resources sacred to surrounding communities, Pueblos, and Tribes throughout New Mexico,” said Ángel Peña, Executive Director of Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project. “The 10-mile protective buffer zone encompasses rare and irreplaceable spiritual, archaeological, scientific treasures, and there are undoubtedly thousands more that have yet to be identified or disclosed since less than 20 percent of the lands lying within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park have been archaeologically surveyed. We urge Congress to follow the lead of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation and act quickly to safeguard this sacred landscape from the extreme attacks on public lands.”

“Thank you Senators Ben Ray Luján and Heinrich and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez, Stansbury, and Vasquez for championing legislation that will dramatically reduce the threat that expanded oil and gas drilling poses to Chaco Canyon,” said Jesse Deubel, Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation . “It is more important than ever to safeguard the irreplaceable values of this sacred landscape as our public lands face unprecedented threats. We look forward to working with Congress to move this bill forward and safeguard Chaco Canyon once and for all.”

“We thank the New Mexico Congressional Delegation for reintroducing the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act—an essential step to protect the culture, heritage, and health of our communities” said Gabrielle Uballez, Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children . “This bill helps safeguard families from the dangers of unchecked oil and gas drilling and preserves Chaco Canyon for future generations. With 2023’s widely supported protections now at risk, we urge swift action in Washington to pass this critical legislation.”

“Today, we celebrate the introduction of necessary legislation that would permanently protect the Greater Chaco Canyon landscape from more drilling, putting the interests of thousands of Indigenous Peoples and others in the region first over the interests of extractive and dangerous industries.”

said Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director of The Wilderness Society . “We know the Chaco Cultural Heritage Protection Act is needed as a permanent reprieve from the imminent threats facing these culturally important lands and the communities living here today. We thank Senators Luján and Heinrich and Representatives Leger Fernández, Stansbury and Vasquez for their work to introduce this critical legislation.”

“We deeply appreciate New Mexico Senators Luján and Heinrich, as well as Representatives Leger Fernández, Stansbury, and Vasquez, for respecting the concerns of local communities and reintroducing the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, which will protect valuable and vulnerable public lands surrounding Chaco Canyon from harmful extractive uses. We call on Congress to swiftly pass this crucial legislation,” said Romir Lahiri, New Mexico and Arizona Associate Program Director for Conservation Lands Foundation . “The greater Chaco Canyon landscape—sacred to numerous Pueblo and Diné people across the Southwest and treasured by local communities—has faced the persistent threat of fragmentation from oil and gas leasing for far too long. The time to protect this cultural heritage is now.”

“Already 90% of the Greater Chaco Landscape has been leased to oil development, and more than 37,000 wells have been drilled , some near schools and people’s homes. We celebrated the BLM’s actions in 2023 as a much-needed step to protect Chaco Canyon but permanent protections are necessary. Enacting the Greater Chaco Protection Act would safeguard the region’s biological marvels, cultural resources, sacred sites and scientific values and protect the health and well-being of local communities. We want future generations of New Mexicans and visitors from around the world to enjoy Chaco Canyon’s history, beauty and dark skies.” Ellen Montgomery , Environment New Mexico’s public lands campaign director

“Chaco Canyon is home to diverse wildlife populations and significant Indigenous sites. The Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act will safeguard these lands from oil and gas development so that future generations will be able to experience the cultural, spiritual, and recreational opportunities that these lands offer,” said Andrew Black, public lands field director at the National Wildlife Federation . “The National Wildlife Federation applauds the leadership of the entire New Mexico Congressional delegation for continuing to collaborate closely with Indigenous communities about how to best protect and manage these sacred lands.”

###

Senate Support of Public Lands Sales to Fund Tax Breaks for the Wealthy Is Assault on Everyone Who Values Their Access to the Outdoors

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 17:21:09 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Following today’s 48-51 bipartisan vote in the Senate on the Hickenlooper-Heinrich amendment opposing the inclusion of public lands sales to help pay for tax cuts for the wealthy in the federal budget reconciliation package, Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, issued the following statement:

“Selling off the country’s national public lands to fund a tax break for the wealthy is an assault on everyone who values their access to the outdoors–regardless of political affiliation. It ignores overwhelming public support for access to their public lands and it’s a direct hit on rural economies that rely on outdoor recreation.

“To sacrifice our national legacy and local economies for short-sighted and questionable economic gains for a select few is a betrayal of the American people and locks us out of the places we cherish for their natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and economic contributions.

“National public lands are more than just a “balance sheet.” They are a legacy, a source of national pride, and a crucial component of our economic, environmental, and personal well-being. They reflect the will of the American people and decades of advocacy from local communities, families, businesses, elected officials, and Tribal Nations to safeguard these irreplaceable lands from exploitation. And they support a trillion dollar outdoor recreation economy.

“We stand with Senators Heinrich, Hickenlooper, and all public lands champions in Congress in urging their colleagues to respect the will of the public to protect these lands and water sources today and for our generations to come.”

####

March 2025 CLiF Notes: Court Wins & Conservation Challenges

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:33:19 GMT

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.

This month brings both victories to celebrate and emerging challenges that demand our continued vigilance and action.

Photo: Great Bend of the Gila, AZ | Dawn Kish

We are deeply saddened by t he passing of Arizona Representative Raúl Grijalva , a true conservation hero who dedicated his career to protecting public lands like Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument – and elevating the voices of those who depend on them. Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network partners were honored to work alongside Rep. Grijalva for nearly a decade, and we will honor his remarkable legacy by continuing to fight for the landscapes he cherished.

Take Action: Join us in honoring Representative Grijalva's memory by urging your federal elected officials to protect the Great Bend of the Gila .

Dive Into Our 2024 Impact Report

From all of us at the Conservation Lands Foundation, we’d like to thank you for being a vital part of our inspiring community of changemakers that helped us achieve extraordinary conservation milestones last year as part of our Protect What Matters campaign. From landmark national monument designations to transformative conservation policies, you’ll find all of these successes and the powerful partnerships that made them possible in our 2024 Impact Report .

Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Interior Department Employees

Photo: Bureau of Land Management

This month, a U.S. District Judge ordered the immediate reinstatement of federal workers who were terminated in February, including staff from the Department of the Interior. While the ruling spells good news for public lands, the risk of losing these - and even more - federal employees remains. Earlier this week, the White House asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

The Impact: Despite being reinstated, the immediate termination of thousands of public land employees has had rippling impacts, causing delays in maintenance and restoration projects and the reduction of services.

Our Take: Our fight to ensure the Bureau of Land Management is properly staffed and funded is far from over. This month’s federal ruling is a powerful example of why our work is conducted at all levels of government, including the courts where many conservation battles are ultimately decided.

Administration Attacks on Public Lands Intensify

Photo: Chuckwalla National Monument, CA | Bob Wick

The Trump administration has intensified actions to privatize BLM lands and prioritize extraction and development over public access.

Monumental Confusion over National Monuments

On March 14, the administration issued a fact sheet disclosing plans to terminate protections for nearly one million acres of public land only to hastily remove the language the next day without explanation.

The Impact: Major news outlets reported that Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in California were on the chopping block. These monuments were designated by President Joe Biden earlier this year following years of advocacy from Tribal Nations, local communities, elected officials, and residents who live closest to these monuments, who strongly supported these protections.

Our Take: It’s a shameful insult to the Indigenous cultural connections, vital wildlife habitats, outdoor access, and local economies these monuments support. We are ready to defend these national monuments should their designations be revoked.

Photo: Oil and gas development on public lands in California | Bureau of Land Management

New Executive Order Replaces Balance with Bulldozers

On March 20, the White House issued an Executive Order accelerating domestic mining and processing of minerals, copper, uranium and possibly coal on public lands, directing agencies to submit a list of priority projects to be fast-tracked within 15 days.

The Impact: This order prioritizes mining over all other public land uses and will likely bypass environmental laws, public scrutiny, the rights and traditions of Indigenous people, and the long-term preservation of lands that are essential wildlife habitats and part of our national legacy.

Our Take: We recognize the need to produce domestic critical minerals, but to do so without any regard for environmental protections or public input is reckless and ignores the financial values that natural landscapes are providing. We will fight for responsible mineral production and against exploitative efforts to plunder our national public lands and compromise the quality of the air we breathe, water we drink, or landscapes and wildlife we cherish.

Interior Department Announces Plans to Industrialize America’s Largest and Most Fragile Intact Public Landscape and Source of Indigenous Food Security

Photo: Polar bear with cub, Western Arctic | Florian Schulz

The Department of the Interior has announced a plan to open 82% of the 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in the Western Arctic to oil and gas development, dramatically expanding industrial access to America's largest remaining piece of intact public land.

The Impact: This action stands to disrupt the Arctic's fragile ecosystem, which is already warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the planet.

The plan would industrialize landscapes that are critical to caribou migration, polar bear denning, and bird nesting. Most significantly, it endangers areas like Teshekpuk Lake that have sustained Iñupiat communities for thousands of years, threatening traditional subsistence practices that remain vital to Indigenous cultural identity and food security.

Our Take: With the United States already the world's largest oil and gas producer, this expansion appears motivated more by corporate profit than legitimate energy needs. We remain committed to standing with the communities of the Western Arctic and utilizing all available tools to protect these irreplaceable public lands from short-sighted development.

New Bill Seeks to Dismantle Land Management Plans

Photo: The Red Desert, Wyoming is a landscape that would be affected under Rep. Hurd's new bill | Bob Wick

Representative Jeff Hurd (CO-3) introduced legislation that would force the Bureau of Land Management to reissue nine finalized resource management plans for public lands across Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming.

The Impact: If passed, this bill would override years of collaborative planning processes that established balanced approaches to public lands management shaped by input from local stakeholders and Tribes.

Our Take: This bill is a quick and cheap industry giveaway that undermines extensive public input and thorough environmental assessments. We will continue to push back on this shortsighted proposal that contradicts the wishes of Western voters across political affiliations who consistently express support for protecting public lands.

Community Leaders in Action: Public Land Advocates Head to DC

Photo: Friends Grassroots Network advocates meeting with former BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning.

As you've read in this month's newsletter, public lands are facing serious threats from all levels of government, reminding us that their protection requires our ongoing advocacy. One of the ways we do this is bringing members of our Friends Grassroots Network from across the West to Washington, DC. Next week, these dedicated individuals will meet with members of Congress, participate in advocacy trainings, and strengthen the personal connections that make our movement powerful. Follow along on Instagram where we’ll be posting daily updates!

Trail Snacks

�� Our Chief Conservation Officer, Jocelyn Torres, shared insights on current threats to public lands and what we can do to make our voices heard on a recent episode of The Outdoor Minimalist podcast .

⛺ Friends Grassroots Network partner Bears Ears Partnership invites you to become a Visit with Respect Ambassador to ensure visitors to Bears Ears National Monument in Utah visit safely and respectfully. Their next training session is on Saturday, April 26.

�� The Mojave Desert Land Trust partnered with local biologists and wildlife organizations to install a new drinker for the desert bighorn sheep that travel between Mojave Trails National Monument and the Mojave National Preserve in California.

Thank you for being part of this vital work,

Chris Hill
Chief Executive Officer

Interior Department Blows Up Delicate Balance of Managing Western Arctic’s Natural Resources in Give-Away

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:46:08 GMT

Washington, DC –The Department of the Interior has announced a plan to allow oil and gas development on 82% of America’s largest remaining piece of intact public land–the 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in the Western Arctic.

“This plan will blow up the delicate balance the community achieved between allowing industrial development and maintaining the natural resources that support the people, cultures, and wildlife for the region. It’s shortsighted and irresponsible and worsens the threats facing Arctic lands, which are warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the planet.

“This plan will harm irreplaceable landscapes, essential wildlife, and the Indigenous peoples who rely on them for their way of life–not in the name of necessary energy production but to pad the pockets of billionaire CEOs. The U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas.

“Areas within the Western Arctic, including Teshekpuk Lake have supported the Iñupiat people for millennia, who still rely on it to sustain a way of life that has been passed down through generations. This policy will inflict tremendous damage on them and other communities throughout the region.

“It’s possible to improve Western Alaska’s financial and social health and sustainability by protecting the quality of its public lands and waters and we will continue to stand with the people of the Western Arctic and use all tools necessary to defend the vulnerable public lands from privatization.”

####

Background:

Today, more than 40 indigenous communities continue to rely on sustenance resources within the Reserve. Within the Reserve exist five designated Special Areas covering more than 13 million acres that have significant ecological significance – Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay.

In late 2020, the Trump administration revised the Reserve’s Integrated Activity Plan, which opened 82% of the Reserve (18.6 million acres) to oil and gas leasing, including in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area. Following a legal challenge by Conservation Lands Foundation and others, the Biden administration overturned these changes to the plan and completed a final rule in 2024 (Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska) following extensive engagement with the public, Alaska Native Tribes, and Alaska Native Corporations.

The Trump administration’s current policy is an attempt to revert back to the reckless Reserve policies from 2020 that harm local communities, biodiversity, and cultural values.

New Executive Order on Critical Mineral Mining on National Public Lands Replaces Balance with Bulldozers

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:41:59 GMT

Washington, D.C. — A recently-announced Executive Order on critical minerals mining continues the Trump administration’s pattern that replaces balance and consideration for the multiple needs of public lands management with bulldozers and a disregard for any policy outcome other than destruction of public lands. A statement from the White House on March 20, 2025 outlined “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.”

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

“We recognize the need to produce domestic critical minerals, but to do so without any regard for environmental protections or public input, and prioritizing mining over all other uses of public lands, is lazy, reckless, and ignores the financial values that natural landscapes are providing for rural communities, ranching, recreation, hunting, and fishing across the west.

“Public lands management is supposed to balance the needs of responsible energy development and resource extraction with people’s right to access and enjoy these areas. Instead, this Executive Order replaces balance with bulldozers. National public lands are not one big manufacturing facility for oil and gas companies or international mining firms that will export our precious natural resources to benefit others.

“Necessary and appropriate critical minerals production must respect environmental laws, the rights and traditions of Indigenous people, and the long-term preservation of the land and essential wildlife habitats that are part of the natural and national legacy that belongs to all of us.

“We support balanced and responsible uses of public lands but will fiercely fight against irresponsible, exploitative, and egregious efforts to plunder our national public lands that are essential wildlife habitats, water sources, recreation areas —for short-term profit that does not benefit American taxpayers.”

####

Trump Administration Begins Privatization of Public Lands with Elimination of Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 19:18:51 GMT

Washington, D.C. — In an act of midnight marauding, the White House announced that it will eliminate two of the country’s national monuments–Chuckwalla National Monument and Sattitla Highlands National Monument–both in California. A fact sheet initially posted by the White House Friday, March 14, around 11:30 pm EDT indicated Trump signed an executive order "Terminating proclamations declaring nearly a million acres constitute new national monuments that lock up vast amounts of land from economic development and energy production.”

“The administration knows that its policy to give away America’s public lands is wildly unpopular, which is why they’re acting like midnight marauders. People of all political affiliations love their national monuments and their access to them. Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands national monuments are some of the nation's most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes, and they were widely supported when they were designated last year.

“Instead of respecting the years of strong Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration and heartfelt advocacy from local communities, businesses and elected officials, the administration’s action is a shameful insult to the Indigenous cultural connections, vital habitats, outdoor access, and local economies these monuments support.

“There’s really no explanation for this other than this administration is trying to sneakily and greedily sell off the country’s public lands to the wealthy and well-connected, thereby blocking access for everyone else. It’s an attack that flies in the face of America’s ideals and the Conservation Lands Foundation will be unrelenting in our fight on the side of the people–85% of voters in the west–who support keeping public lands in the public’s hands.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Statement on the Passing of Representative Raúl Grijalva

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:21:18 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, conservation champion, Arizona Congressman and former Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Raúl Grijalva passed away.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Representative Raúl Grijalva, a friend of conservation and a fierce champion for the country’s public lands and the communities they benefit. His leadership in protecting landscapes, like Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona, and advocating for Indigenous communities, including strengthening co-stewardship opportunities with federal agencies, have made a remarkable difference in the way we imagine and care for our public lands. He made sure that communities were not only included in decisions but leading the way.

“Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network partners worked with Mr. Grijalva for nearly a decade to secure protections for sacred landscapes and funding to support our public lands and waters. We will miss him fighting by our side, and will honor his legacy to our public lands and the communities who depend on them by continuing the fight ahead to preserve his victories and advance more protections for Arizona landscapes, including the Great Bend of the Gila.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, staff, and all of his constituents.”

####

Join us in honoring Representative Raúl Grijalva's memory by urging your federal elected officials to protect the Great Bend of the Gila.

New Legislation Seeks to Gut Public Process on Federal Public Land Management in Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:02:34 GMT

Washington, DC – Earlier this week, Representative Jeff Hurd (CO-3) introduced legislation that mandates the Bureau of Land Management reissue nine finalized resource management plans for landscapes in Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. These plans fulfill a critical component of the federal land management process and are legally required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). They represent years of careful consideration, comprehensive environmental review, and public participation from Tribes, outdoor recreation users, scientists, conservation groups, local communities, and industry stakeholders. These management plans play a key role in stewarding public lands, ensuring responsible management for the benefit of all Americans.

Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

“ Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on delays and creating unnecessary uncertainty, Congress ought to respect the people’s will and stick to the community-informed and well-balanced plans that protect our public lands, support local economies, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities.

“Representative Hurd’s bill undermines extensive public input and thorough and transparent environmental assessments–all in the name of a quick and cheap industry giveaway. It’s a complete slap in the face to the majority of voters of all political affiliations in the west who love and enjoy the natural beauty of their state, who are very concerned about efforts to reduce natural areas, and who don’t support selling public lands. This bill is the opposite of what the public wants and needs.”

# # # #

Jurassic National Monument: When Conservation Faces Extinction

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:41:36 GMT

Deep in the heart of Utah lies one of America's most remarkable paleontological wonders - Jurassic National Monument, home to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry where you can view 1,500 dinosaur bones from different species of dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic period. Jurassic National Monument is part of the Bureau of Land Management's National Conservation Lands system, which protect some of the most essential and spectacular natural, cultural, and archaeological places in the country.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of National Conservation Lands this year, we face a troubling paradox. The very system and conservation tools designed to protect these irreplaceable treasures are under threat of becoming endangered.

A Prehistoric Treasure

The Ironic Twist

On this day in 2019, Jurassic National Monument received its official designation when President Donald Trump signed the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act into law. Fast forward to 2025, and the same administration's dramatic staffing cuts in federal land management agencies are now threatening places like Jurassic National Monument.

The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in Jurassic National Monument.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management

What's at Stake?

Jurassic National Monument is located on the northern edge of the Colorado Plateau, an intersection for several distinct geographic and biological regions. The monument offers visitors a glimpse into prehistoric times along with:

Miles of established trails and scenic drives
Access to the Green and Yampa Rivers
Home to more than 400 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians
Six campgrounds and over 120 sites to choose from
A gateway to understanding our planet's ancient history

People Power: The Real Force Behind Conservation

National Conservation Lands like Jurassic National Monument aren't protected in a vacuum. They exist because people like YOU fought for them. The National Conservation Lands system protects iconic landscapes, cultural sites, and waters across the country.

But conservation isn't a one-time effort. It takes ongoing action, commitment, and community.

Photo: National Park Service

Planning Your Visit

The monument is scheduled to open to visitors on March 27, 2025, but be warned: operating hours and programs may be severely affected by staffing shortages. Before venturing out:

Check with the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service for current conditions
Be prepared for reduced services and limited guidance
Plan for a safe and responsible visit, respecting both the land and its cultural and historical significance

Take Action Now

The future of Jurassic National Monument and public lands across the country depends on citizen advocacy:

Call your members of Congress urging them to oppose terminations of land managers along with attacks on bedrock conservation tools like the Antiquities Act, which can be used to protect future national monuments.
Speak up at Congressional townhall meetings
Volunteer your time to help maintain these precious resources
Educate others about the importance of conservation and proper funding

Beyond the Quarry: Visiting the Monument

Jurassic National Monument offers exceptional experiences including hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.

Hiking Highlight: The Fossil Discovery Trail

2.5 mile (4 km) round trip, out-and-back trail
Easy to moderate difficulty
Opportunity to see unexcavated fossils as paleontologists would find them
No pets allowed
Best experienced at dawn or dusk when the light illuminates the layered landscape

The Bottom Line

Just as dinosaurs faced extinction 65 million years ago, our conservation system faces its own extinction threat today. But unlike the dinosaurs, we have the power to prevent this disaster.

We must continue speaking out to ensure these natural and historic treasures remain protected for generations to come. The choice is ours. Visit conservationlands.org to learn more and join the fight.

Remember: Visit respectconnectprotect.org for more tips on how to plan ahead so you can have a safe and awesome visitor experience. ��✨

Additional Resources

February 2025 CLiF Notes

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:32:00 GMT

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.

This month, the Trump administration unleashed its coordinated assault on America's treasured public lands, beginning with sweeping secretarial orders for a review of all national monuments and public lands.

Congressional attacks on public lands

Congress has unleashed a coordinated legislative attack designed to dismantle decades of conservation progress and foundational conservation laws in order to privatize millions of acres of cherished landscapes.

The Impact:

The WEST Act would immediately kill the Public Lands Rule, which we helped secure last year and provides direction to the BLM to balance conservation and public access to the outdoors with resource extraction in their management decisions.

Nevada Representative Mark Amodei and Utah Representative Celeste Malloy have introduced legislation to gut the Antiquities Act, a tool used by presidents of both parties to protect American treasures from the Grand Canyon National Park to Bears Ears National Monument.

Montana Senator Steve Daines’s bill to prioritize extraction over all other uses on federal lands would essentially lock out public from all other BLM lands.

Our Take: These coordinated attacks reveal a disturbing strategy to strip away fundamental safeguards that keep public lands in public hands. By targeting both administrative rules and cornerstone legislation they aim to open public lands to private corporate polluters in complete disregard of the interests and economies of rural communities. The Antiquities Act in particular has been essential for protecting landscapes with scientific, cultural and historical significance when Congress has failed to act.

Take Action to Defend the Antiquities Act

Mass Firings of Federal Employees Spell Crisis for Public Lands

Photo: Two BLM employees at a National Public Lands Day event, Oregon | Bureau of Land Management

Last week, the Trump administration began terminating over 3,400 employees from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service—with more drastic cuts expected. Federal employees received immediate termination notices, sending shockwaves through rural western communities where these dedicated public servants live, work, and raise their families.

Impact : These dismissed employees brought decades of specialized experience to their roles serving the American people. “Skeleton” or non-existing crews will cripple public services nationwide. Visitors calling for road conditions will reach voicemails, trails will remain blocked by fallen trees, trash cans and other receptacles at campgrounds and beyond will overflow–all while the upcoming fire season looms with inadequate preparation.

Our Take : By systematically stripping away the personnel and expertise needed to manage public lands effectively, opponents are creating the perfect conditions to justify privatization. When public lands appear "mismanaged" due to intentional understaffing, selling them off becomes an easier case to make to the American public.

Are you or someone you know a Bureau of Land Management employee affected by the recent terminations? We're collecting firsthand accounts to share with members of Congress and help them understand the real human impact of these devastating cuts. Your story can make a difference in the fight to protect and defend public lands and the people who care for them. Share Your Story

Trump nominates oil and gas insider to lead the BLM

Photo: BLM Sign with pumpjack in the background, Vernal Field Office, Utah | BLM Utah

President Trump has nominated Kathleen Sgamma to lead the Bureau of Land Management, the agency stewarding the largest acreage of America’s public lands. For two decades, Sgamma has served as the oil and gas industry's most aggressive advocate at Western Energy Alliance, where she has repeatedly sued to dismantle public lands protections and fought to strip away common sense regulations on fossil fuel development.

Impact: Sgamma's confirmation would represent a seismic shift in direction for the BLM after four years of a more balanced management approach under the Biden administration. If confirmed, she would act as a major player in advancing Trump's agenda to dismantle and sell off public lands to private interests.

Our Take: We expect Sgamma will prioritize industry profits over BLM’s multiple-use mission, closing the door on the public’s rightful access to treasured landscapes.

We will be monitoring this nomination process extremely closely and working to ensure Congress understands the serious implications of placing someone with Sgamma's record in charge of America's public lands legacy.

Make Room for Trail Snacks

�� Applications are now open for the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Summer 2025 Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) program. We're proud to support this important internship program that empowers the next generation of female scientists with support from Edison International.

♿ The Bureau of Land Management just installed adaptive gates at three popular trailheads in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada thanks to the advocacy of Friends Grassroots Network partners, Trail Access Project and Friends of Red Rock Canyon. These new gates now make these beautiful trails accessible to a wider variety of hikers!

�� This month marks the 150th anniversary of Piedras Blancas Light Station in California. Protected within the National Conservation Lands system, this historic landmark continues to shine thanks to our Friends Grassroots Network partner, the Piedras Blancas Light Station Association. Hear from our California Program Director Elyane Stefanick who shares more about this special place and the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands.

This is a defining moment for America's outdoor legacy and the stakes have never been higher. Your voice will be our greatest weapon in this fight, and the power of our community will once again prove stronger than any political agenda.

Thank you for being here,

Chris Hill
Chief Executive Officer

Thanks for reading and caring about America's National Conservation Lands.

To protect more of the public lands that matter, make a one-time or monthly donation.

Engaging Your Community For The NCL 25th Anniversary With Mackenzie Banta

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:16:04 GMT

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands, join us for this interactive call designed to empower FGN members with strategies for planning successful events. This is a terrific opportunity to both celebrate our National Conservation Lands and increase your organization's impact and growth. We will discuss ideas and strategies to create impactful and memorable events that celebrate your legacy while securing vital resources for your mission.

In addition to the February 18th group call, there will be three optional calls with Mackenzie for more personalized support. These optional calls are a time to receive customized planning help, check in on planning progress and ask specific questions for your organization. The calls are scheduled to be: 2/25/25 at 2:00 pm PST; 3/7/25 at 1:00 pm PST; 3/12/25 at 3:00 pm PST.

Bio:

Mackenzie Banta, Impact Creator

Mackenzie is a philanthropic and leadership advisor with the personal ethos that “giving is an act of love” and each of us can make an impact with our money and time. As an executive coach providing consulting and training, she works with people, communities, and nonprofits across the U.S. and abroad to overcome challenges, innovate systems, and fulfill their critical missions. For over 20 years she has helped numerous NGOs raise money and create cultures of fundraising and sustainability.

Recorded February 18, 2025, during the February FGN Call.

Resources:

Webinar

2/25 2:00 pm PST

Zoom info:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82040970913

Meeting ID: 820 4097 0913

Passcode: 623411

3/7/25 1:00 pm PST

Zoom info:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88697009075

Meeting ID: 886 9700 9075

Passcode: 427526

3/12 3:00 pm PST

Zoom info:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88079757100

Meeting ID: 880 7975 7100

Passcode: 173185

Piedras Blancas Light Station: A Coastal Gem Celebrating 150 Years

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:47:09 GMT

Earlier this month, some of our California staff joined Friends Grassroots Network (FGN) partner, the Piedras Blancas Light Station Association , to celebrate the Piedras Blancas Light Station's 150th anniversary!

CLF California Program Director Elyane Stefanick with
Piedras Blancas Light Station Association's Board Chair David Cooper

Standing sentinel on California's rugged coastline along scenic Highway One, this historic lighthouse first illuminated the coastline in 1875. The lighthouse is nestled within the Piedras Blancas Light Station Outstanding Natural Area, a distinctive unit managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of its National Conservation Lands system, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Named for the distinctive white rocks ("piedras blancas" in Spanish) that dot the offshore waters, the area represents a harmonious blend of history and natural splendor.

The land surrounding the lighthouse holds deep significance for the Salinan culture in the region. Before the lighthouse, the Salinan people knew this sacred headland as Tewe.

Today, the 19-acre property serves as both a historic park and wildlife sanctuary under Bureau of Land Management stewardship. Visitors can observe seabirds, sea lions, and elephant seals along the shoreline, while the surrounding landscape flourishes with over 70 native plant species.

The preservation of this coastal treasure wouldn't be possible without the dedicated efforts of FGN member Piedras Blancas Light Station Association, a nonprofit organization celebrating its own milestone—20 years as an organization committed to supporting the BLM in its management, restoration, and conservation of this iconic historic facility and the phenomenal, sacred Pacific headland upon which it sits.

Last year, the Association allocated nearly a quarter million dollars toward its mission of ensuring Piedras Blancas remains a treasured unit of the California Coastal National Monument and National Conservation Lands system.

The Association exemplifies the crucial role Friends Groups play across America's public lands.

"In times such as we face today, Friends Groups can be strong independent voices of support and advocacy on behalf of public lands," said David Cooper, Board Chair of the Piedras Blancas Light Station Association. "Friends Groups bring local influence to all levels of government, from county supervisor meetings to the distant halls of Washington, D.C."

Access to this coastal gem is available through guided tours offered year-round. As we celebrate this dual anniversary, Piedras Blancas continues to beckon visitors seeking a meaningful connection to California's maritime history, abundant wildlife, and natural beauty.

Don't forget to Respect. Connect. Protect by visiting safely and responsibly!

Learn more about Piedras Blancas Light Station Outstanding Natural Area here.

Editorial: Americans of all political stripes must speak up to protect public lands

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:29 GMT

The original editorial piece is by the Las Vegas Sun. To read the original piece click here.

National monuments, including Nevada’s own Gold Butte and Avi Kwa Ame, are under attack, again. President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have launched a sweeping review of federal lands, setting the stage for yet another attempt by Trump to dismantle protections for some of America’s most cherished landscapes and sacred historic sites.

We have seen this playbook before. In 2017, Trump slashed the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah, the largest rollback of public land protections in U.S. history. It was a blatant giveaway to fossil fuel and ranching interests, and it sparked immediate public outrage. Conservationists, Native American tribes, outdoor recreation businesses and Western communities pushed back fiercely, leading President Joe Biden to restore the monuments upon taking office in 2021.

Biden’s administration went further, using the Antiquities Act — a law signed by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906 to safeguard America’s historic and natural treasures — to increase the number of national monument designations across the country, including in Nevada, northern Arizona and southern Utah. These efforts recognized the importance of places like Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni in Arizona, both of which protect critical habitat while honoring the deep cultural ties of Indigenous people to the desert landscape of the Southwest U.S.

These weren’t arbitrary decisions; they were the result of decades of advocacy by local communities and tribes determined to protect lands that hold historic, cultural, ecological, geological and aesthetic significance.

But now, Trump and Burgum want to undo that progress. Their review, which echoes the attacks of Trump’s first term, threatens to shrink or eliminate these monuments altogether. It’s not just an assault on conservation, but also an insult to the millions of Americans who treasure these lands.

For more than a century, presidents from both parties have used the Antiquities Act to protect some of America’s most iconic places. Grand Canyon, Arches, Zion and Olympic national parks all began as national monuments. Americans with otherwise conservative politics, including hunters, fishermen and other outdoor sportsmen, such as former President George W. Bush, have often led the charge to protect America’s natural beauty. They recognize that conservation is not a partisan issue, it’s an American value, and protecting “America the beautiful” requires protecting our clear, spacious skies, majestic mountains and shining seas.

Trump and Burgum claim that an unspecified “energy crisis” justifies rolling back protections to allow for more drilling and mining. But with a few exceptions related to minerals needed for next-gen energy storage, the facts don’t support that. The United States is already producing oil at record levels and Nevada’s national monuments contain little to no viable fossil fuel reserves. As Jocelyn Torres, chief conservation officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, said in a statement Friday:

“With roughly 85% of (Bureau of Land Management) lands already available for energy production and Nevada’s monuments having little to no oil and gas potential, it’s crystal clear that these recent orders targeting the 15% of public lands that are protected for the public’s use have nothing to do with the nation’s energy portfolio and instead are sneaky attacks to sell off our public lands.”

Moreover, this latest assault on public lands ignores one simple truth: most Americans, and especially Westerners, overwhelmingly support national monuments.

Colorado College’s Conservation in the West poll has tracked public opinion on this issue for over a decade. In 2024, it found that 85% of Western voters support creating new national parks, monuments and wildlife refuges. Even among Republicans, there is strong support for preserving these lands, with more than 60% of Republicans expressing support.

Many Nevada families also rely on public lands, as outdoor recreation, tourism and conservation-related jobs contribute billions to the Western economy. Removing protections doesn’t just threaten landscapes; it threatens livelihoods.

“It is an unequivocal fact that national monuments improve local economies,” said Mandi Elliott, executive director of the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition. “By threatening the newly appointed national monuments, the rural communities surrounding them are also being threatened.”

Trump and Burgum’s attack on national monuments is a test of our values, of our commitment to future generations and of our willingness to fight for the lands that define our national character.

We must meet this challenge head-on. Nevadans, Westerners and all Americans who cherish their public lands must make their voices heard. Call your representatives. Write letters. Show up at town halls. Let Trump, Burgum and every member of Congress know that these lands belong to the American people, not politicians looking to line the pockets of their donors.

As Mathilda Guerrero Miller of Indigenous Voices of Nevada so powerfully stated:

“This is not merely a policy issue — it’s a moral imperative to safeguard our shared heritage.”

America’s public lands are not up for sale. They are our birthright. And we must fight to protect them — now, and always.

Nominee for the Country’s Largest Public Lands Manager Has Track Record of Opposing Public’s Access and Interests

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:38:57 GMT

Nominee for the Country’s Largest Public Lands Manager Has Track Record of Opposing Public’s Access and Interests

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, upon the announcement of President Trump’s nomination of Kathleen Sgamma as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. The Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

“Ms. Sgamma has a track record of opposing the public’s access and interests when it comes to the people’s public lands. She has been a leader in the oil and gas industry, and has testified on their behalf in Congress for decades.

“She has filed lawsuits challenging the public’s right to participate in BLM’s decision-making processes, has historically opposed popular, locally-supported protections for public lands, and has demonized people who support conservation and BLM’s multiple use directive. All of this indicates the public simply can’t trust her to listen to communities and implement BLM’s multiple use directive equitably.

“Based on our years of work with families, communities, and business leaders to protect the public lands that belong to everyone, we are deeply concerned that Ms. Sgamma will not lead BLM with its multiple-use mission in mind and the result will be no more public lands for people to enjoy.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Corrects Outrageous Misinformation in House Natural Resources Subcommittee Hearing on Public Lands

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:55:55 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee held a hearing on "Restoring Multiple Use to Revitalize America's Public Lands and Rural Communities,” which spread misinformation in service of an agenda to sell off America's public lands to the wealthy and well-connected – effectively blocking access to regular Americans for hiking, camping, hunting and fishing.

Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s hearing:

“Today's House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee revealed that they know America doesn’t face an energy crisis that only public lands can solve. Featured witnesses instead spun up a truth crisis and set the table for the biggest public lands sell off in the country’s history.

“By presenting outrageous claims about public lands management and popular conservation tools, they are willfully ignoring three facts: the majority of voters overwhelmingly support protecting natural resources on public lands; the U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas ; and there’s plenty of public lands available for energy development. The country doesn't have to choose between the environment and the economy, and gutting public land protections won’t lower the cost of groceries.”

THE FACTS ABOUT AMERICA'S PUBLIC LANDS:

Americans Overwhelmingly Support Conservation: 70% of voters across party lines prioritize protecting natural resources on public lands
Public Lands Rule Has Massive Public Support: 92% of public comments submitted to the Bureau of Land Management supported the Public Lands Rule
Majority of BLM Lands Already Open for Development: Roughly 85% of BLM lands are currently available for oil and gas development, with nearly half of existing leases not being used
Northern Corridor Highway Environmental Impact: Scientific analysis confirms the proposed highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah would destroy critical desert tortoise habitat, increase wildfire risk and violate five federal environmental laws
Congressional Underfunding Reality: Decades of systematic underfunding by Congress has hampered the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to manage public lands, while Congress criticizes the very problems it created

“Members of Congress have a legal and moral obligation to present facts to the American people and to seek meaningful bipartisan solutions for the lands and waters that communities rely on. The Conservation Lands Foundation will continue to advocate for fact-based public land policy that serves all Americans, not just the wealthy few.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Corrects Outrageous Misinformation in House Natural Resources Subcommittee Hearing on Public Lands
A rebuttal to the start of the biggest sell-off of public lands in the country’s history

Press Statement: Interior Department's Review of National Monuments is About Selling Off the Country's Natural Resources Press Statement: Interior Department's Review of National Mon

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:11:07 GMT

Interior Department’s Internal Review of National Monuments and Protected Public Lands Is About Selling Off the Country’s Natural Resources Not Energy Dominance

Washington, D.C. — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has issued secretarial orders that set the stage for gutting protections of the country’s beloved and ecologically valuable natural landscapes. The orders mandate a 15-day internal review of national monuments and all lands withdrawn from fossil fuel and mining development.

“Conducting a slap dash, secret review of national monuments shows that this administration is scared of public scrutiny because they know how popular these public lands are. The majority of the country continues to show their love for public lands, including during the first Trump administration’s attempt to privatize the country’s sacred, historic and recreationally and culturally significant landscapes.

“These orders also willfully ignore the rural residents and communities whose personal and local incomes rely on these lands being protected from privatization. Outdoor recreation on BLM lands contributes more than $11 billion to the economy and substantial income to individuals, small and large businesses, and rural communities through hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, riding off-highway vehicles, and many other activities.

“With roughly 85% of BLM lands already available for energy production–and roughly half of existing oil and gas leases not being used –it's crystal clear that these recent orders targeting the 15% of public lands that are protected for the public’s use have nothing to do with the nation’s energy portfolio.

“There’s really no explanation other than this administration is trying to sneakily and greedily sell off the 15% of protected public lands to the wealthy and well-connected, thereby blocking access for everyone else. It’s an attack that flies in the face of America’s ideals and the Conservation Lands Foundation will be unrelenting in our fight on the side of the people– 85% of voters in the west –who support keeping public lands in the public’s hands.”

####

January 2025 CLiF Notes

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:27:48 GMT

Victories, Threats, and Community Building

In these tumultuous and uncertain times, I’m reminded of Mr. Rogers' timeless advice: "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Today, I invite you to pause, take a breath, and notice the helpers.

We've seen these helpers everywhere this month—from communities rallying around Los Angeles residents affected by devastating wildfires to hundreds of advocates braving the snow to join a rally in support of Utah public lands. These acts of community service and solidarity are the fuel that will continue to guide us through the challenges - and opportunities - that lie ahead.

In this CLiF Notes we recap January’s victories for public lands, the new threats that have materialized, and mark the beginning of the year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands system.

We start with Landmark Victories for Public Lands:

Conservation Lands Foundation staff joined our partners in Washington D.C. for the proclamation
signing of the California and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments.

1. President Biden Designates Two California National Monuments

In the final weeks of his administration, President Joe Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California, protecting nearly one million acres of public land.

The impact: These monuments protect sacred Indigenous landscapes and crucial wildlife corridors from development while keeping them open for recreation, ensuring these lands remain accessible for hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing.

Our Take: While these designations mark a significant victory, success depends on proper management. We'll continue fighting for the Bureau of Land Management to receive the resources it needs to engage with Tribes and community members to best care for these monuments.

The Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan marks a new chapter.
Photo: Bears Ears National Monument, Utah | Bureau of Land Management

2. Bears Ears National Monument Plan Makes History

This month, the Bureau of Land Management finalized the plan that guides how the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah will be managed, a historic achievement between the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission, federal agencies, and community partners.

The impact: Tribal nations played a central role in shaping how the BLM and U.S. Forest Service will protect sacred sites, cultural resources, and recreation access within the monument. This groundbreaking approach creates a model for how future public lands management can center Indigenous leadership and co-stewardship.

Our Take: Some members of Congress may attempt to overturn this historic plan through an unconventional use of the Congressional Review Act, which provides Congress the ability to overturn recently-enacted federal policies. Such a move would unravel decades of Indigenous leadership and careful collaboration and input among local stakeholders. We're watching closely and stand ready to act.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a State of Utah lawsuit that sought control of public lands.
Photo: Hundreds gathered in Salt Lake City for a pro-public lands rally | Shi-Lynn Campbell

3. Supreme Court Rejects Utah Land-Grab Lawsuit

This month the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a State of Utah lawsuit that would allow states to seize control of thousands of acres of federally-managed public lands.

The impact: The Utah lawsuit is the latest attempt by a handful of politicians and special interests who want to sell off and develop public lands. If they succeed, millions of acres of the country’s remaining public lands could be lost forever, irrevocably damaging natural ecosystems and Indigenous culture, and shutting the public out from beloved trails, roads, and hunting and fishing access.

Our Take: The Supreme Court decision is a short-term victory: the plaintiffs have indicated they will proceed in the lower courts and they continue to spend millions of Utah taxpayer dollars on legal and public support campaigns.

“These lands are not for sale. But let’s remember, they never were. Not today, not ever, not for our future generations.” - Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and rally speaker

Next are the Emerging Threats

Executive orders could bring new oil and gas development to wild places.
Photo: The trans-Alaska pipeline in the Brooks Range | Dennis R. Green

1. Executive Orders Roll Back Conservation Progress

The new administration's first two weeks brought a wave of executive orders affecting public lands, including opening vulnerable landscapes in Nevada and the Western Arctic to oil and gas development and a hiring freeze to federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management.

The impact: These orders open sensitive landscapes to development and weaken BLM’s ability to conduct wildfire mitigation, law enforcement, and renewable energy development, as well as ensure safe outdoor recreation opportunities, manage visitor services, and carry out essential restoration work.

Our Take: These executive orders set the stage for an anti-public stance and mayhem for the country’s public lands. We're mobilizing our Friends Network and community partners to aggressively fight back and show the overwhelming nonpartisan support for these public lands.

2. Congress Takes Aim at Public Lands

The new Congress has launched its own attack on public lands, including introducing a bill to eliminate the president’s authority to designate national monuments under the Antiquities Act and sneaking a land-grab provision into a House rules package.

The impact: These early moves signal broader Congressional intent to open public lands to privatization and development and undermine landmark conservation tools. Polls continue to show a majority of voters support presidents having the ability to designate national monuments, while people from all political affiliations remain vocal in their support of public lands - the most recent example being hundreds of advocates joining a Public Lands Rally in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Make Your Voice Count: We are joining local and national partners, Tribal Nations, outdoor enthusiasts, and community organizations across the country in a unified national campaign to prevent the privatization of public lands and defend conservation tools like the Antiquities Act. You can help by contacting your member of Congress to urge them to oppose any attempt to dismantle the Antiquities Act through our action portal here . If you’re in Montana, save the date for a Public Lands Rally on February 19 in Helena.

Make Room for Trail Snacks

�� Our Arts and Advocacy grant to Friends Grassroots Network partner, Transition Habitat Conservancy, is bringing nature-based, accessible art opportunities to local communities in the Western Mojave Desert region in California.

�� The Bureau of Land Management, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, released twenty bighorn sheep on public land north of Reno to help improve population numbers. Watch their release here .

❄️ Find a moment of zen in the snow-covered Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico thanks to photos shared by our FGN partner Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks.

As we celebrate the milestone of 25 years of National Conservation Lands throughout the year, we are also prepared to face the challenges ahead with resolve knowing that our strategies for turning community power into political force is a winning strategy for protecting the places that matter.

I'm confident that together—as helpers, as defenders, as community—we will succeed.

Chris Hill
Chief Executive Officer

Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senate Budget Committee to Reject Office of Management and Budget Nominee Russell Vought

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:00:40 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Conservation Lands Foundation released the following statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer, ahead of the Senate Budget Committee vote on the nomination of Russell Vought, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

“Many statements made by Russell Vought during his recent confirmation hearing indicate he is unlikely to ensure the health of America’s remaining public lands and the public’s access to them.

“Mr. Vought’s radical views on the ability of the Executive Branch to unilaterally and illegally withhold or “impound” funding already approved by Congress are unconstitutional. His plans to cut funding and shrink the federal workforce that steward public lands only serves to threaten the way of life for rural communities who count on and benefit from public lands under the Bureau of Land Management.

“From those who enjoy our public lands for outdoor recreation, to those who rely on them for their livelihood through grazing and ranching, to the millions of people whose energy comes from BLM lands, none of this is possible without a well-funded, well-staffed BLM.

“The recent unlawful and unconstitutional actions taken by OMB to freeze trillions of dollars in federal funding–including essential BLM funding for wildfire mitigation, law enforcement, and payments to Tribal governments who rely on federal funding to pay essential workers–have set the table for what Mr. Vought’s actions will likely continue to be: an anti-public stance and mayhem on our public lands.

“If Mr. Vought is confirmed it can be expected that the BLM will not have the resources or staff necessary to fulfill its critical responsibilities, including wildfire mitigation, law enforcement, renewable energy development, approving outdoor recreation applications, or ensuring safe outdoor recreation opportunities.

“For these public interests, we urge the Senate Budget Committee to reject Vought’s nomination to lead this critical federal agency.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Message to Incoming Interior Department Secretary Conservation Lands Foundation Message to Incoming Interior Department Secretary: Protecting Public Lan

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:34:04 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate confirmed Doug Burgum, a former North Dakota Governor, as Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

“The message we have for Secretary Burgum is that no one has to choose between energy production and protecting the public lands we all love and need. The U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas , –has been for the last six years– and companies are already optimizing their production.

“With the vast majority of public land under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) already available for energy production, and roughly half of existing oil and gas leases not being used for production , it’s clear that protecting public lands for the public’s use, for local economies, and for the health of our shared environment is not an obstacle to the country’s energy position.

“Public lands that are currently protected for recreation, hunting, fishing, and more are overwhelmingly popular and are an important source of income for individuals, small and large businesses, and local communities. In fact outdoor recreation on BLM lands contributes more than $11 billion to the economy and substantial revenue to state and local governments for improvement projects and public services.

“As for the effectiveness of the BLM rising to meet our current challenges, it’s not over-regulation that’s blocking responsiveness–it’s the historic strangling of funding and resources that prevent it from carrying out its mission to manage public lands for multiple purposes. The BLM is the largest federal land management agency, yet it receives the least amount of resources.

“We urge Secretary Burgum to work with Congress to help secure the resources BLM needs to be more effective and to heed the clear mandate from the people to maintain existing protections that allow the public to access their public lands. We stand ready to help and hold him accountable to this objective that benefits everyone.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Says House Bill Attacking National Monument Creation Insult to America’s Legacy and Threat to Public’s Access to Public Lands

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:09:04 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Amodei of Nevada and Celeste Maloy of Utah introduced the Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act, legislation that would eliminate the Antiquities Act and the power of Presidents of the United States to designate national monuments that protect our natural resources and cultural heritage.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the introduction of this legislation:

“This legislation is a direct attack on the rights of Americans to their public lands and the bedrock law that ensures the country’s most treasured natural, cultural, historical, and recreational landscapes can be protected from irreversible development and destruction.

“America’s public lands system is an American political success story and this legislation is out of step with their constituents and a large majority from across the political spectrum who love public lands and have benefitted from designations of national monuments through the Antiquities Act.

“We have Republican President Harding’s use of the Antiquities Act in 1922 to thank for establishing what is now Great Basin National Park in Rep. Amodei’s district. In Rep. Maloy’s district, polling shows 74% of Utahns support Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and 3-in-4 voters in her state support a presidents’ ability to protect public lands as national monuments.

“Allowing people in temporary positions to make permanent decisions of this significance for the future of the American people is dangerous and I urge Congress to reject this legislation and to ensure that the bedrock laws that protect America’s public lands remain intact for the benefit of all Americans today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

“Congress already has the authority to designate or revoke national monuments, making the intent of this legislation crystal clear: to take away an essential conservation tool from the Executive Branch that presidents from both parties have used for more than a century when Congress has failed to act with due speed. It’s the kind of checks and balances our Constitution is founded on.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Statement on Today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing on Interior Secretary Nominee Doug Burgum

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:06:01 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a confirmation hearing for Doug Burgum, a former North Dakota Governor who was picked by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Interior Department shortly after the November election, due to his deep connections with the oil and gas industry. Burgum is expected to be formally nominated for the role after the inauguration on January 20.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s hearing of Interior Secretary Nominee Burgum:

“Today’s hearing for President-elect Trump’s nominee for Interior Secretary started with an attack by Chairman Mike Lee to once again re-visit undoing protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah, which remain extremely popular with Utahns . The hearing also featured attacks on management planning processes, like the Rock Springs (Wyoming) Resource Management Plan recently released by the Bureau of Land Management, which include public participation that helps develop the blueprint for balancing multiple-uses of the land. Although Mr. Burgum did not make any commitments to particular actions, he did commit to looking into these issues.

“We encourage the Interior Secretary nominee to learn from the mistakes of his predecessors during the first Trump Administration, and lean into the public consultation process he highlighted several times during the hearing. His predecessors underestimated how highly regarded and important public lands–including National Monuments–are to the overwhelming majority of American people.

“Across the country and political parties, Americans value our beautiful, vast, and diverse natural landscapes, and expect the officials charged with caring for them to ensure public lands are here for all of us now and for the generations to come. “We expect Mr. Burgum to honor their rights and keep America’s remaining public lands in the public’s hands, ensure that the Bureau of Land Management is properly funded to manage them, and protect the health of our natural resources.

“As the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and expanding the National Conservation Lands system, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, we are especially curious to see how Mr. Burgum, hailing from a state with minimal BLM-managed lands and a pro-oil and gas background, plans to balance the agency’s multiple-use mission that includes safeguarding natural resources and the public’s access.

“America’s remaining public lands are essential sources of our clean water and air and an important bedrock of the outdoor recreation and tourism industry for many gateway and rural communities in the American West. Without the public’s access to their public lands, the economies of these communities will collapse.

“If confirmed as Interior Secretary, we will hold Mr. Burgum to the conservation and outdoor recreation values he has expressed to hold dear and work to ensure the National Conservation Lands receive the respect, care, and funding they deserve, as well as to seek ways to balance our nation’s energy needs with the preservation of our water, wildlife and ways of life.”

####

Administration Acts to Protect the Amargosa Valley in Nevada

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 22:25:26 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden announced steps to protect Southern Nevada’s Amargosa Valley, the heart of the Amargosa River watershed and a gateway to Death Valley National Park.

This action by the President is in response to requests from Tribes, the local community, and our Friends Grassroots Network partners, the Amargosa Conservancy and Indigenous Voices Nevada, who have been fighting irresponsible development in the area threatening groundwater supplies.

The Department of the Interior is initiating consideration of a 20-year withdrawal of the Amargosa Valley area from all extractive uses, subject to valid existing rights. The Bureau of Land Management submitted a withdrawal petition and application to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. The approval of the petition and publication in the Federal Register initiates a two-year segregation that will prohibit new mining claims and the issuance of new federal mineral leases on approximately 308,890 acres in the Amargosa Valley area.

The Federal Register notice, published today, initiates a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal. The Bureau of Land Management will prepare an environmental analysis and establish a public process to inform whether the lands should be withdrawn for a period of up to 20 years.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to:

“We applaud President Biden for initiating this important step towards protecting critical habitat and water supply in Nevada’s Amargosa Valley, and thank Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for championing and elevating this effort. We also applaud the BLM for listening to Nevadans and taking action to protect this sensitive arid desert landscape, and look forward to participating in the public process alongside our Friends Grassroots Network partners. The groundwater in Nevada's Amargosa Valley sustains the largest oasis remaining in the Mojave Desert home to 26 endemic species, including the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish, making enhanced protections for this landscape warranted and needed.”

####

Following Push By Local Friends Grassroots Network Partners Administration Acts to Protect the Amargosa Valley in Nevada

Management Plan for Bears Ears National Monument Finalized

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:11:48 GMT

SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH – A historic achievement in Indigenous-informed conservation and collaborative management of nature was marked today with the finalization of the Bears Ears Resource Management Plan–a roadmap that outlines the goals, policies, and objectives for managing natural resources on publicly-owned land.

“The significance of this Resource Management Plan can’t be overstated,” said Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “The Plan sets a powerful precedent for Tribal leadership and is the result of unprecedented collaboration between the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission–Navajo, Hopi, Ute Mountain Tribe, Ute Tribe and Zuni, federal agencies, and community partners to create a framework of shared stewardship.

“It culminates decades of effort to protect Bears Ears’ sacred places, cultural heritage, and ecological systems for future generations, which accelerated when President Obama established it as a National Monument in 2016–and then stalled when President Trump reduced the size of the monument by 85 percent and attempted to open the lands for development. Tribal Nations, CLF, and many other partners successfully fought against that reduction and secured President Biden’s reinstatement of the original boundaries in 2021.

“Utah voters overwhelmingly support their national monuments and a strong role for Native American Tribes in helping to manage their ancestral lands. We wholeheartedly support the Tribes’ preferred version of the Bears Ears management plan, which ensures the protection of sacred places, cultural heritage, and ecological systems.

“As a partner in the creation of the Bears Ears National Monument, we will continue to vigorously defend its protection and that of other beloved and sacred national monuments that are part of the country’s National Conservation Lands system, including its first unit–Grand Staircase-Escalante,” said Torres.

####

Precedent-Setting Management Plan for Bears Ears National Monument Finalized
Prioritizes cultural preservation, environmental protection, and sustainable recreation

President Biden Designates Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in California

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:08:41 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden designated Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California, ensuring long-lasting protection for two extraordinary landscapes, safeguarding their cultural, ecological and recreational values for generations to come.

The Conservation Lands Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and expanding the National Conservation Lands system, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Today’s designation of Chuckwalla National Monument adds over 624,000 acres to the National Conservation Lands. It represents an important step forward in ensuring that these public lands—some of the nation's most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes—remain protected and accessible for all Americans to enjoy.

Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s national monument designations:

“President Joe Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to protect Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments is the culmination of years of strong Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration and heartfelt advocacy from local communities, businesses and elected officials. Today’s action honors Indigenous cultural connections, conserves vital habitats, expands outdoor access, and strengthens local economies.

“President Biden has now protected over 2.4 million acres of public lands using the Antiquities Act—more than any recent president in their first term. We commend the Biden Administration for recognizing the profound importance of public lands and waters in the U.S. to address the climate crisis and provide clean air and water, essential habitat for wildlife and plants, cultural continuity for Indigenous communities, and abundant recreational opportunities.

“At the same time, we call on Congress to ensure the Bureau of Land Management has the resources it needs to steward Chuckwalla National Monument and other protected areas within the National Conservation Lands system. Proper funding is essential to managing the cultural and ecological resources that make these places so invaluable.

“Public lands like Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments unite us across political and cultural divides, and reflect a shared commitment to preserving the lands and waters that we all depend on."

“We look forward to continuing to work with Tribal Nations, our Friends Grassroots Network, local communities, and future administrations to ensure public lands remain a source of inspiration and resilience for everyone.”

####

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR DESIGNATING CHUCKWALLA AND SÁTTÍTLA HIGHLANDS NATIONAL MONUMENTS IN CALIFORNIA

President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act honors Indigenous cultural connections, safeguards critical wildlife habitat and expands outdoor recreation access to local communities

Press Release: U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Utah Case to Seize Federal Lands

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:25:18 GMT

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.”

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Utah Case to Seize Federal Lands

18 million acres of public lands will remain protected from extraction and exploitation, for now

Strong BLM Rock Springs plan will protect Northern Red Desert and Big Sandy Foothills

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:34:07 GMT

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management signed its final Record of Decision on the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, which will guide the agency’s stewardship of nearly 3.6 million acres of public land in southwestern Wyoming for the next two decades.

The BLM’s plan makes much-needed improvements to the 1997 version, culminating a decade of planning and extensive public involvement. It incorporates conservation measures supported by 92% of the public comments submitted on the draft plan, and 85% of the recommendations made by the group of local community members that Governor Mark Gordon assembled to suggest improvements.

Final Record of Decision reflects years' worth of public input and conscientious planning.

The following are statements from advocacy organizations in response to the news:

Julia Stuble (Wyoming State Director, The Wilderness Society):

“This is how conscientious, transparent land-use planning is supposed to work. The agency listened to local communities and acted in the public interest when deciding to protect the remarkable wildlife habitat and cultural sites of the Northern Red Desert and Big Sandy Foothills from oil and gas and other development. While we are dismayed the BLM did not close crucial stopover sites in antelope and mule deer migration corridors to oil and gas drilling, this plan is nonetheless a good-faith effort to provide durable guidance that balances conservation, access to outdoor recreation and energy needs. The respect paid to Governor Gordon’s task force, by including so many of their recommendations, is noteworthy.”

Rev. Annemarie Delgado (Executive Director, Wyoming Interfaith Network):

“The magnificent creation found in the unique wild lands of the Northern Red Desert provides spiritual connection for many people from diverse faith traditions. These are sacred lands that we need to offer serenity to our souls. This place deserves the protections BLM finalized today. It is evident that the BLM has dutifully listened to many voices and issued a plan that reflects the best possible solution while meeting its mission for present and future generations.”

Kara Matsumoto (Public Lands Policy Director, Conservation Lands Foundation):

“With the finalization and signing of the Record of Decision for the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, it’s time to focus on putting the plan into action. After more than a decade of effort, this balanced plan provides much-needed certainty for local and national stakeholders whose input helped shape it. The RMP offers a clear path forward, protecting vital landscapes in Wyoming’s Northern Red Desert while supporting recreational opportunities and local economies. We look forward to working with local partners and the Bureau of Land Management to implement this common-sense approach to land management for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Contacts:

Julia Stuble, The Wilderness Society: Julia_Stuble@tws.org 307-399-2924

Rev. Annemarie Delgado, Wyoming Interfaith Network: adelgado@wyointerfaith.org

Kara Matsumoto, Conservation Lands Foundation: kara@conservationlands.org 240-997-6928

Decades-Long Highway Fight Ends with Victory for Red Cliffs NCA

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:14:19 GMT

St. George, UT – Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) signed a Record of Decision to deny a right-of-way for the four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) in southwestern Utah near Zion National Park.

“For the seventh time, the agencies have once again concluded that punching a high-speed four-lane highway through a National Conservation Area and critical habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise undermines both the habitat needed for the tortoise to survive and the purposes of the congressional designation as an NCA,” said Todd C. Tucci, senior attorney with Advocates for the West and counsel for conservation groups. “We congratulate the agencies in acknowledging both the broad public opposition to the highway, and the underlying requirement to manage this NCA for conservation and recreation.”

Yesterday’s decision confirms the federal agencies’ rejection of the Northern Corridor Highway project, which would have torn through critical habitat for the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise, violated five bedrock environmental laws, damaged iconic scenic vistas, disrupted treasured outdoor recreation opportunities and set a dangerous precedent for developing federally protected conservation areas across the U.S. According to the final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) , the Northern Corridor Highway is a poor option for the St. George community, as it would increase fire probability and frequency, result in permanent loss to designated critical tortoise habitat, spread noxious weeds and invasive plants and adversely impact the highest number of cultural and historical resources of all considered alternatives.

This long-anticipated Record of Decision marks the conclusion of the agencies’ final SEIS , released on November 7, 2024, and is the result of a decades-long fight from local residents, conservation organizations and outdoor recreationists to keep the highway out of the NCA.

While this decision is a significant victory for public lands protection nationwide, it does not change the fact that world-class recreation and critical species habitat within the Greater Moe’s Valley Area—a treasured area south of the NCA—remains at risk of development. Roughly half of the lands within the Greater Moe’s Valley Area are managed by the Utah Trust Lands Administration and lack long-term conservation protections.

Federal agencies to reject destructive highway proposal, safeguarding critical tortoise habitat and recreation access

Below are statements from Utah-based and national organizations on today’s decision:

Holly Snow Canada, Executive Director, Conserve Southwest Utah:

“We are very encouraged by this decision, which reaffirms decades-long local agreements to protect Red Cliffs. Finally, we can put an end to the wasteful use of taxpayer dollars on an unlawful and outdated highway idea that would cause significant harm to the people, plants, and wildlife of Washington County. Conserve Southwest Utah remains steadfast in our mission to protect the public lands, water and livability of our desert home. We are committed to safeguarding other vulnerable lands, such as the Greater Moe’s Valley Area, and we urge decision-makers to join us in securing permanent protections for these invaluable spaces.”

Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance:

“Authorizing a major freeway through a Congressionally-designated conservation area should never have happened in the first place. This fight, just to uphold Congress’ intent to protect Red Cliffs for conservation, recreation, and wildlife, has dragged on unnecessarily for almost a decade, but we’re pleased the agencies still firmly recognize the value and importance of this gem of public lands and are recommitting to protecting the important habitat and cultural sites that a four-lane highway would have damaged forever.”

Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs, Conservation Lands Foundation

“This decision is a resounding victory for Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and for National Conservation Lands across the country. Allowing a highway to carve through a Congressionally designated conservation area would have set a dangerous precedent, undermining the very purpose of these protections. National Conservation Areas like Red Cliffs are established to preserve their unparalleled natural, cultural, and recreational values, and today’s decision reaffirms that these designations are permanent and must remain for future generations."

Vera Smith, Senior Federal Lands Policy Analyst, Defenders of Wildlife

“The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is no place for a highway. This conservation area was created to protect stunning scenery and habitats for species like the Mojave desert tortoise that are fighting for survival in the face of expanding development and climate change. We are hopeful BLM’s denial of the highway application will mark the end of this ill-conceived idea forever.”

Lisa Belenky, Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity

“The Bureau of Land Management is doing the right thing in rejecting a new highway through the stunning Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Lisa Belenky, a senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. “There are many alternative routes for traffic in the area but no other home for threatened desert tortoises, distinctive local plants and other wildlife. The conservation area also provides a natural refuge for people in this growing urban area. We’re committed to keeping it whole and wild.”

Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney, WildEarth Guardians

“It was shortsighted to propose a highway through the heart of a national conservation area, especially one that is so integral to the sense of place as Red Cliffs is. BLM made the right decision for desert tortoise—a species that, due to ongoing development of wild lands, continues to decline across much of its range. But it also made the right decision for the long-term future of Washington County residents.”

Jose Witt, Nevada State Director, The Wilderness Society

“We appreciate the careful and thorough analysis--yet again—of the ill-conceived proposal to build an unnecessary highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. The Red Cliffs NCA should continue to be managed for the purposes for which it was designated in 2009: to conserve, protect and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational and scientific resources of the National Conservation Area and to protect the endangered species that depend on it.”

A Decades-Long Community Fight for Red Cliffs

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 would do a better job of relieving traffic congestion, supporting economic growth and protecting wildlife, scenic beauty and local access to trails.

Despite immense local opposition to the proposed highway, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved a right-of-way for the Northern Corridor Highway in the final days of the first Trump Administration, prompting the local and national conservation organizations quoted above to file a lawsuit challenging the decision. The lawsuit argued that the highway violated multiple federal laws, including the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act and others. A settlement agreement was reached in November 2023, ultimately paving the way for today's decision. Shortly after, a U.S. District Court remanded the 2021 approval of the right-of-way, confirming that the highway would fragment sensitive wildlife habitat for threatened species, reduce outdoor recreation access to the area and set a dangerous precedent for protected public lands across the U.S.

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, which houses some of the densest tortoise populations, 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.

Additional Information and Resources:

Ask the State of Utah to Save Moe’s Valley
Local and National Organizations Applaud Plan Signaling Denial of Highway Right-of-Way - November 7th, 2024
Conservation Organizations Respond to Washington County’s Continued Attacks on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area - August 7th, 2024
Federal Agencies Release Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on a Highway Right-of-Way Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area – May 9th, 2024
Court Order Granting Voluntary Remand, November 16th, 2023
Opinion Granting Voluntary Remand, November 16th, 2023
BLM and FWS Press Release, November 15th, 2023
Relevant court documents
The Protect Red Cliffs Petition, with 35,828 signatures from people around the world advocating for the protection of the Red Cliffs NCA from the Northern Corridor Highway.
The Protect Red Cliffs Zine—Art and Narratives of a Threatened Place
Red Cliffs Photo Gallery
Red Cliffs Video Galley
Presentation - Washington County at a Crossroads: An analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor Highway project in Southwest Utah
Report - Washington County at a Crossroads: An analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor Highway project in Southwest Utah
Mojave Desert Tortoises in the Red Cliffs NCA and Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit: Population Trends, Threats to Persistence, and Conservation Significance

###

Contacts:

Holly Snow Canada, Executive Director, Conserve Southwest Utah, 435-200-5838, holly@conserveswu.org
Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (435)259-5440 ( kya@suwa.org )
Kris Deutschman, Chief Communications Officer, Conservation Lands Foundation, 970-670-0193, kris@conservationlands.org
Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney, WildEarth Guardians, 206-417-6363, ckrupp@wildearthguardians.org
Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney, Advocates for the West, 208-342-7024, ttucci@advocateswest.org
Jacqueline Coveyr, Communications Specialist, Defenders of Wildlife, 202-772-0287, jcovey@defenders.org
Lisa Belenky, Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity, 415-385-5694, lbelenky@biologicaldiversity.org
Jose Witt, Mojave Desert Landscape Director, The Wilderness Society, 702-203-1720, jose_witt@tws.org

BLM’s final solar plan makes way for faster, more sustainable solar development

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:41:48 GMT

Today, the Bureau of Land Management issued the Record of Decision for its updated Western Solar Plan , which will guide responsible solar energy development on public lands in 11 states across the West.

The western US has exceptional renewable energy potential and some of our nation’s best solar, wind and geothermal resources are found on public lands and waters. Harnessing this potential will create thousands of jobs, promote American energy independence, and reduce emissions. The Record of Decision marks the first update of the plan since 2012, when the BLM established a region-wide smart-from-the-start endeavor that identified areas in six southwestern states with high solar potential and low conflict with natural resources.

A decade later, with improved technology, new transmission, and ambitious clean energy goals, the BLM expanded the plan to 11 western states to help identify areas close to existing and planned transmission corridors or on degraded lands with high solar potential and low resource conflicts. While 31.7 million acres are available for solar applications, the record of decision estimates that only about 700,000 acres (2%) are likely needed to meet our clean energy goals by 2045. The update commits the BLM to engaging with Tribes and community stakeholders – including communities and all who cherish our nation’s public lands – to ensure they have a seat at the table when specific projects undergo environmental review and before decisions are made.

In response to today’s news, several organizations issued the following statements:

“Now is the time to invest in safe and abundant energy solutions on public lands, and the BLM’s final Western Solar Plan will accelerate clean energy, while still protecting sensitive areas and ensuring community buy-in,” said The Wilderness Society’s Kim Stevens, Director of Climate Policy Advocacy. “This country needs to urgently transition to renewable energy to lower energy costs, create jobs, and accelerate energy and clean air priorities. The Western Solar Plan will serve as a blueprint for this needed transition, and we look forward to working alongside the administration, the solar industry, communities, Tribes, and other stakeholders to ensure energy decisions made on public lands aren’t made in a silo.”

“The Western Solar Plan will play a crucial role in securing our country’s energy independence and security over the coming decade,” said Josh Axelrod, Senior Policy Advocate for the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “This is a rare piece of policy that can drive job growth, boost rural economies, and ensure conservation of fragile environmental resources.”

"We commend the Bureau of Land Management for finalizing and releasing the record of decision for the Western Solar Plan. This plan is critical because the BLM, as the steward of the nation’s largest public land base, has a unique responsibility to advance renewable energy development while safeguarding sensitive natural and cultural resources. We appreciate the thoughtful approach taken to balance renewable energy development with the protection of wildlife habitats, cultural sites, and other resource uses. Moving forward, we look forward to collaborating with the agency, industry, and stakeholders to further identify low-conflict areas for solar development and to ensure that robust environmental analysis is employed to avoid and minimize impacts from individual projects. This plan marks an important step toward achieving the nation’s renewable energy goals while preserving the integrity of our public lands for future generations," said Kara Matsumoto, Public Lands Policy Director at the Conservation Lands Foundation.

"Since BLM lands surround much of our Tribal territories, it's crucial that BLM and solar developers actively engage Tribal governments and communities in all solar development plans," said Chéri Smith, a Mi’kmaq Tribal descendant and President & CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. "For the initiative to be truly equitable, Tribes must be given the opportunity to address both current policies and historical injustices, ensuring that clean energy efforts on Tribal lands deliver long-term benefits and equity. We must uphold sovereignty, protect our homelands, and ensure that revisions to the plan address Tribal needs, eliminating barriers to clean energy benefits such as cost savings, resilience, and job access."

"We have a great responsibility to advance a renewable energy economy while protecting the vast intact landscapes that define the West, including our national parks. The Western Solar Plan is an important step, shaping the future of 80 national park sites directly adjacent to BLM-managed land,” said Beau Kiklis, Associate Director of Energy and Landscape Conservation at the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “We commend the Biden administration for finishing this crucial work and look forward to working with agencies, the solar industry, and stakeholders to ensure this plan strikes the right balance between development and conservation. Strategic siting can minimize harm to national parks and communities while creating jobs and supporting a growing economic sector.”

“The Bureau of Land Management’s Western Solar Plan provides a framework to balance between solar energy development and wildlife conservation on America's public lands. This is important for the hundreds of bird species that use public lands during their life cycle – many of which face significant range loss and extinction unless we combat the climate crisis with a rapid development of clean energy,” said Garry George, Senior Director of Climate Strategy at the National Audubon Society. “We look forward to further reviewing the final plan and ensuring that, in implementation, development is driven to degraded areas close to transmission that have the least conflict with natural and cultural resources.”

Decarbonizing the energy sector should not harm the West’s lands, waters, biodiversity or communities. The final Western Solar Plan better balances the scale of energy production with protections for wildlife, habitat, and cultural resources. The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, National Parks Conservation Association, National Audubon Society and Conservation Lands Foundation look forward to working with the BLM, partners, and the solar industry to identify more discrete, low-impact areas where large-scale solar projects will be incentivized and prioritized. This will lead to faster, more efficient project approvals because there will be fewer conflicts over high-value natural areas and less community opposition.

Contacts:

Emily Denny (The Wilderness Society): edenny@tws.org , (202) 240-1788

Andrew Scibetta (Natural Resources Defense Council): ascibetta@nrdc.org , (202) 289-2421

Kathleen Van Gorden (Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy): kathleen@tribalcleanenergy.org , (401) 480-1840

Caitlyn Burford (National Parks Conservation Association): cburford@npca.org , (541) 371-6452

Megan Moriarty (National Audubon Society): megan.moriarty@audubon.org , (917) 842-9820

Give Twice This Holiday Season: Gifts That Support Conservation

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 22:29:14 GMT

The holidays are the perfect time to show your loved ones how much you care — not just about them, but about the planet too. If you’re shopping for someone who loves the outdoors or prioritizes sustainability, we’ve curated a list of gift ideas from environmentally responsible companies that support conservation organizations like ours! Here’s how you can make your gift-giving both meaningful and planet-friendly this holiday.

Note: The Conservation Lands Foundation does not receive commission or sales percentages from any purchases made through this guide. We're sharing these recommendations because these companies have independently supported our conservation work through corporate partnerships and direct funding. This guide is simply our way of recognizing their commitment to conservation and helping our supporters make informed choices about their holiday shopping.

For the Wanderer

Patagonia

When you choose the legendary Patagonia Black Hole Duffel , you're choosing a virtually indestructible adventure companion. This 100% recycled fabric workhorse represents Patagonia's commitment to environmental stewardship – the same values that make them one of our most dedicated corporate partners in protecting public lands. The backpack straps are both practical for mountain ascents and a reminder that we all need to shoulder our responsibility to the planet.

Osprey Packs

Our friends at Osprey understand that every journey into nature deepens our commitment to protecting it. Their Daylite Plus Backpack is comfortable and sustainable – a reflection of the company's dedication to preserving the wild places their gear helps us visit. Whether you choose their specialized hiking, running, or biking hydration packs, each purchase helps fund vital conservation initiatives.

For the Stylish Conservationist

MiiR

When you're gifting MiiR products, you're investing in clean water initiatives and reducing plastic waste. Their insulated food canister keeps adventure meals warm while their conservation efforts keep our watersheds protected. For wine enthusiasts, their white wine set does more than preserve the perfect temperature – it preserves our planet's resources. True collectors will treasure the limited edition 12 Days of Drops Gift Set , featuring camp cups that celebrate both the season and sustainability.

Essential Outdoor Companions

AllTrails: Give the Gift of Safety

An AllTrails+ Subscription is a must-have to keep hikers at all levels safe. The Pro subscription allows you to download detailed maps without having cell service and you’ll stay on track thanks to the nifty wrong-turn alerts. Plus, customizable trail guides help you discover new favorite hiking spots.

Public Lands

A stellar conservation partner, Public Lands caters to the outdoor community and also gives back to the community in many ways.

Eco-Friendly Camping Gear: Consider solar-powered lanterns, biodegradable utensils, or portable stoves to make camping trips more sustainable.

The NEBO solar powered lantern mimics the warm glow of a real fire without the risk of setting your campsite ablaze, plus it lets you charge your cell phone so you can snap pictures of your outdoor adventures.
Snow Peak’s Titanium fork and spoon set says goodbye to plastics and is both durable and lightweight for easy carrying.

Gifts for the Angler: Public Lands offers a whole range of gifts for fishing fans or those wanting to take up a new outdoor challenge.

Gifts for Your Pet: Maybe it’s your best furry friend that actually needs an updated closet! Public Lands sells Ultra Paws Dog Boots, made of recycled tires, to keep paws warm and dry in winter, and cool on hot pavement in summer.

Make an Enduring Impact

Direct Conservation Support

For the purist who has everything, consider a donation in their honor to the Conservation Lands Foundation. This is a heartfelt way to support the protection of public lands and natural treasures.

Custom Adventure Trips

For a truly unforgettable gift, consider planning a custom adventure trip with the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF). These trips combine conservation education, outdoor exploration, and support for public lands. Whether it’s hiking, paddling, or learning about restoration efforts, these experiences are tailored to your group’s interests while fostering a deeper connection to nature. Contact our staff at info@conservationlands.org.

Make This Holiday Season Meaningful

Every item in this guide comes from businesses that share our commitment to protecting public lands. When you choose these gifts, you're not just checking off your holiday list – you're joining a community of conservation champions.

This season, give gifts that tell a story of stewardship, adventure, and hope for our planet's future. Together, we can make every present count twice: once for your loved ones, and once for the wild places we're working to preserve for generations to come.

The Conservation Lands Foundation Urges the Biden Administration to Protect the Caja del Rio Plateau as a National Monument

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 02:30:44 GMT

Santa Fe, N.M. - The Conservation Lands Foundation supports the growing call to designate the Caja del Rio Plateau in New Mexico as a national monument, joining the diverse voices of Indigenous-led organizations, conservation groups, Hispano organizations, hunting and fishing advocates, local governments and others who have worked tirelessly to protect this remarkable landscape.

Statement from Romir Lahiri, New Mexico and Arizona associate program director at the Conservation Lands Foundation:

“For years, we have partnered with the Caja del Rio Coalition to safeguard this culturally and ecologically significant landscape. This coalition represents the strength and diversity of New Mexico’s communities, uniting voices from Pueblos, Hispano leaders, conservationists, hunters, anglers and faith leaders to protect a place that holds profound meaning for so many.

“As part of the Caja del Rio Coalition, the Conservation Lands Foundation supports calls by the All Pueblo Council of Governors, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich , the Santa Fe County Commission and Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber in urging President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to designate the Caja del Rio as a national monument.

“A Caja del Rio National Monument would honor the landscape’s deep significance to Indigenous and Hispano communities, preserve its rich cultural history, safeguard vital wildlife habitat and local watersheds and sustain traditional uses for future generations"

Visit the Caja del Rio through the coalition's interactive StoryMap and hear from those who know the land best about why it deserves lasting protection.

####

President Biden Designates the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:45:09 GMT

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds President Biden’s Designation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Conservation Lands Foundation commends President Joe Biden’s historic designation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, alongside the unveiling of an all-of-government strategy to preserve and revitalize Native languages. Announced during the Fourth Annual White House Tribal Nations Summit of the Biden-Harris Administration, today’s announcement represents a significant step toward reckoning with the enduring harm of Indian boarding schools.

The establishment of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument recognizes a dark and often overlooked chapter in our nation’s history, where countless Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and cultures under a system designed to erase Native identity.

“We applaud President Biden’s designation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and the administration’s strategy to revitalize Native languages,” said Jocelyn Torres, chief conservation officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation . “Establishing this monument is a long overdue recognition of the harmful legacy of the Indian boarding school system, which the federal government used as a tool of cultural erasure. By recognizing and learning from these historic sites and the stories tied to them, our nation can better address their intergenerational impact and work toward building a more just and inclusive future.”

Today’s announcement is a continuation of the administration’s broader efforts to uphold Tribal sovereignty and protect landscapes sacred to Indigenous communities. Over the past four years, these efforts have included the designation of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona and the expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in California to include Molok Luyuk.

The public can send a thank you message to President Biden by visiting https://secure.everyaction.com/gNzpy20hP0S9xbWMODXqQw2.

####

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Conservation Lands Foundation leads the only national movement of grassroots advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.

The Power of Community: Insights from our December Community Conversation

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:00:11 GMT

Public lands have long been a unifying thread in America’s story. From the towering redwoods of California to the expansive deserts of the Southwest, these lands connect us to our past, sustain our present, and inspire hope for the future.

This week, the Conservation Lands Foundation hosted a virtual Community Conversation: 2025 Priorities for Investing in America’s Public Lands. Moderated by our CEO, Chris Hill , the discussion brought together an incredible lineup of speakers: California Representative Jared Huffman , Native American Land Conservancy Policy Manager Cassaundra Pino , Conservation Lands Foundation Government Affairs Director David Feinman , and author and Professor Emeritus John D. Leshy .

The conversation highlighted three key themes: the bipartisan legacy of public lands protections, the critical role of grassroots advocacy, and the pressing need to strengthen community power in the face of challenges. From the enduring impact of the Antiquities Act to the power of local activism, the panelists shared insights that underscored a powerful truth: public lands are not just about policy—they are about people and the communities that cherish and defend them.

Our Common Ground

As John D. Leshy, author of Our Common Ground, reminded us, public lands represent one of the great unifying achievements in American history . From Theodore Roosevelt using the Antiquities Act to safeguard millions of acres, to the wilderness designations signed into law by Ronald Reagan, conservation has always been shaped by community advocacy and bipartisan collaboration, proving that public lands resonate deeply with Americans of all backgrounds and political beliefs.

“If you look at history, the big sweep of history, the public lands we see today was the result of largely grassroots activism widely supported by local people from across the political spectrum,” Leshy explained.

This bipartisan legacy reminds us that protecting public lands is about people working together to uphold a shared vision of stewardship and sustainability.

The Power of Community

At the heart of every public lands success story are people who care. “This progress...is a direct result of advocates like you,” Representative Huffman.

The Conservation Lands Foundation’s Friends Grassroots Network—a coalition of over 80 local organizations—embodies this ethos. Through this network, we support local voices and amplify their efforts to protect public lands.

As our CEO Chris Hill emphasized, “The Conservation Lands Foundation's authentic community-led advocacy is going to be essential to defending protections already in place and expanding the base of supporters who share the values of protecting these lands for our climate, culture, health, and well-being.”

Cassaundra Pino further emphasized the importance of centering local stories and communities in conservation efforts, such as the campaign to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in California.

“Every landscape has a history, has a story. Every community that is currently a part of that place has a story to share with the world,” Pino explained.

Through our work with the Friends Grassroots Network and partnerships like those with the Native American Land Conservancy, the Conservation Lands Foundation remains committed to empowering communities and fostering the kind of collaboration that leads to enduring protections for the lands we all cherish.

Finding Strength in Joy and Community

While the road ahead may be challenging—with threats to protections and funding cuts for land management agencies—resilience comes from finding joy in the work we do.

“ While defending against the attacks we know are coming, we’re also going to be celebrating the system we cherish ,” Conservation Lands Foundation’s Government Affairs Director David Feinman said, reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands in 2025.

Rep. Huffman echoed this optimism: “We can limit the damage. We can win some of these fights... and we’re not walking away from any of them.” The work to protect public lands is as much about celebrating successes and fostering connections as it is about confronting adversity.

Join Us in the Movement to Protect What Matters

This conversation reinforced a vital truth: protecting public lands is a collective effort. The fight to protect and defend these cherished spaces is ongoing—but also deeply rewarding and filled with moments of joy and connection.

As Leshy reminded us, “ Don’t disconnect, but organize. We need greater, not lesser, engagement in the political process. ”

The Conservation Lands Foundation is steadfast in its mission to empower local communities, support grassroots efforts, and defend the protections that ensure these lands remain accessible to all. As we move forward to 2025, the path is clear: we will need bold action, collaboration with each other, and remembering to find joy and pride in this work.

Let’s keep protecting what matters—and have fun while doing it!

Creativity and Community: Using the Power of the Arts for Land Advocacy

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:19:31 GMT

Learn how to use the arts to build community and advance your campaigns. Artist and educator Kim Garrison-Means (Friends of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument) discusses the power of the arts for sharing land advocacy information, engaging more deeply with diverse local communities and stakeholders, and addressing relevant issues with our local, state, and national representatives. Find out how art can amplify your organization’s messages and make a greater impact toward reaching your goals.

Recorded December 3, 2024, during the December FGN Call.

Resources:

Webinar

Arts and Advocacy Handout

Creativity and Community Slide Deck

The Conservation Lands Foundation Opposes the Rewritten Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2023

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:11:32 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced an amended version of the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, a legislative package introduced by Nevada Representative Mark Amodei. This amended version, changed without public input, removes all conservation provisions from the legislation—provisions that were the result of years of collaboration and compromise among Nevadans.

The Conservation Lands Foundation, the only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to protecting public access to and safeguarding the lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), strongly opposes this amended version of Representative Amodei’s legislation which drastically changes the original legislation developed and agreed upon by Nevada stakeholders.

Jocelyn Torres, the Conservation Lands Foundation’s Chief Conservation Officer, issued the following statement in opposition to this last-minute change:

“The House Natural Resource Committee’s unwarranted amendment to the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act dismisses the thoughtfully negotiated agreements at the county level and erodes the trust and consensus built by local stakeholders.

“For decades, Nevada has been a model of bipartisan success in bringing stakeholders together to advance legislation that supports economic development and the protection of cherished outdoor spaces. The amendment - added at the very end of a long legislative process - breaks from this tradition and undermines years of collaboration and good-faith negotiations by Nevadans.

“The Conservation Lands Foundation remains steadfast in our support for the original legislative package that contained community-driven solutions for Northern Nevada, including the protection of cherished outdoor spaces like the Ruby Mountains. Conservation and development can and must go hand in hand to ensure a thriving future for all Nevadans.

We urge Congress to reject the ANS to H.R. 3173 The Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, and instead advance the original legislation that reflects Nevada’s proud history of fostering locally-driven solutions for both economic growth and conservation.”

###

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances Two Nevada Public Lands Bills

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:22:06 GMT

Las Vegas, NV - 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 applauds the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s advancement of two Nevada public lands bills that prioritize conservation, recreation and cultural heritage.

Statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation based in Nevada:

“The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen’s leadership in crafting legislation with community members and Tribal Nations that advance significant land solutions for the state. The Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act and the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act protects wildlife habitat, access to outdoor recreation and Nevada’s unique landscapes, and convey lands of significant importance to Indigenous communities.

“We celebrate the expansion of Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Areas and the proposed designation of five new National Conservation Areas in Northern Nevada, including the Massacre Rim Dark Sky, Smoke Creek and the Pah Rah. We are committed to supporting Nevada’s Senators in passing these two community-focused bills through Congress.

“Conserving America’s public lands is a key strategy to ensure the future for wildlife and the health of our communities. The historic protections these bills will bring are a positive step forward. We thank Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for advancing conservation and outdoor recreation priorities.”

###

Respect. Connect. Protect. Campaign Wins Gold at the Anthem Awards

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 19:38:20 GMT

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: our Respect. Connect. Protect. campaign, designed in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and our Friends Grassroots Network, has been honored with a gold award in the Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Best Strategy category at the Anthem Awards!

This recognition celebrates the innovative work behind Respect. Connect. Protect., a public awareness campaign to inspire safe and respectful visitation on the largest amount of public lands in the United States—those managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). With the next generation of visitors in mind, we set out to reduce behaviors like vandalism, littering, and avoidable accidents while promoting a culture of stewardship and connection.

A Bold, Creative Approach

The centerpiece of our campaign is Spokespebble—a one-of-a-kind character who uses a mix of charm, humor, and earnest messaging to connect with Gen Z and Millennials. Through Spokespebble, we deliver actionable, memorable advice on how to treat public lands with care.

In just 10 weeks, Respect. Connect. Protect. reached more than 17 million people through digital media and paid ads, far exceeding our original goal of 3-5 million. Additionally, organic content garnered 560,000+ impressions, highlighting the campaign’s widespread appeal and shareability. Nearly 20,000 individuals visited our campaign website, and 3,000 signed up to join the PebbleSquad, demonstrating an eagerness to engage further.

Why It Matters

America’s public lands are irreplaceable treasures, and they face increasing pressures from overuse and environmental degradation. Our Respect. Connect. Protect. campaign represents a vital step forward in fostering a new era of responsible stewardship. By reaching new audiences, we’re helping to ensure that public lands remain a source of joy, connection, and discovery for generations to come.

Celebrating the Anthem Award

Winning this award is not just an honor for the Conservation Lands Foundation—it’s a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity. The Anthem Awards recognize the most impactful social good initiatives around the globe, and we’re proud to join this year’s inspiring winners.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who supported this campaign, including our partners, collaborators, and the communities who engaged with our work. Together, we’re proving that stewardship and respect for public lands can become the norm, not the exception.

Watch Our Call-to-Action Speech

As part of the Anthem Awards celebration, we recorded a special call-to-action speech that reflects on the campaign’s impact and the journey ahead. You can watch it below or by visiting the Anthem Awards Winners Gallery.

This award energizes us to keep innovating and growing. We’re already looking ahead to new ways to expand the reach and impact of Respect. Connect. Protect. Stay tuned as we continue to inspire responsible visitation and amplify voices that protect public lands.

Thank you for being part of this journey—and for helping us respect, connect, and protect the lands we all love!

What’s Next?

Join the movement at RespectConnectProtect.org.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Federal Plan Indicating Rejection of Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:36:46 GMT

St. George, UT – Today the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released its final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) , indicating BLM’s intent to deny a right-of-way for the proposed four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) in southwestern Utah near Zion National Park. The Utah Department of Transportation’s proposed Northern Corridor Highway route would have violated five bedrock environmental laws and threatened critical habitat for the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise, recreational opportunities and scenic vistas.

According to the final SEIS, the Northern Corridor Highway is a poor option for the St. George community, as it would increase fire probability and frequency, result in permanent loss to designated critical tortoise habitat, spread noxious weeds and invasive plants and adversely impact the highest number of cultural and historical resources of all considered alternatives.

The agencies identified the Red Hills Parkway Expressway option as its preferred alternative over the Northern Corridor Highway, as it addresses the east-west transportation needs of the greater St. George area, while protecting the resource values of the NCA. Washington County's recent traffic models demonstrate that the Red Hills Parkway Expressway alternative is both more cost-effective and more efficient at alleviating traffic congestion than the rejected Northern Corridor Highway. The alternative modifies the existing Red Hills Parkway to function as an expressway between I-15 and Bluff Street, and final design details would need to consider local needs and be coordinated in close partnership with the community.

Below are statements on behalf of Utah-based and national conservation organizations Conserve Southwest Utah, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Conservation Lands Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, The Wilderness Society, and WildEarth Guardians.

“Today’s announcement marks a critical step toward ensuring lasting protections for Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. We anticipate the BLM’s final Record of Decision will once and for all put to rest this ill-conceived highway proposal,” said Holly Snow Canada, executive director of Conserve Southwest Utah. “The initial push to route a highway through this national conservation area was rushed, relying on an Environmental Impact Statement that overlooked critical, scientific information.

Now, with a more comprehensive review, it is even more clear that this cherished landscape should be left intact for our community’s quality of life. We urge elected officials to seize this opportunity to adopt smarter traffic solutions that better support the long-term health of our local economy and safeguard our irreplaceable public lands, creating a legacy of responsible growth for future generations.”

“BLM’s proposed denial of a four-lane high-speed highway through BLM-managed public lands eliminates the primary threat to the desert tortoise and recreation within Zone 3 of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Todd Tucci, senior attorney with Advocates for the West , which represented the conservation groups. “To be sure, however, the threats from residential development remain to rock climbing, mountain biking, and other recreation on state-owned lands in and around Moe’s Valley. The ball is firmly in the State of Utah’s court to protect these treasured recreational lands, and the State can expect a fight if it seeks to develop Moe’s Valley. We are ready.”

Final Plan Reflects Decade-Long Community Fight to Keep National Conservation Lands Intact

This SEIS is a result of a settlement agreement reached in November 2023 between the federal government and plaintiffs of a lawsuit filed in 2021. The lawsuit, brought by the groups listed above, challenged a 2021 decision by the BLM and FWS to approve a highway right-of-way through the Red Cliffs NCA. The lawsuit 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). Shortly after the settlement agreement was signed, a U.S. District Court remanded the 2021 approval of the right-of-way, confirming that the highway would fragment sensitive wildlife habitat for threatened species, reduce outdoor recreation access to the area, and set a dangerous precedent for protected public lands across the US.

The BLM and FWS issued their draft SEIS on May 9, 2024, which initiated a 45-day comment period for public feedback as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The BLM also held a public meeting and extended the comment period, providing an opportunity for questions and feedback.

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.

Additional Information and Resources:

Petition to Permanently Protect the Greater Moe’s Valley Area including Moe’s Valley, Green Valley Gap, Zen Trail & Bearclaw Poppy Trail in Washington County, Utah.
Conservation Organizations Respond to Washington County’s Continued Attacks on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area - August 7th, 2024
Federal Agencies Release Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on a Highway Right-of-Way Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area – May 9th, 2024
Court Order Granting Voluntary Remand, November 16th, 2023
Opinion Granting Voluntary Remand, November 16th, 2023
BLM’s National NEPA Register website for the Supplemental EIS
BLM and FWS Press Release, November 15th, 2023
Relevant court documents
The Protect Red Cliffs Petition, with 35,828 signatures from people around the world advocating for the protection of the Red Cliffs NCA from the Northern Corridor Highway.
The Protect Red Cliffs Zine—Art and Narratives of a Threatened Place
Red Cliffs Photo Gallery
Red Cliffs Video Galley
Presentation - Washington County at a Crossroads: An analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor Highway project in Southwest Utah
Report - Washington County at a Crossroads: An analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor Highway project in Southwest Utah

###

Public Lands Rule Workshop 2024

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 20:25:57 GMT

The BLM's Public Lands Rule (PLR) went into effect June 10, 2024. The PLR aims to ensure the protection and long-term health of public lands by emphasizing conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable land use practices. This landmark decision, if implemented correctly, will balance conservation with other uses like grazing, energy development, and recreation to protect ecosystems while allowing responsible development. Our PLR Workshop provides insight to the Public Lands Rule and how public lands advocates can work with their local BLM field offices to further conservation initiatives like resource management plans (RMPs) and areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).

Our presenters Danielle Murray and myrah rafi'ah beverly (Pew Charitable Trusts) provide valuable insight on the Public Lands Rule and what that means for the future of conservation under the BLM. Danielle delivers an expert-level explanation of the PLR and myrah closes our workshop by exploring ACEC designations and how to submit nominations for new ACEC protections. Our conversation is part of a larger mobilization of environmental organizations. If you have additional questions or need help with strategy, don't hesitate to get in touch with Shi-Lynn Campbell or a representative from CLF for assistance.

Resources:

Webinar

BLM Public Lands Rule Presentation 2024

PEW BLM Rule ACEC Presentation

PLR Implementation Toolkit

State Specific Slide Decks:

CA BLM Rule Powerpoint

NV BLM Rule Powerpoint

NM BLM PLR Presentation

Conservation Lands Foundation Celebrates New Resource Management Plans for Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:42:18 GMT

Conservation Lands Foundation Celebrates New Resource Management Plans for Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction

Plan will guide future land-management decisions for public lands in western Colorado

Grand Junction, CO — The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) welcomes the release of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final Records of Decision for the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction Resource Management Plans, covering two million acres of public lands in western Colorado. These plans mark a forward step in the conservation of sensitive habitats, cultural sites and wilderness-quality landscapes.

The new plans include increased protections for Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and other vital landscapes, including Grand Hogback and Castle Peak. However, while these plans include important conservation gains, they leave some sensitive landscapes open to future oil and gas development.

“We’re encouraged by the progress the Bureau of Land Management has made in these plans, which protect some of Colorado's most important natural and cultural resources," said Ben Katz, Colorado-based Associate Program Director at the Conservation Lands Foundation . "From safeguarding wildlife habitats to preserving access to recreational opportunities, these decisions reflect important steps in the right direction.

“However, we still see opportunities for the agency to strengthen its management of public lands in Colorado and nationwide, particularly in how these landscapes can help address climate change. The Conservation Lands Foundation remains committed to advocating for the long-term protection of public lands and ensuring that future management decisions prioritize both conservation and climate action."

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Thanks Bureau of Land Management For Advancing Management Plan for Cascade-Siskiyou Monument Expansion

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 21:45:10 GMT

Denver, CO - Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its final management plan for the 113,500 acres of public lands in southwestern Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Designated in 2000 and expanded in 2017, the monument was created to safeguard its ecological wonders and biological diversity. This region serves as an important habitat connectivity corridor, ensuring ecological resilience for wildlife amid increasing threats and large-scale disturbances that are exacerbated by climate change, such as wildfires and droughts. This plan represents a necessary upgrade to the outdated resource management plans that were previously governing management of this landscape, and we applaud the BLM for advancing it.

The BLM’s proposed plan offers a flexible approach to managing the monument, with a moderate focus on the protection, maintenance and restoration of its resources. The plan identifies wilderness character on eight new units, offers additional interim management protections for unprotected sensitive aquatic and riparian habitats and begins the process of decommissioning unused roads. However, the proposed level of management falls short in centering conservation in this national monument designated for its ecological and biological values, and addressing the urgency of the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises. The plan doesn’t go far enough to address impacts from grazing and places a low-elevation population of pika, an indicator species for climate change, in conflict with unnecessary recreational disturbances through the establishment of a new Extensive Recreation Management Area.

The Conservation Lands Foundation’s mission is to protect public lands managed by the BLM and the following is a statement from Kara Matsumoto, Public Lands Policy Director at Conservation Lands Foundation :

“We appreciate the Bureau of Land Management's efforts to finalize this important management plan, especially with a lack of appropriate funding from Congress to do the job, but we remain concerned that conservation is not prioritized as strongly as it should be for a unit of the National Conservation Lands. While we understand the challenges at play here, we believe more could have been done to elevate the protection and restoration of the resources, objects and values for which the area was designated, including utilizing tools such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. We look forward to working with the BLM to ensure that management of this extraordinary landscape aligns with the legal mandates of the National Conservation Lands and current BLM policies and addresses the escalating challenges posed by the climate crisis.”

####

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Conservation Lands Foundation leads the national movement of community-based advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.

The Conservation Lands Foundation Responds to Bureau of Land Management’s Proposed Land-Use Plan for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 21:47:59 GMT

Utah - Today, the Conservation Lands Foundation welcomes the release of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service’s final environmental impact statement and proposed resource management plan for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, a crucial step in ensuring the protection of one of the nation’s most culturally and ecologically significant landscapes. The 1.36-million-acre monument is a living testament to the ancestral homelands of Tribal Nations and holds an unparalleled richness of cultural sites, historic landmarks, and natural wonders.

This proposed plan represents the culmination of years of collaboration between the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission and local stakeholders. Importantly, the plan honors Tribal co-stewardship, recognizing the Bears Ears Commission and formally incorporating Traditional Indigenous Knowledge into the monument’s management framework. This approach marks a pivotal shift in how public lands are protected and managed, setting a new standard for federal-Tribal partnerships.

Statement from Ben Katz, Southwest associate program director for Conservation Lands Foundation:

“As the only nonprofit solely dedicated to protecting, restoring, and expanding the BLM’s National Conservation Lands system, the Conservation Lands Foundation remains deeply engaged in BLM land-use planning across the West to ensure that these plans guide future management decisions in the right way.

“While we are still reviewing the proposed plan, we are encouraged by the emphasis on Tribal co-stewardship, which ensures that the voices of the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation and Pueblo of Zuni will continue to shape the future of Bears Ears.

"This plan is a significant step toward righting historic wrongs and fostering a collective healing process, going further than simply conserving land and toward safeguarding the cultural heritage, traditions, and identity of Indigenous communities who have been stewarding this landscape since time immemorial.”

####

Utah and National Conservation Groups Move to Defend Balanced Management of Public Lands from Mining and Oil Industry Lawsuit

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 22:39:29 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Today, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Conservation Lands Foundation, and The Wilderness Society (together, the “Conservation Groups”) filed a motion to intervene to defend the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Public Lands Rule against a lawsuit brought this past summer by the American Farm Bureau and other industry trade associations representing the oil and gas and mining industries.

The Conservation Groups argue that the Public Lands Rule will help modernize the management practices of the BLM and ensure that the agency has the tools to meet future challenges, like growing pressure from climate change, and to restore public lands from the impacts of development. These groups celebrated the finalization of the rule, which was overwhelmingly supported by the public during the comment period , and are now engaging to defend it from attacks.

Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF), Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), and The Wilderness Society (TWS) are represented by Advocates for the West , SUWA, and Kaplan Kirsch LLP.

“This lawsuit - like the state of Utah’s challenge to the Rule - is out of touch with the majority of Utahns who support conservation and know climate change is a serious problem,” said Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Legal Director . “Utah is predicted to be hit particularly hard by the impacts of a hotter, drier, and more unpredictable climate. The Public Lands Rule gives BLM and the public a framework and important tools to begin work to stem the tide.”

“This lawsuit is a clear attempt by extractive industries to maintain their stranglehold on our public lands for private benefit,” said Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney with Advocates for the West . “It’s long past time for BLM to address the pervasive degradation caused by extraction and fully implement the common-sense Public Lands Rule to ensure the ecological health and resilience of our public lands. This industry attempt to block BLM from fulfilling that statutory obligation - critical to meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing climate - should be rejected.”

“Multinational oil and gas, mining, and other extractive industries have joined the torrent of litigation launched by anti-public lands states to keep the rules governing management of public lands permanently tipped in their favor,” said Alison Flint, Senior Legal Director at The Wilderness Society. “The BLM Public Lands Rule seeks to balance management of public lands as Congress intended almost a half-century ago. Unfortunately it's no surprise that industry groups are piling on with more meritless claims opposing balanced management. These cases should be dismissed to ensure that the agency adheres to the law that was put in place by Congress fifty years ago.”

“This lawsuit against the Rule appears to be motivated by a puzzling fear of implementing existing law - the Federal Land Policy and Management Act - and an unwillingness to recognize today’s realities,” said Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs at the Conservation Lands Foundation . “This new guidance will improve ecological and climate resilience, and provide the tools managers need to restore habitat from wildfires, drought, and other negative impacts. It also keeps important recreation areas – that are local economic engines – open and accessible to the public. Supporters of the Public Lands Rule include legal experts, western lawmakers, local elected officials, and governors who participated in a robust public process, and more than 90% of public comments were in support of this sensible Rule.”

Today’s legal action follows other motions to intervene ( July 26 , September 19 , and September 30 ) by conservation groups in three other lawsuits filed by the states of Alaska, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana, which challenge the Public Lands Rule. The Public Lands Rule went into effect in June after a year-long process to engage the public in its development.

###

Background Information:

The Public Lands Rule, currently in effect, 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.
CLF’s and TWS ’ September 30, 2024 Statements when Conservation Groups filed a motion to intervene in litigation filed by the State of Alaska.
SUWA’s , CLF’s and TWS’ September 19, 2024 Statements when Conservation Groups filed a motion to intervene in litigation filed by the States of North Dakota, Idaho and Montana.
SUWA’s , CLF’s and TWS’ July 26, 2024 Statements when Conservation Groups filed a motion to intervene in litigation filed by the States of Utah & Wyoming.
SUWA’s , CLF’s and TWS’ June 18, 2024 Statements when litigation was filed by the States of Utah & Wyoming.
SUWA’s , CLF’s and TWS’ April 18, 2024 Statements when the Final Rule was announced.
“The BLM Public Lands Rule is a common-sense solution” June 25, 2023 Editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Information regarding public comments received by BLM - 92% of which were supportive.
Utah-specific polling data from the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll , which shows a clear and resounding preference for conservation when voters are given a choice over how public lands are used.

Conservation Lands Foundation leads the national movement of community-based advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.

The Wilderness Society has been working since 1935 on uniting people to protect America’s wild places. With more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect nearly 112 million acres of wilderness in 44 states and ensure public lands’ sound management. We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory.

Conservation Groups Seek to Defend Common Sense Land Management Rule from Misguided Legal Attack

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 22:56:05 GMT

Anchorage, AK - Today, Conservation Lands Foundation and The Wilderness Society (together, the “Conservation Groups”) filed a motion to intervene to defend the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Public Lands Rule against a lawsuit brought this past summer by the State of Alaska in Alaska federal district court.

Conservation Lands Foundation and The Wilderness Society are represented by Advocates for the West and Kaplan Kirsch LLP.

“It's long past time to turn the page on letting extractive industries control use of our treasured western public lands,” said Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney with Advocates for the West . “In adopting the Public Lands Rule, BLM has pursued a commonsense approach to future land management that includes a greater focus on conservation and meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Instead of wasting time on this meritless lawsuit, the State of Alaska should help ensure the ecological health and resilience of our public lands by allowing BLM to fulfill its duty to balanced management.”

“The State of Alaska is trying to let big fossil fuel, mining, and other development interests decide how we use our natural resources. The BLM Public Lands Rule, meanwhile, seeks the balanced approach prescribed for the agency by Congress almost a half-century ago,” said Alison Flint, Senior Legal Director at The Wilderness Society. “The Wilderness Society has worked for nearly 90 years to defend public lands in Alaska and throughout the Western United States. That requires us to vigorously defend the Public Lands Rule so we can meet the urgent challenges of our changing climate, including protecting Alaska’s unsurpassed wildlife habitat and unique ways of life.”

“This lawsuit against the Rule appears to be motivated by a puzzling fear of implementing existing law - the Federal Land Policy and Management Act - and an unwillingness to recognize today’s realities,” said Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs at the Conservation Lands Foundation . “This new guidance will improve ecological and climate resilience, and provide the tools managers need to restore habitat from wildfires, erosion and melting permafrost, and other negative impacts. It also keeps important recreation areas – that are local economic engines and subsistence hunting grounds – open and accessible to the public. Supporters of the Public Lands Rule include legal experts, western lawmakers, local elected officials, and governors who participated in a robust public process, and more than 90% of public comments were in support of this sensible Rule.”

Today’s legal action comes on the heels of motions to intervene filed by the same conservation groups, along with Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), in two other lawsuits filed by the states of Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana challenging the Public Lands Rule. The Public Lands Rule went into effect in June after a year-long process to engage the public in its development.

###

Background Information:

BLM’s webpage on the Public Lands Rule.
CLF’s and TWS’ July 26, 2024 Statements when Conservation Groups filed a motion to intervene in litigation filed by the States of Utah & Wyoming.
CLF’s and TWS’ June 18, 2024 Statements when litigation was filed by the States of Utah & Wyoming.
CLF’s and TWS ’ April 18, 2024 Statements when the Final Rule was announced.
“The BLM Public Lands Rule is a common-sense solution” June 25, 2023 Editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Information regarding public comments received by BLM - 92% of which were supportive.

OHV Live Webinar Series: Cultivating Relationships With The Off-Road Community

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:28:43 GMT

Want to learn more about the off-road community? Join CLF for a presentation and roundtable discussion. Ashley Lee, board president of the Amargosa Conservancy, and Amy Granat, managing director of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA), will guide participants through understanding the off-road community, building multi-organizational partnerships, and identifying collaboration and joint stewardship opportunities. Neil Hamada, Outdoor Recreation Planner, OHV / Travel & Transportation Management Lead - BLM California, and Brandon Alvarez, California Program Manager for Tread Lightly, will join the panel as our expert guests. This webinar was recorded on September 10, 2024.

Presented by: Ashley Lee, Amargosa Conservancy, and Amy Granat, CORVA.

Guests: Brandon Alvarez, Tread Lightly, and Neil Hamada, BLM.

Watch Webinar

Resources:

OHV Webinar Supplemental Information

Meet Our New CEO: Chris Hill

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:45:42 GMT

The Conservation Lands Foundation is proud to welcome Chris Hill as our new Chief Executive Officer.

With a robust background in community organizing and environmental law and lobbying, Chris brings over 15 years of experience in advocating for the protection of both communities and the natural world. Chris is a passionate advocate for social justice and environmental conservation, blending her love for the outdoors with a dedication to community-based organizing.

“Chris Hill's arrival marks a new era of opportunity for our organization,” said Mark Headley, Board Chair of the Conservation Lands Foundation. “Chris brings a distinguished blend of expertise in environmental law, community advocacy, and lobbying, and a deep-seated passion for the environment and social justice. We’re one hundred percent confident about the growth and success that lie ahead through her dynamic leadership.”

Our new Chief Executive Officer, Chris Hill, brings over 15 years of experience in advocating for the protection of both communities and the natural world

A Message from Chris Hill

I'm thrilled to introduce myself as the new CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation and usher in the next phase of our mission to protect valuable and vulnerable public lands through community-led partnerships and advocacy.

I’ve dedicated my career to advocating for our communities and the natural world. I bring an extensive background in conservation advocacy, community organizing, and environmental law and policy, and more than 15 years of experience advocating at the regional, state, and federal levels—including efforts to protect national monuments.

My love for adventure—backpacking, climbing, snowboarding, and fly fishing—began at an early age and has fueled my passion for social justice and protecting nature. It also led me to a career in conservation, which I began by serving as a community organizer in Appalachia.

I’m inspired by the remarkable achievements of this fairly young yet phenomenally effective public land conservation organization, which has added 11.5 million acres and more than 150 units to the National Conservation Lands system, while growing its Friends Grassroots Network from 10 to over 80 organizations today.

As we embark on the next phase, my priority is to collaborate with our dedicated team and supporters to create and seize opportunities that protect more public lands. This means bolstering our efforts to achieve even greater impact, strengthening our national movement, and nimbly navigating the challenges ahead.

I share the values of honoring local passion and wisdom, building an inclusive movement, recognizing that public lands are a source of life and inspiration—not simply a resource to exploit, and finding and sharing joy in the work.

It’s an honor to lead the Conservation Lands Foundation into this next phase, and I’m committed to our mission’s success. I invite you to read more about my experience and approach here.

Thank you for your trust and support,

Chris Hill
Chief Executive Officer

Photo: Colin Arisman

In 2019, Chris collaborated with The Outbound Collective to share her story through the film "Where I Belong" shedding light on her affinity for fly fishing, her advocacy endeavors, and the importance of outdoor equity. The film won the American Conservation Film Festival’s 2021 Best Short Film and has been featured at esteemed festivals like the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour and the Mountain Film Festival, among others. Watch Chris's story here.

U.S. Forest Service Deals Devastating Blow to Sacred Lands and Local Communities in New Mexico’s Caja del Rio

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:34:42 GMT

U.S. Forest Service Deals Devastating Blow to Sacred Lands and Local Communities in New Mexico’s Caja del Rio

Decision Opens the Door for a Power Transmission Line through Sacred Landscape; Ignores Tribal Interests, and Renewable Energy and Location Alternatives

SANTA FE, NM - Yesterday the Santa Fe National Forest released a draft Decision approving a proposal by the Los Alamos National Laboratory to construct a new 14-mile transmission line across public land managed by the Santa Fe National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management, which includes the Caja del Rio Plateau southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The Forest Service’s draft decision ignores the immense opposition to the project by Tribal sovereign nations in the region, including the All Pueblo Council of Governors, and the thousands of public comments that were registered opposing it. The construction of the transmission line is an imminent threat to the delicate ecological balance of the Caja, to the public’s access to these lands and to the health of its waterways, wildlife habitats and cultural resources.

The decision marks a surprising about-face for the Forest Service, which established the Caja Del Rio Wildlife and Cultural Interpretive Management Area in 2022 to, in part, protect this landscape from transmission lines and other forms of development. The Forest Service also did not require the project to go through the standard and more rigorous Environmental Impact Statement process and instead allowed a short-cut review through an Environmental Assessment, seemingly knowing it couldn’t be approved otherwise.

The decision comes after the All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG) took action on June 27, 2024, to pass APCG Resolution 2024-01, which called on the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to pause the planning of the proposed project in order for a Pueblo led study to be conducted, identifying important cultural resource information.

“This area and the living gifts it holds are invaluable to the past, present, and future of our communities. These desecrations are a reminder that we must work together to be as proactive as possible in preservation of this sacred landscape. A tribally-led ethnographic study will ensure our Pueblos have the opportunity to adequately inform agencies of the living nature of this place in relation to our communities, how those resources should be managed, and the potential cultural impacts of proposed federal projects," said Governor Milton Herrera, Pueblo of Tesuque, in a APCG press release.

The Caja del Rio coalition, a group of Indigenous, Hispano and faith leaders, hunters, anglers, conservation and Indigenous climate justice organizations working to gain long-lasting protection for the Caja del Rio areas, issued the following statements in response to the draft decision notice:

"Streamlining this project without proper cultural and archaeological assessments disregards the ancestral and traditional ties the surrounding Pueblos have to this landscape. The protection of cultural and natural resources, vital biodiversity and ecosystems are directly tied to the health and well-being of our Pueblo communities. We can not allow a decision that disrespects our traditional lifeways and cultural preservation. Our future generations deserve more."

– Julia Bernal, Executive Director, Pueblo Action Alliance.

"This is a blatant violation of the public trust and complete disregard of the valid objections outlined by local communities who have deep, ancestral ties to the Caja del Rio. The Forest Service is not only gambling with an irreplaceable landscape that supports traditional uses like hunting, fishing, and livestock production, but they are also rewriting their own management plan to push this ill-conceived project through, sidestepping important environmental review processes. We will file our objection and call on all those who care about the Caja to stay engaged and resist this reckless decision during this critical time."

– Romir Lahiri, Associate Program Director, Conservation Lands Foundation

“The Caja del Rio is a treasured landscape, rich with history and cultural significance, connected to Bandelier National Monument directly across the río, that should not be turned into an industrial zone. This is a place where generations have come to connect with the land, and we have a responsibility to protect the Caja landscape for the future. Moving forward with such a proposal violates the public trust and disregards the local communities with strong connections to this place and its cultural history. This is an opportunity to rethink energy development that protects land and people, and the Forest Service is well equipped to be a leader in this approach.”

– Maude Dinan, New Mexico Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association

"The Forest Service has chosen to ignore the voices of local communities and the cumulative, adverse impacts that a transmission line will pose to the cultural, environmental and historical values of the Caja del Rio. This disappointing decision paves the way for irreversible damage to a landscape that should be protected, not destroyed. This is a sad day for New Mexico’s diverse cultures and rich tradition that are so deeply connected to this sacred landscape.”

- Reverend Andrew Black, EarthKeepers 360

“What have we become if we are even considering degrading irreplaceable natural and cultural heirlooms like the Caja in the name of technological advancement that will make us more “secure.” The land, its water, wildlife and cultural sanctity are the very bedrock of our security. Exceptional places like this are our fragile tether to the universe and the core of our very identity and regional origins. If we continue to degrade and forsake jewels like this, we have forsaken the very future of generations that follow in our footsteps.”

- Garrett VeneKlasen, Northern Conservation Director, NM Wild

About the Caja del Rio

The Caja has been inhabited by local and Indigenous communities since time immemorial, with evidence of human occupation going back over 12,000 years. The Caja contains thousands of sacred sites, structures, petroglyphs, irrigation systems, and other cultural resources and Pueblos continue to use this cultural landscape and maintain a connection to it through ongoing traditional use of flora and fauna and cultural religious practices, including storytelling, songs, pilgrimage, and prayer.

The Caja also retains deep historical significance for traditional local Hispanic communities and is home to one of the most iconic stretches of the famed El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the longest Euro-American trade route in North America that ran from Mexico City to Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. The proposed transmission line will impact one of the oldest sections of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro that was utilized from 1598-1610, before the capital was moved from Ohkay Owingeh to Santa Fe.

Local governments, including the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and San Miguel County, have adopted resolutions affirming that the Caja is “one of the United States’ most iconic landscapes, an area of profound cultural, historical, archaeological, and ecological significance.” The Board of Directors for the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area has likewise recognized the significance of the Caja landscape.

To learn more about the history and importance of the Caja del Rio plateau and to receive notices on opportunities to engage, visit cajadelrio.org.

###

Bureau of Land Management Finalizes Western Solar Plan

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 22:51:58 GMT

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S FINALIZATION OF THE WESTERN SOLAR PLAN

Bureau of Land Management’s Plan signals responsible renewable energy development on public lands

Durango, Colorado - Today, the Bureau of Land Management released its proposed Western Solar Plan , kicking off a 30-day protest period. Conservation Lands Foundation commends the Biden Administration and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for finalizing the Western Solar Plan, a crucial roadmap for balancing the nation's urgent need for renewable energy to address the climate crisis with the need for protection of treasured public lands and water due to the biodiversity crisis.

Statement from Kara Matsumoto, public lands policy director for Conservation Lands Foundation:

"As the federal land management agency responsible for the largest amount of public lands in the country, the Bureau of Land Management plays an outsized role in navigating the complex task of siting renewable energy projects while protecting some of the country’s most valuable and vulnerable natural landscapes. The finalized Western Solar Plan signals the agency will take a responsible approach to renewable energy development on public lands, accelerating deployment while avoiding sensitive and valuable natural resources.

"We commend the BLM for finalizing the Western Solar Plan to reflect a commitment to advancing the urgent need to develop renewable energy to combat the climate crisis while minimizing conflicts with vulnerable landscapes, wildlife habitats, cultural sites and the public’s access to public lands.

“While the plan represents significant progress toward realizing the nation’s renewable energy goals, we recognize that it is only the first step in truly assessing which public lands are appropriate for renewable energy development. To round out the full picture of Western landscapes and better determine necessary mitigation for projects, we need updated resource management plans across the West that accurately reflect on-the-ground conditions, such as wilderness character and wildlife corridors.

"We look forward to continued collaboration with the BLM to implement the plan and ensure that solar energy development on public lands is both responsible and sustainable, prioritizing the health of ecosystems, cultural sites and local communities."

####

Bureau of Land Management Finalizes Plan for Restored Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 22:49:05 GMT

The Conservation Lands Foundation responds to Bureau of Land Management’s proposed land-use plan for restored Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Plan will guide future land-management decisions for one of the “crown jewels” of BLM’s National Conservation Lands system

Utah - Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed plan for managing nearly 1.87 million acres of public lands within the restored Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah.

This plan is a necessary update as it covers the entirety of the monument, which was restored in 2021 by President Joe Biden after the previous administration significantly reduced its size. The Resource Management Plan will guide future management decisions and ensure a careful balance between conservation, outdoor recreation and multiple-use within the restored national monument.

Statement from Ben Katz, Southwest associate program director for Conservation Lands Foundation:

“While we are still reviewing the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed plan for the restored Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, it appears to be a positive step toward a more conservation-oriented approach, reflecting the efficiency and balance we have long advocated for.

“The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument remains a crown jewel in the National Conservation Lands system, and we are grateful to the agency for prioritizing the prompt finalization of this plan. An updated Resource Management Plan that includes the acreage restored by President Biden will help ensure the agency can continue to protect the monument’s many natural, cultural and historic values.

"We urge the BLM to continue to work closely with Tribes and other stakeholders to ensure the final management plan and its implementation serve the long-term interests of this extraordinary landscape and the American public."

####

California Legislature Passes Resolutions in Support of Protecting Vulnerable Landscapes

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 22:55:25 GMT

On August 28, with overwhelming bipartisan support, the California Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolutions 16 and 17 in support of designating Chuckwalla, Kw’tsán, and Sáttítla National Monuments.

This milestone is a testament to the enduring leadership of Tribal Nations, who have safeguarded their lands for generations. The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, and the Pit River Tribe are at the forefront of these efforts, protecting these regions of profound cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance.

We'd like to thank California Assemblymember James Ramos, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Senator Steve Padilla, Senator Ben Allen, and the California Native American Legislative Caucus for supporting Tribal leadership.

Take action: Urge President Joe Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate Chuckwalla , Kw’tsán, and Sáttítla National Monuments.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Administration for Protecting Key Landscapes in Wyoming’s Red Desert

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 23:55:16 GMT

Denver, CO – The Bureau of Land Management today issued its final Rock Springs Resource Management Plan that will guide management and protection of nearly 3.6 million acres of public land in southwestern Wyoming for the next two decades.

The plan includes conservation for important landscapes, including the Northern Red Desert, and today’s release of the proposed plan starts a 30-day public protest period and a 60-day review period for the governor’s office.

Kara Matsumoto, public lands policy director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, had this reaction to the plan:

“The plan protects the recreational economic opportunities that public lands create for local communities as well as landscapes within Wyoming’s Northern Red Desert – a vast, unfenced area of public lands that include the longest migrations in the lower 48 and the most intact sagebrush steppe ecosystem in the West, and home to large and small mammals, birds, and reptiles. While we applaud the significant conservation gains outlined in the plan, we would have liked a greater emphasis on protecting wilderness character and more oil and gas closures to protect sensitive landscapes.

“Overall, the Rock Springs RMP is a smart and detailed-oriented plan that reflects input from the many stakeholder groups in Wyoming. It conserves places where many people fish, hunt, and recreate that are important to growing local economies without impacting hundreds of existing oil and gas leases. This approach to protect natural resources in areas mostly without significant potential for producing oil and gas is supported by more than three-quarters of Wyomingites who’ve said they support allowing oil and gas drilling only in areas with high production potential.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation responds to Utah’s public land grab lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court affecting all public lands

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 22:09:36 GMT

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.”

####

President Biden designates Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 22:13:37 GMT

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.

Bureau of Land Management Releases Implementation Guidance for Public Lands Rule

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 18:29:29 GMT

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken a significant step forward in protecting public lands in the U.S. with the release of its implementation guidance for the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly known as the Public Lands Rule. This guidance, made available today, is designed to help BLM field managers begin implementing the Rule that officially went into effect on June 10, 2024.

The Public Lands Rule recognizes that conservation, access to nature, cultural resource protection, wildlife, and climate resilience must be on equal footing with energy extraction. The Rule aims to ensure that our public lands can continue to provide communities with clean air and water and access to recreational opportunities in addition to extractive uses.

The guidance consists of four instruction memoranda that provide details on restoration prioritization and planning, watershed condition assessments, land health standards, and restoration and mitigation leasing–all crucial components of the Rule. In addition, the BLM updated its manual to clarify policy on areas of critical environmental concern and to include policy on inventory and monitoring of ecological resources, both key tools to maintain critical resources on public lands. With the release of the implementation guidance, field managers across the country now have a roadmap to follow as they incorporate the Rule into land use planning and other management decisions. This guidance is crucial for translating the Rule's goals, tools, and metrics into tangible actions that will benefit our public lands and the communities that depend on them. The guidance was accompanied by an announcement of a new Federal Advisory Committee to assist the BLM in implementing the Rule.

The Conservation Lands Foundation is thrilled to see the publication of this guidance and advisory committee announcement, which marks a significant step toward realizing the full potential of the Public Lands Rule. With this guidance in hand, BLM will be able to more effectively balance uses on our public lands and steward the natural resources that are vital to our environment, economy, and way of life.

We look forward to working closely with the BLM and other stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of this Rule is effective and in collaboration with local communities, to create a more resilient and sustainable future for our public lands and the generations to come.

Policy and Implementation

The following Bureau of Land Management documents cover topics from land health assessments to restoration and mitigation leasing, as well as provide direction to BLM field personnel and inform the public on how the Rule will work in the field. As the Bureau of Land Management continues implementing the rule, the guidance may be updated to accommodate the BLM’s experience, new information or input from the public.

Information Bulletin 2024-035 | Implementation Guidance

Information Bulletin 2024-048 | Land Use Planning Requirements

Instruction Memo 2024-035 | Restoration Prioritization & Planning

Instruction Memo 2024-036 | Watershed Condition Assessment

Instruction Memo 2024-037 | Land Health Standards

Instruction Memo 2024-038 | Restoration & Mitigation Leasing

Manual Section-1735 | Inventory & Monitoring of Ecological Resources

Manual Section-1613 | Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

Conservation Organizations Respond to Washington County’s Continued Attacks on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 22:36:37 GMT

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 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.

###

Legislation Introduced to Protect Great Bend of the Gila

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 22:42:38 GMT

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 .

###

Conservation Groups Take Legal Action to Defend Interior Department’s Ability to Implement Common Sense Land Management Rule

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:57:09 GMT

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

Salt Lake City, UT - Yesterday, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), The Wilderness Society (TWS), and the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) filed a motion to intervene in federal court to defend the Bureau of Land Management’s recently finalized Public Land Rule. The motion comes in response to a case and motion for preliminary injunction filed by the states of Utah and Wyoming that seeks to prevent the BLM from implementing the rule which went into effect in June after a year-long process to engage the public in its development. Conservation groups celebrated the finalization of the rule, which was overwhelmingly supported during the comment period , and are now engaging to defend it from attacks.

“Instead of seeing the Public Lands Rule as a way to work with BLM on shared conservation goals, the State of Utah and its leaders are fighting these efforts at every turn,” said Stephen Bloch, SUWA Legal Director. “This lawsuit is out of touch with the majority of Utahns who support conservation and know climate change is a serious problem. Utah is predicted to be hit particularly hard by the impacts of a hotter, drier, and more unpredictable climate. The Public Lands Rule gives BLM and the public a framework and important tools to begin work to stem the tide.”

“The lawsuit and preliminary injunction request by Utah and Wyoming constitute a vote to let big fossil fuel and development interests keep pulling the strings and set the agenda for how we use our natural resources. The BLM public lands rule, meanwhile, seeks the balanced approach prescribed for the agency by Congress almost a half-century ago,” said Alison Flint, senior legal director at The Wilderness Society. “The Wilderness Society has worked for nearly 90 years to defend public lands. Continuing that work entails vigorously defending the public lands rule so we can meet the challenges of a hotter, drier and more crowded future in the American West.”

“What we find most disappointing and puzzling about Utah and Wyoming’s lawsuit against the Rule is that it appears to be motivated by their fear of implementing existing law - the Federal Land Policy and Management Act - and the will of the people,” said Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs at the Conservation Lands Foundation. “Legal experts, including eight state attorneys general and 27 law professors , have repeatedly confirmed that the Rule upholds BLM’s core mission and it was shaped by a robust public process with more than 90% of public comments in support. It also has the support of many western lawmakers, local elected officials, governors, and opinion leaders, who understand that this new guidance is needed to keep important recreation areas – that are also local economic engines – accessible to the public, improve ecological and climate resilience, and provide the tools managers need to restore these public lands from wildfires, droughts, and other negative impacts.”

On June 18, 2024, the States of Utah and Wyoming filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Utah over the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recently finalized Public Lands Rule . Federal lawsuits have also been filed by the states of North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana in North Dakota, and industry groups have filed a third action in Wyoming. Among other things, the Rule reiterates that conservation is part of the BLM’s multiple-use mission and ensures that the agency will manage for this use on a day-in and day-out basis.

###

Background Information:

The Public Lands Rule, currently in effect, 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.
SUWA’s June 18, 2024 Statement when litigation was filed by the States of Utah & Wyoming
SUWA’s April 18, 2024 Statement when the Final Rule was announced.
“The BLM Public Lands Rule is a common-sense solution” June 25, 2023 Editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune
March 30, 2023 SUWA Statement on the Proposed Rule; Advocacy Action from SUWA during the public comment period
Information regarding public comments received by BLM - 92% of which were supportive.
Utah-specific polling data from the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll, which shows a clear and resounding preference for conservation when voters are given a choice over how public lands are used.

Conservation Lands Foundation Praises Senate Funding for Bureau of Land Management, Rejects Draconian House Interior Spending Bill

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:46:12 GMT

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."

# # #

Nearly All of Dolores River Canyon Public Lands At Risk Under Conservation Proposal by Mesa and Montrose Counties

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:00:15 GMT

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.”

###

Build Supervision Skills To Help You And Your Team Thrive

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:32:59 GMT

View Presentation Slides

Presenter: TREC

Kristi Chester-Vance, Co-Executive Director

Would you like to build supervision skills that allows both you and your staff to thrive? In this webinar, we’ll explore a five-step process for supervision that sets you up for success. We’ll unpack how to create a foundation of clear expectations and mutual accountability, and reduce assumptions and uncertainty. These foundational skills will not only empower both you and your staff but also create a more inclusive and engaging workplace.

Additional Resources:

Happy International Pride Day

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 18:33:58 GMT

To help kick off Pride Month this year, Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) staff and volunteers led an LGBTQ+ Meet-Up hiking group to see parts of Caja del Rio —a spectacular place just west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. As part of a broad community coalition, CLF has been working to protect and steward this area for several years.

It was a beautiful morning, and we saw raptors, wildflowers, and dozens of lizards darting around the craggy rocks. We also visited La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and wondered about the people who had made them and tried to imagine some of the stories they may have told. By the end of our hike, we had shared a few of our own stories with each other - and had a new one about visiting the Caja.

LGBTQ+ Meet-Up hiking group at Caja del Rio

Pride Month is all about telling stories. In the U.S., Pride Month traces its roots back to the Stonewall Inn in New York City, where police routinely harassed LGBTQ+ people who patronized the Inn. After years of raids and violent arrests, there was a spontaneous and defiant response from patrons, particularly by transgender women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, that sparked several days of protests and marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. This uprising galvanized the community and led to the first Pride marches held in June 1970, commemorating the Stonewall uprising anniversary.

Pride Month has evolved into a time of commemoration, celebration, reflection, and advocacy. The site of the Stonewall protests is now a National Monument, established June 24, 2016 by President Obama using the Antiquities Act. And conservation organizations around the country help mark and celebrate Pride Month by organizing hikes, stewardship projects, festivals, and parties that bring LGBTQ+ individuals and allies together.

CLF wants to wish everyone Happy Pride, and may the stories of our activism, celebration, and advocacy lead to greater protections for treasured public lands like the Caja del Rio, and to greater love for all people.

Stonewall National Monument in New York City. Photo by National Park Service.

Conservation Lands Foundation Thanks Bureau of Land Management For Protecting Public Lands in Western Colorado, And More Is Needed

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:08:47 GMT

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.”

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Disappointed by Legal Attacks on the Public Lands Rule

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:06:50 GMT

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."

####

Conservation Lands Foundation Praises Bureau of Land Management’s Final Management Plan for Public Lands in Northwestern California

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:03:24 GMT

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!

####

Guest Blog: Why I Support the Proposed Dolores Canyon National Monument

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:56:52 GMT

As trail runners, I believe we have an obligation to care about the wilderness areas we traverse and to help steward them. I’ve been a public lands advocate for the past decade because I care about trails and the nature around them. I also believe that preserving wild open land is critical for biodiversity, and that managing the extraction of minerals, oil, and gas from them needs to be part of the climate solution.

The 170-mile Grand to Grand Ultra self-supported stage race traverses and skirts extremely remote public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Some of it, like the Vermillion Cliffs and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments and the Paria Canyon wilderness area, receive special protection for their endangered wildlife and their special cultural and archeological artifacts. Most of it, however, is unprotected and viewed as a national resource to use, not necessarily to conserve.

Doing the inaugural Grand to Grand Ultra in 2012—then again in 2014 and 2019—sparked my interest in this vast open space and what we can do to keep it wild and visit it with minimal impact. I began supporting the Conservation Lands Foundation, the only nonprofit dedicated to protecting and expanding America’s National Conservation Lands , which are specially protected public lands managed by the BLM. I want to spread awareness about the network of relatively new National Conservation Lands, and why they matter, because the public generally doesn’t know much about them; we tend to focus more on our national and state parks.

I’ll be returning to race the 2024 edition of the Grand to Grand Ultra and will aim to raise money and awareness for Conservation Lands Foundation as part of my buildup to the event.

In late April, I found myself at the center of a controversy in western Colorado, in a region near Nucla and Naturita known as the West End, that has polarized people in neighboring communities while spreading mistrust and misinformation. It has to do with a proposal to designate nearly 400,000 acres of land in a river canyon, about an hour west of where I live, as a national monument. In a high school gymnasium packed with angry opponents of the proposal, who don’t want the federal government “locking up” their ability to use and mine the region as they see fit, I spoke in favor of the monument designation to protect the area. It wasn’t easy, but I couldn’t in good conscience sit there and not express a contrary point of view. My reasons are summarized below in a letter to the editor to our local paper, which I also sent to Colorado’s two U.S. senators.

Why I Support a Dolores Canyon National Monument

In late April, I attended a public gathering in Naturita organized by Senator Hickenlooper to hear feedback on the proposal to protect the Dolores River Canyon by designating it a national monument. I was one of only two speakers, out of more than 50, to express support for it. I applaud Sen. Hickenlooper and former state Sen. Don Coram for setting a tone of civility and bipartisan dialogue. Their respectful example, however, didn’t stop the crowd from loudly booing and cutting off my remarks before I finished. I’m writing to share what I hoped to express that day.

I have deep respect for the hard work and resiliency of miners and ranchers, and for the history of the region. My grandfather David S. Lavender was a miner and cattle rancher, and in the 1920s and ’30s, he lived in the West End and operated a ranch on all the acreage that became Uravan. Through him, I learned about the boom and bust cycles in the West End. I also have gotten to know the Dolores canyon area by running many miles on its trails and reporting on the West End’s efforts to rebound after the shutdown of the Tri-State coal-fired power plant. I love the landscape and feel for its communities. So why do I support a national monument in the area instead of leaving it as is?

In my view, it’s smart long-term planning to transition to a cleaner, more sustainable broad-based economy, and to protect the wildlife corridors and biodiversity that’s essential for the future of the natural world, rather than carving up the landscape with pipelines, powerlines, and roads. A national monument would not affect existing valid mining claims but would, importantly, protect the environmentally sensitive public lands from future mining claims and oil and gas leases.

Dolores River's historic Hanging Flume. Photo by Sarah Lavender Smith.

A national monument (designated by the executive branch) is perhaps the best and only way to protect the beautiful northern portion of the Dolores River canyon in Mesa and Montrose counties. The watershed’s southern portion would be protected as a National Conservation Area if congressional legislation, which I also support, ever becomes law.

Monument designation would create a much-needed framework for discussion and collaborative planning with public input, as stakeholders create a resource management plan to determine the boundaries and accommodate uses including recreation, grazing, and hunting.

At the forum, some opponents called the monument proposal a “federal land grab” and used “stop the steal” language, which ignores that the fed government already owns and manages the land; that’s why it’s public. All citizens—not just local residents—should be able to have a say and stake in the public lands’ future.

Dolores River. Photo by Sarah Lavender Smith.

As for locals’ concerns about crowds, it’s important to note that national monuments managed by the Bureau of Land Management are vastly different from national parks and do not typically result in anything resembling a “tourist trap.” They’re kept as natural as possible, with minimal infrastructure. The designation may bring a small and steady amount of visitors, not crowds, for outdoor recreation, which could benefit local businesses from Gateway to Naturita.

Designating a national monument around the Dolores River would protect the waterway and canyon country for future generations while bringing additional resources to the area to care for it. I think that’s a win-win.

Highlights from "Equity, Access, and Public Lands: A Juneteenth Celebration"

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:01:29 GMT

Check out some key moments from our webinar focused on "Equity, Access, and Public Lands." This event highlights the importance of raising civic engagement and awareness for greater equity and access in our public spaces. We explore the importance of advocating for the preservation and restoration of public lands, with insightful discussions and inspiring talks on supporting inclusivity and environmental justice. Join us in the movement to ensure everyone can enjoy and protect our natural heritage. Engage, advocate, and make a difference!

Celebrating Juneteenth

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:36:45 GMT

As we celebrate the perseverance and spirit of Black people in the United States this Juneteenth holiday, I reflect on what it means to promote equity, access, and public lands for communities of Black and brown people.

Inspired by my father’s passion for bringing public services and park programs together, I pursued a career in parks and recreation more than a decade ago. Despite his example and my own experience in the parks and recreation space, it wasn’t until 2016 that I stepped out of my comfort zone to attend an event hosted by Latino Outdoors. I later was on-boarded as a volunteer and years later found myself as part of the National Support Staff.

Through the encouragement of others, mentorship, and years of building my own learning, I feel like I can be in a position where I have the power to steward public lands and promote a more accessible outdoors for all. Not just be in the outdoors, but truly have a say in which lands deserve our care and attention, what communities should have a seat at the table, and how we collectively care for these special places moving forward.

My story is not unique to our community. Green and open spaces are less likely to be accessible for people of color as are the career opportunities tied to them. This lack of access increases the inequities among the community and decreases opportunities for success. Decisions about green and open spaces are made for our communities instead of by our communities.

One famous example of this is Central Park in New York City. The Park is now a place that is open and accessible to all, but it came at the sacrifice of a community of predominantly African-Americans known as Seneca Village. The Village had allowed many families to live in healthier conditions and to escape the racial discrimination often faced in the more densely populated downtown Manhattan. Yet, it was ultimately their health and financial well-being that was sacrificed to create the country’s first major urban public park.

Here on the West Coast, proximity to nature has often been reserved for those with wealth and privilege. When communities were able to overcome the barriers posed by rampant and violent racism, the power structures very often bent to the racist outcries attempting to return things to the status quo.

Bruce’s Beach in the city of Manhattan Beach, was an escape for many Black families who were not welcome at most of California’s beaches due to Jim Crow laws and practices. This natural oasis for Black communities didn’t last long, as city officials seized lots owned by Black families under the guise of turning the land into a public park. The lots were left undeveloped for decades until descendants and advocates were able to recover the properties. Our collective power and years of effort as a community allowed for justice and restitution to finally become a reality.

Central Park and Bruce’s Beach are just some examples of the inequality communities have faced when it comes to access to nature and its benefits. Our communities continue to face hardships due to past and current systematic barriers. Over the course of the last several decades, local communities in Riverside County and the eastern Coachella Valley have suffered from extreme heat, air and water pollution, and limited access to nature. But like Bruce’s Beach, this year we have an opportunity to continue making changes to improve recreation access and how public lands in this region are managed for the benefit of our communities.

Recently, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited with local residents, elected officials, and Tribal Nations to discuss the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument, located between Palm Desert and Blythe along the I-10. The proposed National Monument will help ensure equitable access to nature for residents of the eastern Coachella Valley and other local communities. Permanently protecting nearby public lands, such as those in the Chuckwalla landscape, is an opportunity to ensure that these places are here for current and future generations to enjoy.

Let’s continue to muster the courage I once found in 2016, to become engaged and create the seat at the table we deserve. Together, we can close the nature gap, create opportunities for economic growth, and restore the bonds with nature that have been severed by structural and systemic racist practices.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jazzari Taylor (Jazz-err-ee) was born in Los Angeles County and raised there and in the San Gabriel Valley. Jazz’s multicultural and racial background helps her bring a unique perspective to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Jazzari holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from the University of California, Riverside, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on Leadership Development from National University, San Diego. She has been a participant and volunteer throughout California communities, is Chair of the Parks Now Coalition, and the Policy Advocate with Latino Outdoors supporting the organization’s Monumentos public lands protection campaigns.

Conservation Lands Foundation Urges President Biden To Designate Chuckwalla National Monument At Interior Department’s Community Meeting In Southern California

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 23:11:23 GMT

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.

####

June 2024 CLiF Notes: Happy Anniversary to the Antiquities Act!

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 22:01:35 GMT

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.

As we honor the 118th Antiquities Act anniversary, let's also reaffirm our commitment to defending this crucial conservation tool against ongoing threats. Together, let's continue to advocate for the Antiquities Act and ensure that the essential landscapes that have been protected with it remain protected for all to appreciate and explore. ��

That’s a Wrap: 2024 Friends Summit

From May 20-22 we hosted our 12th Biennial Friends Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah, which brought together community leaders from throughout the west to share insights, learn new skills, deepen relationships, and grow the movement to protect the largest acreage of unprotected public lands in the country.

The Friends Summit is an investment in strengthening our collective efforts to better advocate for the communities and wild spaces we love. Here’s a short video recap of the Summit to give you a flavor of the wonderful and passionate people in our Friends Network who are protecting the public lands you care about.

RSVP Now

Equity, Access & Public Lands

June 17 @ 3 pm PT

A virtual Juneteenth celebration focused on the importance of civic engagement for greater equity and access in our public spaces.

Moderators & Speakers

Thank you for all you do to help us protect the public lands that matter and to connect others to our mission.

Jocelyn Torres

Co-Interim Executive Director,

Chief Conservation Officer

Julie Thibodeau

Co-Interim Executive Director,

Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Nevada Senator Cortez Masto Reintroduces Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:15:10 GMT

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.

####

About Conservation Lands Foundation

2023 Friends Grassroots Network Grants

Fri, 24 May 2024 21:46:22 GMT

All of our grant awards in 2023 supported efforts throughout our network to increase the diversity of voices and communities in our movement and advance advocacy, education, and partnership efforts for the National Conservation Lands and the landscapes we hope to see included. Our list of 2023 Friends Grassroots Network grants can be found here.

Federal Agencies Release Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on a Highway Right-of-Way Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Fri, 10 May 2024 23:37:15 GMT

St. George, UT – Today the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to reconsider a right-of-way for the proposed four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) in southwestern Utah near Zion National Park. The proposed Northern Corridor Highway route violates five bedrock environmental laws and threatens critical habitat for the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise, recreational opportunities and scenic vistas.

In response to the release of the draft SEIS, a coalition of Utah-based and national conservation organizations including Conserve Southwest Utah, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Conservation Lands Foundation, Advocates for the West, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and WildEarth Guardians reiterated their opposition to the Northern Corridor Highway route and urged community members to participate in the public comment period, which has begun.

“We look forward to reviewing the supplemental environmental and scientific analysis on the impacts of punching a four-lane high speed highway through the heart of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and critical habitat for the Mojave desert tortoise,” said Todd Tucci, senior attorney for Advocates of the West, who represented the plaintiffs in litigation. “We are confident that after an objective review of the science and inevitable environmental impacts, the BLM will agree with its prior analysis and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s scientists that the Northern Corridor Highway would be ‘biologically devastating’ to the integrity of the Red Cliffs NCA and desert tortoise,” said Tucci.

“There are better transportation options that exist than the Northern Corridor Highway route that serve our growing community needs while protecting wildlife and the scenic values that make our area such a special place to live, work and raise our families,” said Holly Snow Canada, executive director of Conserve Southwest Utah.

“This highway is an ill-conceived idea that needs to go away once and for all. We urge BLM to reject the highway and prevent the bulldozing of critical habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise,” said Desiree Sorensen-Groves, vice president of land and habitat conservation for Defenders of Wildlife.

“The Bureau of Land Management shouldn't be considering routing a new highway through the stunning Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Lisa Belenky, a senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The conservation area is home to threatened desert tortoises, distinctive local plants and other wildlife. It’s also a natural refuge for people in this growing urban area. We’re committed to keeping it whole and wild.”

The release of the draft SEIS initiates a 45-day comment period for public feedback as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The BLM will announce a public meeting on the draft SEIS, providing an opportunity for questions and feedback.

“The plan offers several alternatives, but it’s up to us to ensure the agencies make the right decision in the end: a highway doesn’t belong in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Snow Canada. “While we’re still evaluating the draft, we urge community members who care about protecting Red Cliffs to stay engaged in the process and save the date for the public meeting. We will be issuing guidance on how community members can submit a substantive comment to the agencies soon.”

This SEIS is a result of a settlement agreement reached in November 2023 between the federal government and plaintiffs of a lawsuit filed in 2021. The lawsuit, brought by Utah-based and national conservation organizations, challenged a 2021 decision by the BLM and FWS to approve a highway right-of-way through the Red Cliffs NCA. The lawsuit 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). Shortly after the settlement agreement was signed, a U.S. District Court remanded the 2021 approval of the right-of-way, confirming that the highway would fragment sensitive wildlife habitat for threatened species, reduce outdoor recreation access to the area and set a dangerous precedent for protected public lands across the US.

“My wife and I moved to enjoy our golden years next to the stunning Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Mike Brand, a Green Springs homeowner who opposes the highway, “There are other transportation options available to expedite traffic in Washington County without running the Northern Corridor Highway through the crown jewel of Washington County.”

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 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 President Biden for Expanding National Monuments in California

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:54:16 GMT

San Francisco, Calif. - Today, President Joe Biden designated Molok Luyuk (pronounced “Ma.lok/ Lue.yoke”) as an addition to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument near Sacramento, California and expanded San Gabriel Mountains National Monument near Los Angeles.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited Molok Luyuk in September and San Gabriel Mountains in September 2023.

Today, the President honored his administration’s commitment to Tribal leaders, elected officials, businesses, recreationists, and local communities by expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain and San Gabriel Mountains National Monuments via the Antiquities Act.

Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument:

“Today’s action by President Biden to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by designating Molok Luyuk honors efforts to safeguard sites of sacred, cultural and historic significance, wildlife and rare plant habitat, and outdoor recreation for current and future generations.

“We are grateful President Biden heard the calls of Tribal leaders; federal, state and local governments; businesses; and advocates from Indigenous, outdoor recreation, conservation and many other communities to permanently protect this sacred landscape by use of the Antiquities Act.

“The Biden administration has protected more than 4.6 million acres of lands sacred to Native communities by designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona, the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, and by restoring Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments in Utah. Expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk builds on that legacy, while helping to meet the administration’s goals of protecting 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030. We look forward to continuing to work with his Administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and elected officials to designate other places worthy of protection.

“Molok Luyuk means “Condor Ridge'' in the Patwin language and is the ancestral home of the Hill Patwin people. Descendants of the Hill Patwin live here today as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletzel Dehe Wintun Nation and the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians. Historic trails across Molok Luyuk linked these Tribes to each other and to the wider network of trade and cultural exchange throughout the region. Indigenous people from all directions have come to its springs for ceremonies and healing since time immemorial.

“The public can thank President Biden and learn more about the importance of Molok Luyuk and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument at www.conservationlands.org/molok_luyuk.”

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Administration for Progress on Protecting Western Arctic Lands and Waterways

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:56:30 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — The Conservation Lands Foundation applauded the Biden-Harris administration for its release today of a final conservation rule ( Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska ) that strengthens protections for the health of essential landscapes and waterways within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (the Reserve).

“The Biden-Harris administration’s decision strengthens protections for 13 million acres of essential wildlife habitat and intact lands and water in the Western Arctic that support biodiversity, communities, and cultural and subsistence traditions of the Indigenous communities who have relied upon and stewarded these lands for millennia, said Jocelyn Torres, Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer.

“It also establishes a much-needed process for creating or expanding Special Areas within the Reserve, which is one intact ecosystem. Expanding Special Areas with the most robust protections will keep the ecosystem intact from the threats of destructive oil and gas drilling, which fracture the Reserve and negatively impact wildlife, reduce local communities' access to subsistence resources, and ultimately accelerate the rate of climate change.

“This announcement is a critical step towards protecting Special Areas that have been identified as critical for wildlife habitat but it’s not the final step: while this announcement means that 13 million acres of designated Special Areas can remain free from oil and gas development, protections for more Special Areas should be established to prevent threats and impacts from current and future projects.

“This decision strengthens the vital process for local communities to weigh in with the administration on what should be protected. We look forward to working with communities and the Biden-Harris administration to protect more Special Areas in the Western Arctic.”

####

Background:

The Reserve is the largest single unit of public lands in the nation, spanning nearly 23 million acres. It contains vital habitats for wildlife like polar bears, muskox, and millions of migratory birds. It is home to three caribou herds, including the 150,000-strong Western Arctic Caribou Herd. Within the Reserve exist designated Special Areas that have significant ecological significance – places like Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay. Recently, large oil and gas projects have threatened the Western Arctic.

A new era for protecting nature begins today

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:54:36 GMT

Today the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced its finalization of the Public Lands Rule , a bold, new vision for the future of public lands and waters in the U.S. This new blueprint marks a significant balancing of how the agency is to assess management priorities by putting conservation on equal footing with extractive uses like oil and gas drilling and mining.

“The Public Lands Rule is a necessary ‘operating system’ update for the largest federal land manager and reflects the reality that protecting the health of our natural resources is a valuable and essential management strategy,” said Jocelyn Torres, Conservation Lands Foundation’s Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer.

Nearly 40% of all U.S. public lands are stewarded by the Bureau of Land Management and its mission is to manage public lands for multiple uses, a mandate that includes conservation. Yet 90% of these lands are open to extraction and other commodity-driven development. This long-overdue policy changes the way the agency manages public lands, ensuring wildlife habitat and corridors, watersheds, and cultural resources are protected for future generations.

Act Now: Thank President Biden, Secretary Haaland, and the Bureau of Land Management for making conservation a priority

A Necessary Paradigm Shift

The Bureau of Land Management manages over 240 million acres of public lands, encompassing diverse terrains like sagebrush hills, riparian ecosystems, coastal areas, and grasslands. These lands serve as crucial connectors across the western region, facilitating wildlife movement between large wilderness areas, national parks, and refuges, as well as smaller private, state, and county lands.

The Public Lands Rule will ensure that the agency protects valuable and vulnerable landscapes that provide clean air and water, habitat for wildlife and plants, cultural continuity for Indigenous communities, and recreational opportunities.

The Public Lands Rule rebalances agency priorities to conserve intact landscapes and restore degraded habitat.

Photo: Pronghorn in Utah by Bob Wick

Amidst global concerns over the rapid loss of nature and biodiversity, the Public Lands Rule positions the agency to better meet the impacts of a changing climate and increased visitation. Key provisions of the rule prioritize conservation considerations in future public land planning, including watershed and land health, restoration efforts, mitigation strategies, and protection of critical natural and cultural resources.

Dive into how the Public Lands Rule will ensure the health and resilience of public lands and waters by reading the Bureau of Land Management’s policy background here .

Broad Public Support

The Public Lands Rule 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 the BLM’s new direction . In addition to broad public support, numerous Western lawmakers, local elected officials, governors, and opinion pages publicly supported the rule. Legal experts have repeatedly confirmed that the rule upholds BLM’s core mission, including 8 state attorneys general and 27 law professors. Leading newspapers in the West, such as the Salt Lake Tribune, Denver Post, and Albuquerque Journal, echoed their support through editorials, underscoring the rule's long-overdue emphasis on conservation.

The new policy puts conservation, recreation, and access to nature on equal footing with extractive uses on public lands.

Photo: A family of hikers on the Pacific Crest National Historic Trail, California by Bob Wick

" People in public lands communities support this rule because it is built with public land users in mind,” said Torres.

While the support for the Public Lands Rule is resounding, public land opponents in Congress want to block the implementation of this policy that puts conservation on equal footing with oil and gas interests. The Conservation Lands Foundation is committed to advocating for the Public Lands Rule and ensuring the agency’s full implementation of the policy on public lands across the West. The threats posed by public land opponents in Congress underscore the ongoing need for strong public engagement and vocal support for the Public Lands Rule.

The Public Lands Rule in Action

The implementation of the Public Lands Rule presents numerous immediate opportunities to conserve public lands critical for a vibrant future. Let's take a look at some examples:

COLORADO:

Of the 8 million acres of public land in Colorado managed by the Bureau of Land Management, only 16% is protected from development. The agency is currently reconsidering a land-use plan that will guide how nearly 900,000 acres of public lands including four river systems in southwestern Colorado will be managed for the next 15-20 years. The original plan had opened 95% of public lands in the area to oil and gas development, focusing on heavy resource extraction primarily in the North Fork and Lower Gunnison Watersheds. This imbalance was legally challenged and the Public Lands Rule will ensure that the conservation of these natural resources that support local economies and livelihoods are considered equally with extractive uses.

The Public Lands Rule will chart a new course of public lands in California and across the West.
Photo: Sacramento River, California by Bob Wick

CALIFORNIA:

BLM’s Arcata and Redding field offices are working on a comprehensive plan — known as the Northwest California Integrated Plan — that will direct how more than 380,000 acres in Northern California are managed. The Public Lands Rule decision will ensure the local community’s input to protect beloved places like English Ridge on the Eel River in Mendocino County and the proposed Trinity Alps Wilderness additions in Trinity County is given equal consideration with other potential land uses.

92% of BLM-managed lands in Nevada are open to development and extraction.
Photo: Public lands in Elko County, Nevada by Shanell Owen, BLM

NEVADA:

Two-thirds of Nevada public lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (48 million acres) and 92% are open to development and extraction. The Public Lands Rule provides an essential management framework for the BLM to balance conservation with the increased demands and pressures for development. Particularly, the state of Nevada is at the forefront of international lithium exploration and seeking ways to meet its 50 percent renewable energy goal by 2030.

It’s Time to Get to Work

The Public Lands Rule will accelerate the pace of conservation for roughly 53 million acres of public lands currently in active planning as well as shape how more than 240 million acres of public lands are managed for decades to come.

But to ensure the Public Lands Rule is fully implemented and adopted by the agency, we need to continue to voice our support.

Act Now: Thank President Biden, Secretary Haaland, and the Bureau of Land Management for making conservation a priority

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Biden Administration's Decision to Level Playing Field for the Public's Access to Lands Under Bureau of Land Management

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 16:59:13 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency responsible for overseeing the management and public enjoyment of 245 million acres of lands and waters across the United States, announced its finalization of the Public Lands Rule . This new blueprint marks a significant balancing of how the agency is to assess management priorities by putting conservation on equal footing with extractive uses like oil and gas drilling and mining.

“This Public Lands Rule is a necessary ‘operating system’ update for the largest federal land manager and reflects the reality that protecting the health of our natural resources is a valuable and essential management strategy,” said Jocelyn Torres, Conservation Lands Foundation’s co-interim executive director and chief conservation officer.

“The Public Lands Rule allows the BLM to better address the growing pressures and impacts on Western communities from climate-related impacts, like wildfires and drought, and increased public demand for recreation and access to nature,” said Torres. “The rule enables the BLM to better use its tools to manage public lands and waterways that are vital ‘connective tissue’ across the western United States and provide critical corridors for wildlife between big wilderness areas and national parks and smaller private, state and county lands. These are also places that support local economies, generating 4.3 million outdoor recreation jobs in the country.”

“We thank President Biden, Secretary Haaland and the Bureau of Land Management for recognizing the profound importance of public lands in the U.S. and their role in providing clean air and water, essential habitat for wildlife and plants, cultural continuity for Indigenous communities and abundant recreational opportunities,” said Torres.

For almost a century, the agency has largely focused on resource extraction and other multiple uses. The Public Lands Rule received overwhelming public support. During the agency’s 90-day comment period for the draft rule, various stakeholders from recreationists and Tribal communities to ranchers, energy developers, and hunters and anglers weighed in on the proposed policy and 92% of public comments submitted to the agency were in support of the Public Lands Rule.

The Public Lands Rule will accelerate the pace of conservation for roughly 53 million acres of public lands currently in active planning and shape how more than 240 million acres of public lands are managed for decades to come. The Conservation Lands Foundation encourages the public to take immediate action by thanking the Biden administration and urging the Bureau of Land Management to act quickly to implement the Rule.

The public can learn more by visiting https://www.blm.gov/public-lands-rule and take action here .

###

The finalization of the Public Lands Rule marks a long-overdue balancing for the agency and places conservation on equal footing with resource extraction

California Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz Introduce Legislation to Designate Chuckwalla National Monument

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 20:38:51 GMT

Today, California Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Ruiz introduced legislation to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California.

Why It Matters

The Chuckwalla National Monument will:
help ensure more equitable access to nature for local residents and protect popular recreation sites;
protect vast desert ecosystems and habitat for species like Chuckwalla lizards;
protect an interconnected cultural, natural, and spiritual living landscape that holds Tribal history and supports Indigenous peoples today; and
honor the region’s history of training soldiers during World War II and protect stretches of the historic Bradshaw Trail.

Press Statement

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION URGES PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DESIGNATE CHUCKWALLA NATIONAL MONUMENT: THANKS SENATOR PADILLA FOR INTRODUCING BILL

Coachella, CA — 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. Senator Alex Padilla’s introduction today of legislation to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California and, in light of Congressional unreliability, urged President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate this national monument quickly.

Statement from Maricela Rosales, California Associate Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation:

“We applaud Senator Padilla’s and Representative Ruiz’s foresight and leadership to designate a Chuckwalla National Monument and protect the public’s access to this California Desert region and secure essential wildlife habitat and landscape connectivity at a key moment in time when we need to aggressively advance our nation’s and California’s goal of protecting 30% of public lands and coastal waters by 2030.”

“The designation will also increase much-needed access to nature for residents of the Eastern Coachella Valley, Blythe, and other local communities. It will honor Tribal cultural heritage by safeguarding a living and cultural landscape for Indigenous communities, including the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano peoples, and protect the desert’s unique biodiversity, including the chuckwalla lizard.”

“These rocky mountain ranges, steep slot canyons, desert wash woodlands, and palm oases that make up the Chuckwalla are beloved for outdoor recreation activities and hold deep significance for our nation's veterans as they were used to train soldiers for WWII and are still used for missions today.”

“Senator Padilla’s and Representative Ruiz’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.”

People can add their voices in support by visiting ProtectChuckwalla.org.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Administration's Renewable Energy Rule for Responsible Energy Development Guidance on Public Lands

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:40:28 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — The Conservation Lands Foundation applauded the Renewable Energy Rule (Rights-of-Way, Leasing, and Operations for Renewable Energy rule) released today by the Biden-Harris administration, which is designed to promote responsible development of renewable energy on public lands, while accelerating clean energy development for the nation to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

“The Renewable Energy Rule is a perfect example of how sound, thoughtful policy can help solve problems and positively shape our lives,” said Jocelyn Torres, Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer.

“The Biden-Harris administration has updated the framework for the efficient deployment of wind and solar projects on lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, which is critical to achieve the renewable energy production target Congress set for public lands in 2020 as well as the Biden administration’s goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035.

“As the only organization solely focused on protecting lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, we recognize that BLM-managed lands play an important role in meeting our nation’s renewable energy goals and we look forward to working with the administration to appropriately site renewable energy development on public lands. This includes using a “smart from the start” approach and criteria such as proximity to transmission infrastructure while avoiding protected lands, designated critical habitat and areas where important cultural resources exist.

“BLM-managed lands are vital “connective tissue” across the western United States, providing critical migration and habitat corridors for wildlife between big wilderness areas and national conservation areas and monuments, and smaller private, state and county lands. We commend the BLM and the Biden-Harris administration for recognizing the importance of our nation’s public lands to our environment, local economies and renewable energy future.”

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Biden Administration's Decision to Protect Ecological Integrity of Colorado's Thompson Divide

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:42:06 GMT

DURANGO, CO — Today, the Biden-Harris administration finalized protections for the Thompson Divide area in central Colorado, a cherished landscape in the state, fulfilling the president’s commitment under his designation of the Camp Hale – Continental Divide National Monument.

Statement from Charlotte Overby, Vice President of Conservation Field Programs for the Conservation Lands Foundation:

"We applaud the decision to withdraw mineral leases in the Thompson Divide and retain its contiguous landscape. It’s a significant step towards preserving the ecological integrity and beauty of this cherished landscape. By safeguarding these lands from potential mineral extraction and production, the Biden Administration is advancing the continued protection of essential wildlife habitats, watersheds, and recreational opportunities for current and future generations.

“This decision demonstrates a commitment to responsible stewardship and reinforces the importance of prioritizing conservation efforts in sensitive and ecologically significant areas."

House Subcommittee holds hearing on anti-public lands bills

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 19:10:44 GMT

Last week, the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee held a hearing on a series of bills poised to undermine and attack bedrock conservation laws. Many of the bills considered in last week’s hearing would undermine the ability of local advocates to engage in the management of public lands, as well as weaken bedrock laws and regulations that ensure our most cherished landscapes are protected.

Here’s a snapshot of what the Conservation Lands Foundation and advocates are fighting. While these bills may receive a vote in the House Natural Resources Committee and in the full House, we will be working with conservation champions in the Senate to ensure these bills are not considered on that side of Capitol Hill.

Public land attacks in Congress seek to dismantle the Antiquities Act, a bedrock conservation tool used to protect iconic landscapes and historical sites like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Bears Ears National Monument (pictured). Photo by Bob Wick.

H.R. 5499, Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act

This legislation, introduced by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, represents a direct assault on the Antiquities Act, the bedrock law that has been used by 18 presidents, nine Democrats, and nine Republicans, to protect our nation’s most critical public lands and waters. Since its enactment, the Antiquities Act has been an essential tool for presidents to ensure America’s most iconic natural, cultural, and historic places are protected for generations to come. Some of those iconic places include the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Fort Monroe, the Pacific Remote Islands, and Acadia, Zion, and Olympic National Parks, among many others.

During the Subcommittee hearing, Bureau of Land Management Principal Deputy Director Nada Wolff Culver and U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Chris French both testified in opposition to H.R. 5499.

“As Congress intended, the Antiquities Act provides the necessary flexibility for presidents to respond expeditiously to impending threats to resources, while striking an appropriate balance between legislative and executive decision making,” Wolff Culver said. “Maintaining this established balance is critical to protecting our shared national resources, now and for future generations.”

Imposing restrictive measures that undermine the Act’s fundamental principles and jeopardize its effectiveness to ensure our most cherished landscapes and cultural resources are protected serves the interests of no one who cares about the public’s access to and the future of America’s public lands. Congress already has this power to make changes to how our nation’s public lands are managed. This bill is an attempt to restrict the tools available to the American public, in particular Tribal governments and underrepresented communities, to advocate for designations important to the health and well-being of their communities, and the natural land around them.

A new bill in the House undermines public involvement in the management of cherished public lands like the Red Desert in Wyoming. Photo by Sarah Beckwith.

H.R. 6085, To prohibit the implementation of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Rock Springs RMP Revision, Wyoming.

This harmful bill introduced by Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming would undermine years of community-based work by her constituents to produce a resource management plan revision for the public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs Field Office.

The draft proposes balanced management across 3.6 million acres of public lands in southwest Wyoming, conserving critical wildlife migration routes, protecting sensitive cultural resources, and maintaining recreational access for locals and visitors alike. It also leaves over half of the planning area open to one or more types of industrial activities, such as oil and gas drilling, mining, or renewable energy.

BLM’s Rock Springs Field Office is in the middle of a robust public process, which began in 2011, to revise the resource management plan. Since the inception of the revision, BLM has hosted four scoping meetings and three public meetings in response to the draft plan release. In addition, the most recent public comment period was extended to allow for comprehensive participation from local stakeholders and the Wyoming Governor’s office. Prohibiting the implementation of the draft resource management plan revision runs counter to the will of the tens of thousands of people who submitted public comments in response to the draft plan.

H.R. 6547, Colorado Energy Prosperity Act

Like the previous bill, this legislation, introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, seeks to undermine years of community-based effort to produce a Resource Management Plan for the public lands managed by the Colorado River Valley Field Office and the Grand Junction Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. This supplemental environmental impact statement is necessary in order to address the issues identified in lawsuits, settlement agreements, and in the Grand Junction RMP. In response to the court ruling and settlement agreements, the draft revisits oil and gas leasing availability and proposes balanced management for the 2 million acres in both field offices, which cover some of Colorado’s most important wildlife habitat, recreational areas, spectacular scenery, cultural sites, and water resources. However, valid existing leases are not impacted by this plan.

Like the Rock Springs Field Office above, the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction Field Offices have conducted rigorous public outreach to inform this process. Over the past year and a half, BLM has held two scoping meetings and three public meetings in response to the release of the draft plan. Prohibiting the finalization, implementation, administration, and enforcement of the forthcoming plan would interrupt this robust public process and prevent BLM from fulfilling its obligations under the terms of the settlement agreements.

H.R. 7006, To prohibit natural asset companies from entering into any agreement with respect to land in the State of Utah or natural assets on or in such land.

This legislation, introduced by Rep. John Curtis of Utah, would prevent a natural asset company, which does not currently exist, from entering into any agreement concerning land or natural assets in the State of Utah. The proposal to create this new kind of corporation, which the Securities and Exchange Commission is no longer considering, was proposed as a way to invest money behind natural areas, working lands, and ecosystem restoration in order to put a fair market value on the land itself, not only the products and resources extracted from it.

We oppose this legislation because, beyond the fact that natural asset companies do not exist and their creation is no longer being considered, it provides false legitimacy for a conspiracy theory that ties these non-existent companies with the Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule.

The Mojave People’s Connection to Avi Kwa Ame

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 22:51:05 GMT

Ka-ma-thuu (How are you)? Ka-havk kee-theek ke-nak ka’avk (Come in, sit down, and listen).

The world was a little different when I was a boy. In the evening time, after swimming all day and playing in the desert, we would go home, and after everything was done, we didn’t have television sets or radios – a lot of us didn’t have electricity or running water, so we’d sit outside, and the old people would come and sit in a circle and just talk, and listen to Eech-ka-nav, what we call the storyteller. I remember the old people, the way they talked, their words were very deep and direct and strong, because they spoke from the heart.

In the first times, we were many, free to roam the lands, free to practice our beliefs and traditional ways. When I was young, it was good to feel the earth beneath my bare feet, to swim and drink water straight from the mighty Colorado river. We ate the fruits and plants that grew throughout the land, we prayed and worshiped at our sacred sites. For the southwest tribes, the desert was like a paradise. To us, the desert plants were like a huge medicine cabinet.

To communicate with all living creatures, and protect and respect the earth, was and still is our tradition. Now the land is slowly being destroyed by illegal trash dumping, vandalism, and graffiti. Wind towers and solar panels are all over the place. When I was young, I would listen to my elders, as the youngsters listen to me today, because I am their elder. If we don’t teach kids our traditional ways, we will cease to exist. For the Aha Macav, we were put on this land and charged to protect our sacred sites – the air, mountains, river, desert plants, and animals.

When I walk near Spirit Mountain, I am not just a person walking towards the mountain, I am part of it. This is the same for the river. Our elders say, if you sit by the river at sunset, the river will talk to you. If you sit by the mountain, it will talk to you, for you are one.

When I was a young boy, I would hear stories about the river. For us the river is spiritual, a living spirit. The river is who we are. When I first saw graffiti and trash dumping at our sacred sites, I had mixed emotions -- sad, angry, confused, but mostly it was that helpless feeling. It was like I had failed to protect the land, and I failed my ancestors. I couldn’t understand how anyone could do this. This place is our church, our place of worship, our place of creation.

For the Mojave people, every part of this earth is sacred. The wind is precious to us, the wind that gave life to all living animals when they received their first breath, is also there when they receive their last. It is like the trees. They are with us from the time we are born to the day we die. When we are babies, we are put in cradleboards made from the mesquite and willow trees. Going through life, we use the trees for food, clothing, tools, weapons, houses that we lived in, and lastly being cremated when our spirits leave our physical bodies.

In the first times, if a prophet had come to our village and foretold a future that said, in the coming years, we would not be able to swim and drink from the river, that our sacred sites would be blown up and become sand hills, that we would not be able to breathe the clean, fresh air, that we could not hunt and fish at our favorite fishing holes, could not to come and go where we please, and would not be able to communicate with the animals anymore, we would not have believed him.

We believe in animism, that all things are alive and have a spirit. Avi Kwa Ame was and continues to be one of the most, if not the most important landmark in Mojave territory. It is the site of many events in the ancient times. Above the mountains, the stars told stories that we told our children. To us, the big dipper was the fisherman throwing a large net into the water to catch the fish. The Milky Way, to us, is a large amount of salmon traveling up the river going back to where they were born to reproduce. The stars also told the time and the directions to travel at night.

Avi Kwa Ame is also a place of learning, to this day we take our kids there to learn about our creation stories. They learn about the desert animals that live in the area, and how we use the desert plants for food, clothing and medicine.

Avi Kwa Ame is also a place where we would hide our kids when the government came around to take our children away, and force them into boarding schools. One of those schools was the Fort Mojave Boarding School. They would hide the kids way back in the trees of Grapevine Canyon. Avi Kwa Ame is our place of creation, and Mataviily, our creator. Mataviily made his house out of the Black Mountains near where Hoover Dam is today. I was told that it is still there but now it is underwater.

Avi Kwa Ame is the residence of Mastamho, the son of our creator. He is our version of Jesus. For us, Avi Kwa Ame is sacred, the land in which we were born is sacred. Our graveyards are sacred, the ashes and dust of our ancestors are sacred. If I’m standing in the water, on the land, or flying through the sky somewhere, I am part of it. We are one. For native people, our sacred sites are very spiritual. That is who we are. That is the connection.

We only want to live and worship our creator, and tell our creation stories to our children, like others all over the world. We want to live as our grandparents did, and all our ancestors before them. All we ask is to love this land as we have, care for it as we have, protect it and respect it as we have. For the whole world is precious.

There is more I can say, but it is very difficult to explain. When our chiefs, our elders would talk, their words were deep, and they came from the heart. I have just one more thing to say, and that is Ahote Ki-su-maak (Dream good), My friends, Ni-un-ti-ya, (we will see each other again). Sumach ahote (Thank you and have good dreams).

Paul Jackson is an artist, teacher, and elder of the Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe. For the past 23 years, he has used his paintings and sculptures to share cultural stories and to teach the history and language of the Mojave people to the next generations.

Paul Jackson's "The Mojave People’s Connection to Avi Kwa Ame" is published with permission from Friends of Avi Kwa Ame. This piece was originally published in The Searchlight Gold Beam in commemoration of the one year anniversary of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument.

On March 21 2023, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) National Monument in Southern Nevada by use of the Antiquities Act, honoring the decades-long community effort to protect this sacred area. While the monument designation celebrates its one year anniversary, Indigenous peoples have stewarded this land for millennia, and many Tribal Nations trace their creation to Avi Kwa Ame. The designation of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument honors these sacred connections, protects Avi Kwa Ame’s ecological and cultural values, and honors Tribal sovereignty by establishing co-stewardship of the monument. Virtually visit Avi Kwa Ame National Monument by visiting our StoryMap here .

Proposed Power Transmission Line Through the Caja del Rio Sees Overwhelming Opposition

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 19:36:53 GMT

Proposed power transmission line through the Caja del Rio sees overwhelming public opposition

Over 23,000 public comments were submitted in opposition to the National Nuclear Security Administration proposed power transmission line

SANTA FE, NM - In late February, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNNS) ended its public comment period on a proposed 14-mile, 115-Kilovolt power transmission line for Los Alamos National Labs (LANL) that would be constructed across a major part of the Caja del Rio plateau in Northern New Mexico. The Caja del Rio coalition collected 23,215 public comments in opposition to the proposed transmission line citing concerns over the potential impacts to the ecological, cultural and spiritual values of the landscape and raising questions on the substance, transparency and legality of the project.

“Our people have called these lands home for thousands of years, and we still use them today. The Caja del Rio already faces immediate threats — from illegal dumping and shooting to the desecration of sacred sites and petroglyphs. The proposed transmission line would bring increased traffic and increase these threats and pressures on the landscape tenfold. This project will only continue the harmful nuclear legacy that LANL has brought upon our Northern Pueblo relatives, therefore I stand firm in opposition to this project.” said Reyes DeVore, a member of the Jemez Pueblo and program director for Pueblo Action Alliance.

“In proposing this project, the agency clearly failed to recognize the longstanding spiritual, cultural and ecological connection New Mexico’s diverse communities have with the Caja. Our community has made our voice heard loud and clear that a powerline has no place in this landscape.” said Carmichael Dominguez, a former Santa Fe city councilor and the Hispanic organizer for EarthKeepers 360 . “We urge the agency to go back to the drawing board and come up with more creative solutions to energy transmission without compromising the Caja’s sensitive natural, cultural and ecological values, as well as truly listening and building trust with local communities.”

“This proposed project threatens important wildlife habitat – including the Caja del Rio Cultural and Wildlife special management area that we worked with thousands of community members, elected officials, and ultimately the U.S. Forest Service over many years to protect. The proposed line could also impact the integrity of lands sacred to many Tribes and our local communities as well as the ability for local Tribes to preserve important cultural and historical sites,” said Reverend Andrew Black, Founder of EarthKeepers 360 and public lands field director for the National Wildlife Federation. “The Caja del Rio coalition and over 23,000 people are urging the Biden Administration and federal agencies to engage in a more thorough process and consider all alternatives by conducting a full Environmental Impact Statement.”

“The sheer amount of comments submitted in opposition to the project affirms what we knew all along: the Caja del Rio is a landscape of immense cultural and ecological significance that deserves long-lasting protection not destruction,” said Romir Lahiri, New Mexico associate program director for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “We encourage the public to continue to make their voices heard and oppose any project that threatens what makes the Caja so special to diverse communities across New Mexico.”

The Caja del Rio Coalition has asked the New Mexico congressional delegation to call on LANL and NNSA to conduct a new and updated Renewable Energy Feasibility Study for Los Alamos National Labs. The previous Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, completed in November 2008. Given recent breakthroughs in renewable energy technology, rooftop solar and power storage, the 2008 plan is antiquated and fails to consider the many advances that have been made in the field of renewable energy and storage.

“LANL has an immense opportunity to modernize and innovate, while also benefiting the environment, our climate, the local economy, and our communities,” said Black.

Throughout the comment period, an array of public constituencies expressed opposition to the project including:

The majority of attendees at two public meetings held by the NNNS on the proposal cited opposition to the project.
Tribal leaders expressed their opposition to the project and noted how the government is failing to consult with Tribes during the process
Local Hispanic leaders spoke out in opposition to the project and called for unity in protecting the Caja del Rio
The Santa Fe New Mexican editorialized against the powerline
Los Alamos residents spoke out in opposition to the project

The proposed transmission line will cut across the Caja del Rio, a culturally and ecologically significant landscape that is currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. In addition to supporting abundant biological diversity, the landscape is culturally and spiritually significant for numerous Pueblos, who have used the area since time immemorial, and for descendants of Spanish settlers, who traveled along the National Historic trail El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro for generations.

To learn more about the history and importance of the Caja del Rio plateau, visit cajadelrio.org.

###

A Letter From the Executive Director

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:14:54 GMT

Dear Conservation Lands Foundation Supporter,

The past several years have shown us in so many ways the truth of the adage “the only constant in life is change” and I’m writing to you today to let you know of my decision to step down as executive director. I feel that I’ve led the Conservation Lands Foundation as far as I can over the last seven years and it’s time for new leadership and energy to carry the organization forward.

This is in keeping with my original philosophy that five years of being an executive director is too short and 10 years is too long. I’ve hit the sweet spot of that window and I’m very proud and gratified by all that you’ve helped the Conservation Lands Foundation team accomplish in defending and adding millions of new acres to the National Conservation Lands system during two administrations and a pandemic.

In 2023, we secured new and defended existing public land protections for essential sources of clean air and water, sacred cultural sites, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation access:

New protections for more than 1.5 million acres of public lands, including our priority campaign to establish the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada
Significant legal victories against ongoing attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah.
Awarded nearly $2 million in grants to the Friends Grassroots Network
Mobilized More than 36,000 letters to lawmakers and facilitated over 100 meetings with members of Congress in support of conservation
Advanced administrative protections in the Western Arctic in Alaska and the greater Chaco Canyon region in New Mexico from oil and gas development
Drove a record-level of public support for the newly proposed Public Lands Rule , which will put conservation on equal footing with other uses on lands stewarded by the Bureau of Land Management
Worked with community leaders and members of Congress to advance legislation in the U.S. Senate to protect the Dolores River Canyon in Colorado and the Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon, among others
Launched national monument campaigns to protect Chuckwalla in the California desert and the Owyhee Canyonlands
Demonstrated robust community support for the proposed expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California to protect Molok Luyuk

I’m proud to be leaving the Conservation Lands Foundation in good financial health and I know that with its best-in-class leadership team and staff, and stronger-than-ever network of Friends Groups it will achieve great success this year and beyond to protect the lands we all love and need.

The mission of the Conservation Lands Foundation offers the greatest opportunity to protect nature in the U.S. and I look forward to watching all that you will accomplish together in the years ahead.

My last day here is February 2. It’s been an honor to work on your behalf to protect National Conservation Lands and I wish all of you the very best.

Sincerely,

Brian Sybert
Executive Director

Proposed Transmission Line Threatens the Caja del Rio in New Mexico

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:20:52 GMT

The Caja del Rio landscape holds immense cultural and spiritual significance for many Pueblos and Hispanic communities throughout Northern New Mexico. In November, Los Alamos National Labs announced the proposal of a 14-mile power transmission line that would cut through the heart of the Caja del Rio, which would cause irreversible harm to one of the most culturally significant and ecologically rich wildlife corridors in New Mexico.

Why It Matters

From dramatic geologic features and diverse wildlife to millennia-old petroglyphs and Pueblo cultural resources, the Caja del Rio plateau tells the story of the human journey in this part of the world. Hear more from the people connected to the Caja:

Constructing a power transmission line through the Caja del Rio would put this sacred landscape in immediate danger, causing irreversible damage to the area.

Take Action

Head over the Caja del Rio coalition page to use their action tool.

You can also send a letter to the National Nuclear Security Administration opposing the project by emailing EPCUEA@nnsa.doe.gov or write via snail mail to the following address:

NNSA Los Alamos Field Office
ATTN: EPCU Project NEPA
3747 West Jemez Road
Los Alamos, NM 87544

The comment period will close on February 20, 2024.

Suggested Talking Points:

The project poses a direct threat to crucial wildlife habitats, including those of vulnerable bird species like the golden eagle and the western burrowing owl. It’s also part of the Western Wildway Priority Wildlife Corridor, supporting movement along the Rio Grande for large mammals including mule deer, elk, coyote, and gray fox. Additionally, culturally significant sites, petroglyphs, and ancestral homes face irreparable damage, putting the entire ecological integrity of the region at risk.

Before moving forward, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared. An EIS is a comprehensive government document that assesses and discloses significant environmental impacts of a proposed project. This rigorous evaluation ensures that decision-makers and the public have a full understanding of the ecological, cultural, and social impacts, allowing for informed and responsible choices that prioritize the well-being of Caja del Rio.

The NNSA must explore and invest in clean, green energy alternatives rather than resorting to a power transmission line that would harm our cherished landscapes. Renewable energy sources can provide a sustainable solution without compromising the natural and cultural heritage of Caja del Rio.

Additional Resources

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Senator Jacky Rosen's Introduction of the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:44:19 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS SENATOR JACKY ROSEN’S INTRODUCTION OF THE TRUCKEE MEADOWS PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT ACT

LAS VEGAS, NV - Today, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen announced the introduction of the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act, advancing much needed land protection in Northern Nevada, preserving wildlife habitat, safeguarding access to public lands for outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing, protecting dark skies, and conveying lands of significance to Indigenous communities.

The legislation will provide long-lasting protection to nearly 1 million acres of public lands in Nevada, preserve quality of life and address the myriad challenges Northern Nevadans are facing, such as climate change, rapid growth and lack of affordable housing. Senator Rosen’s proposal provides a significant bump in National Conservation Land units within the state, including five new National Conservation Areas and four Wilderness areas.

Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s announcement:

“The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Senator Rosen’s leadership in crafting legislation with community members and Tribal Nations that advances significant land protections.

“The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act protects wildlife habitat, access to outdoor recreation and Nevada’s unique dark skies; and conveys lands of significant importance to Indigenous communities. We celebrate the proposed designation of five new National Conservation Areas including the Massacre Rim Dark Sky, Smoke Creek and the Pah Rah, and we are committed to supporting Senator Rosen in passing this key legislation through Congress.”

Priority Conservation Bills Advance in the Senate

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:46:27 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee marked up nearly two dozen public land, energy and natural resources bills, including five bills that will collectively ensure the protection of nearly 2 million acres of critical landscapes in California, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon.

Brian Sybert, executive director of Conservation Lands Foundation, issued the following statement following the Committee’s vote to advance these bills:

“These bills, led by many of the biggest champions of nature in Congress, will protect vulnerable and valuable public lands and waters, safeguard the cultural continuity of Tribal Nations, and help rural economies thrive across the West. Most importantly, they have the support of local communities. We applaud the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for voting to advance the following bills:

S. 636, the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act , led by Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, protects more than 68,000 acres of public lands and 76 miles of the spectacular Dolores River.
S. 1634, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) Act, also led by Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, protects nearly 400,000 acres of public lands to ensure some of Colorado’s and America’s most iconic and historic places are preserved for the benefit of wildlife and local economies.
S. 1776, the Protect Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act , led by California Senator Alex Padilla (and formerly led by the late California Senator Dianne Feinstein), protects more than one million acres of public wildlands and over 500 miles of free flowing rivers from the Los Angeles region to near the state’s northern border.
S. 1890, the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act , led by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, protects 1.1 million acres of the most important and threatened places in the Owyhee Canyonlands, establishes a science-based grazing program, transfers lands to the Trust for the Burns Paiute Tribe and provides essential economic development investments for Malheur County.
S. 3033, the Pecos Watershed Protection Act , led by New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, protects critical portions of the Pecos Watershed from mineral development and potential resulting contamination of this essential water source.

We applaud all of the Senators who voted to advance these bills from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, many with bipartisan support, and urge the full Senate to pass these bills as soon as possible.”

Local Community and Conservation Advocates’ Message to President Biden: Add Molok Luyuk to California’s Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 19:40:31 GMT

Woodland, Calif. - Today, U.S. Interior Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture held a public listening session on the proposal to add Molok Luyuk (pronounced “Ma.lok/ Lue.yoke”), to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument near Sacramento, California. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Koi Nation, Pomo of Upper Lake Habematolel, local elected officials, and conservation and outdoor recreation groups are among the supporters to permanently protect the Molok Luyuk landscape.

Below is a statement from Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director for Conservation Lands Foundation:

“As a first-generation Chinese-Filipina, my family didn’t always feel welcome on public lands and Molok Luyuk and the Berryessa Snow Mountain are important to me because they’re accessible to the millions of people in the region and offer so many opportunities to experience nature.

“Conservation Lands Foundation thanks the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service for hosting today’s public meeting where they heard overwhelming support from Tribal leaders, elected officials, and Northern California residents to protect the Molok Luyuk landscape.

“We urge the Biden Administration to advance this locally driven and widely supported effort by using the Antiquities Act to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and safeguard sites of sacred, cultural and historic significance, outdoor recreation, and a critical wildlife corridor between the existing monument and other protected areas for tule elk, mountain lions, and black bears.

“The landscape is the ancestral home of the Hill Patwin people, and their descendants live here today as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletzel Dehe Wintun Nation and the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians. Historic trails across Molok Luyuk linked these tribes to each other and Indigenous people from all directions continue to come to its springs for ceremonies and healing since time immemorial. Protecting Molok Luyuk will honor and build up this history into future generations”

###

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Speak Up for Public Lands Across Northwest California

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:46:04 GMT

Take action to shape the future of public lands in Northern California

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has launched a land management planning process for the Northern California region. This is our opportunity to provide our input and ensure valuable and vulnerable landscapes in this region are conserved for future generations.

The agency's Arcata and Redding Field Offices manage nearly 382,000 acres of public land in Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Butte, and Tehama Counties on behalf of the American people. All BLM lands are managed based on Resource Management Plans (RMP), which act as operating manuals for the agency and can set the stage for future decades of public land management.

Take Action: Support Balanced Public Land Management in California

The Arcata and Redding Field Offices’ current RMPs are more than 28 years old and must be revised. The BLM is calling this combined Arcata and Redding revision process the “Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan” or “NCIP”. In this plan, the agency is considering protecting critical wild lands like English Ridge and potential additions to the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel and Trinity Alps Wilderness, along with recommending National Wild and Scenic River protections for segments of the Sacramento River and several tributaries and important Eel River tributaries that support threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead.

The Bureau of Land Management put together a fantastic StoryMap to help you understand what’s in the plan.

How to Comment

Public land supporters should make their voices heard during the comment period and express support for these exciting conservation proposals. You can submit your comments in two ways:

Use our Friends Grassroots Network member CalWild's action tool, which provides a draft comment letter to personalize
Comment directly through the Bureau of Land Management comment portal . You will need to draft your letter - please scroll down to view suggested talking points.

The deadline to comment is December 28, 2023.

Virtual Meeting

To learn more about NCIP, you can attend the upcoming virtual meeting:

● Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1 to 3 p.m. PST: Register via Zoom

The meeting will include an informational presentation and an open house format in which participants can ask specialists to discuss topics of interest. Although the agency will not be taking formal oral comments at the meeting, this is your opportunity to ask questions and refine your written comments to be submitted before the December 28 deadline.

Conservation Takes Courage

What we say matters – below are suggested talking points to help you with your comments.

In your written comments ple ase:

Thank the agency for a conservation forward draft plan and the wonderful work it has done caring for our local public lands, despite scarce resources, over the last 25 years, and urge them to continue this proud tradition of conservation-based management in the years ahead!
Describe why you value local BLM lands. Consider mentioning clean water, wildlife and native plant habitat, recreation and trails (what do you enjoy doing?), wilderness, scenery, restoration the BLM has conducted, or other important values and issues.

View additional talking points here.

New attacks on public lands emerge in Congress

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:40:19 GMT

A group of far-right public land opponents in the U.S. House of Representatives are attempting to undermine, defund, and outright prohibit the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from doing its congressionally-mandated job of managing U.S. public lands for the enjoyment and use by the American people.

These representatives have secured several “poison pill” amendments to the House version of the 2024 appropriations bill they recently passed.

The House appropriations bill also decreased funding for the BLM by 18% below 2023 levels and includes language preventing proper management for the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah.

Take Action: Contact your elected representatives to oppose the House cuts and attacks on public lands

The bill ( H.R. 4821 ) and each of the “poison pill” amendments are a direct assault on BLM’s ability to carry out its responsibilities to protect the treasured landscapes we need for our health and well-being and together, they represent an alarming pattern of attacks on conserving water, nature, and access to public lands:

Attacks on the BLM Rule:

The House approved H.R. 4821, which includes language that defunds the proposed BLM rule entitled “Conservation and Landscape Health”. The rule will bring balance to how we manage public lands and waters for the benefit of western communities, wildlife and a sustainable future.

Attacks on National Monuments and use of the Antiquities Act:

The House via H.R. 4821 also approved language that undermines the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah by stripping the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) ability to manage the full area of the monument. This language endorses the former administration's illegal shrinking of the monument and the subsequent resource management plan (RMP). This sets a dangerous precedent for not only Grand Staircase-Escalante, but all of our nation's national monuments.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California’s amendment (#67) prohibits funding for the establishment or modification of any national monuments under the Antiquities Act in Colusa County, California. This runs counter to Tribally- and locally-led efforts to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk (Condor Ridge in the Patwin language), which is sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, is home to dozens of rare plant species, and serves as a critical wildlife migration corridor for tule elk, mountain lions, and black bears, especially amid a changing climate. The Antiquities Act is an important tool and all conservation options must remain on the table in order to protect these important sacred, cultural, and natural resources.

Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon’s amendment (#72) prohibits the use of any federal funds to create national monuments in Malheur County, Oregon under the Antiquities Act. This is a direct attack on decades of locally-led efforts to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands for generations to come.

Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona’s amendment (#92) prevents the management and on-the-ground protection of the recently designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument , threatening cultural, historic, and natural resources in the region, as well as the health of the Grand Canyon’s hundreds of seeps and springs that feed into the Colorado River. Encompassing just over 917,000 acres of federal public lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon, the national monument was created after a request by more than a dozen Tribes in the region.

Attacks on the BLM Management Planning Process:

BLM is directed by Congress to prepare land use plans for public lands under its jurisdiction. Several amendments passed in the House appropriations bill prevent BLM from carrying out these congressionally mandated responsibilities.

Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming’s amendment (#165) prohibits BLM from finalizing, implementing or enforcing the Rock Springs draft Resource Management Plan Revision . The BLM has been working with local community members for over a decade to craft a plan that balances conservation, recreation, and extractive uses on 3.6 million acres and is close to finalizing it with additional input from state leaders and the local community. If this amendment is enacted, it will shut down the participatory public process that is underway, gravely threaten North America's longest migration corridor for mule deer and pronghorn, and diminish Yellowstone’s wildlife populations and local residents’ and Indigenous peoples’ longstanding hunting traditions.

Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado’s amendment (#75) prohibits the Director of BLM from taking any action to finalize, implement, or enforce a draft resource management plan and draft supplemental environmental impact statement to end new oil leases on 1.6M acres in Colorado’s Grand Junction and Colorado River Valley region. Coloradoans will be prevented from seeking balanced land management on the landscapes they know and love best -- actions that would sustain its unparalleled Rocky Mountains and $37 billion statewide outdoor recreation economy. The comment period for this land management plan has just ended and this amendment would nullify the voices of Coloradans and others who participated in this public process.

Attacks on the Western Arctic:

Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia’s amendment (#82) blocks funding for cancellation or suspension of illegally-issued oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or for future cancellation or suspension of oil and gas leases in the National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) and Arctic Refuge . It is an attack on the Biden administration’s recently proposed Arctic conservation announcement, and undermines the Department of Interior’s ability to meet critical climate goals.

Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia’s amendment (#83) defunds any attempt by BLM to enact the proposed conservation regulations for the National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) , where the Willow project was approved in March. This would lead to the undoing of over 13 million acres of proposed conservation land, the largest unit of public lands in the country, and block funding for implementation of future conservation areas in the Reserve.

The Conservation Lands Foundation is working with partner conservation groups, Congressional champions, and community members to remove these bad amendments from the final appropriations bill text. Public lands are critical for our water, wildlife, and way of life. Thriving local economies, Tribal nations, biodiversity, recreation, and our ability to manage the impacts of climate change are all at risk under these extreme attacks on public lands.

Together, we must stop these dangerous amendments from reaching the final appropriations package.

Join us in contacting your elected representatives to demand that BLM be allowed to carry out its job - managing our public lands for current and future generations to enjoy.

Agencies reconsider highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:51:40 GMT

CONSERVE SOUTHWEST UTAH

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION

SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY

CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

WILDEARTH GUARDIANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16th, 2023

Agencies Reconsider Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Mojave desert tortoise gets a reprieve

*11.16.23 Afternoon Update – The U.S. District Court has issued an opinion and granted in part the Federal Defendants’ Motion for Voluntary Remand, remanding the 2021 approval of the Northern Corridor Highway right-of-way. Additional information can be found below.

St. George, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that they are reconsidering their 2021 decision to approve the right-of-way for a four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) in southwestern Utah near Zion National Park. Red Cliffs NCA is home to imperiled species like the threatened Mojave desert tortoise, which is on an extinction trajectory.

Since 2006, local residents and concerned citizens across the country have vocalized their opposition to the highway that would bulldoze through critical habitat for the Mojave desert tortoise and transform the southern portion of the National Conservation Area renowned for its scenic views, recreation, and tranquility. In January 2021, in the final days of the Trump Administration, the federal government approved the highway right-of-way despite viable transportation alternatives that meet community needs without impacting protected public lands.

In June 2021, Utah-based and national conservation organizations filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenging the agencies’ 2021 decision to approve the highway right-of-way. The lawsuit cited violations of 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. The organizations and the federal agencies signed a settlement agreement last month.

“Today’s announcement highlights the seriousness of the deficiencies and errors in the original analysis and gives us hope that further study will lead the agencies to conclude that highways don’t belong in national conservation areas and critical habitat for vulnerable wildlife,” said Isabel Adler, Red Cliffs Campaign Director at Conserve Southwest Utah, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

“As predicted, the Trump Administration’s environmental review and approval of the Northern Corridor Highway collapsed under scrutiny,” said Todd Tucci, plaintiffs’ attorney with Advocates for the West. “Ultimately, the Department of the Interior was forced to abandon President Trump and Secretary’s Bernhardt’s conclusion that a four-lane high speed highway through a National Conservation Area and Mojave desert tortoise habitat would conserve, protect, and enhance desert tortoise and the conservation resources in the area. It wasn’t a huge lift, frankly, and it was made even easier because the Department of the Interior had previously determined on six different occasions that this highway would be ‘biologically devastating’ to the tortoise.”

As part of the litigation, the BLM and FWS acknowledged substantial and legitimate concerns with the original 2020 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A Supplemental EIS is being prepared to supplement this 2020 analysis, further examine the effects of granting a right-of-way, and reconsider the highway right-of-way application.

“We are thrilled that the federal government is re-examining this erroneous decision,” said Holly Snow Canada, Executive Director for Conserve Southwest Utah. “Rest assured that Conserve Southwest Utah and its partners will continue to fight for Red Cliffs NCA, because when we protect landscapes and species habitats, we’re also protecting scenic vistas, recreation opportunities, peace and quiet, and physical and mental health for ourselves and for future generations, too.”

This week’s announcement from the BLM and FWS also kicks off a scoping period for the Supplemental EIS to solicit public comments and identify issues. The public is invited to a meeting from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6, 2023, at the Dixie Center, 1835 S Convention Center Dr., St. George, UT 84790, to ask questions or provide feedback regarding development of the draft Supplemental EIS.

“We are very grateful to the tens of thousands of people in Utah and across the USA who stood up for Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and opposed this unlawful, unnecessary, and unwise highway in 2020,” said Snow Canada. “Your voice is needed once again to protect this precious place.”

Located at the convergence of the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau and Great Basin ecoregions, the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was established in 2009 to protect its remarkable wildlife scenery, recreation, ecology, geology and cultural value. 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.

See below for additional statements from plaintiffs in the lawsuit:

Danielle Murray, Vice President of Conservation Policy at Conservation Lands Foundation

“By starting this process the BLM has an opportunity. to rightfully uphold the congressionally-mandated protections for Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, which does not include construction of a four-lane highway. Paving over this desert paradise would put each and every National Conservation Land throughout the country at risk of unlawful development and other damaging activities.”

Ileene Anderson, Senior Scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity

“We’ll be weighing in again with the BLM as it reconsiders the ill-conceived highway through the stunning landscape of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. This conservation area is home to the amazing desert tortoise, distinctive local plants and other wildlife. It’s also a natural refuge for people in this growing urban area. We’re committed to keeping it whole and wild.”

Vera Smith, Senior Federal Lands Policy Analyst at Defenders of Wildlife

“A highway has no place in a National Conservation Area and especially one that is crucial to the survival of the desert tortoise. We are pleased that the agencies are reconsidering this highway and we remain committed to fighting for the desert tortoise and the public lands that are their home.”

Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

“Authorizing a major freeway through a Congressionally-designated conservation area should never have happened in the first place. Although it took some time, we’re pleased the agencies recognize this gem of public lands and are reconsidering this terrible precedent-setting highway for the benefit of all conservation-focused lands.”

Jose Witt, Mojave Desert Landscape Director at The Wilderness Society

“The decision to approve a right-of-way for a major highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was rushed, ill-informed, and patently illegal. It also was unwise, as building the highway would destroy the natural, cultural, and recreational values that make the Red Cliffs an irreplaceable natural asset for the St. George community, for the nation and for future generations. The government’s decision to reconsider the highway recognizes the serious legal deficiencies in the earlier approval and gives the public a new opportunity to ensure the public lands in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area will be protected into the future.”

Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney at WildEarth Guardians

“Desert tortoise populations have declined significantly since the species was listed as threatened in 1990. It would be a calamity to permit a four-lane highway through the Red Cliffs, a stronghold for the species. Local officials need to come up with better solutions to address St. George’s growth than a new highway that would just create additional sprawl, kill desert tortoise, and mar a beloved landscape.”

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 Bureau of Land Management, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 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.

These spectacular public lands are 45 miles from Zion National Park, and include 130 miles of trails, two wilderness areas, heritage public use sites, Native American cultural artifacts, several threatened/endangered species, and Utah’s most popular state park, 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.

References:

BLM’s National NEPA Register website for the Supplemental EIS.
BLM and FWS Press Release, November 15th, 2023.
Relevant Court documents.
The Protect Red Cliffs Petition, with 35,828 signatures from people around the world advocating for the protection of the Red Cliffs NCA from the Northern Corridor Highway.
The Protect Red Cliffs Zine—Art and Narratives of a Threatened Place.
Red Cliffs Photo Gallery.
Red Cliffs Video Galley.
Background.

Southern California Residents Voice Their Support for the Proposed Expansion of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:10:38 GMT

Los Angeles, CA - Yesterday, the U.S. Forest Service held a public listening session on a legislative proposal to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, where hundreds of local residents voiced their support.

Below is a statement from Maricela Rosales, California Associate Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s public meeting:

“We applaud the Forest Service and the Biden Administration for hearing from local residents on the benefits of the proposed expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

“As one of the 18 million people who live within a 90-mile radius of the San Gabriel Mountains proposed monument expansion, I am in strong support of the expansion. I am one of 18 million who grew up daydreaming of the day that I would get to visit the San Gabriel Mountains. That became my reality at the age of 24 when I finally visited the monument, spending my visit exploring Eaton Canyon Falls, Inspiration Point, Millard Falls, and Chantry Flat with my little weenie dog Dali. This new venture was made possible because of its proximity and accessibility. The San Gabriel Mountains is where I began my journey of sharing the importance of protecting and expanding public lands in Southern California.

“The Conservation Lands Foundation joins California elected officials, community leaders, and local residents in the Los Angeles region in calling on President Joe Biden to add 109,000 acres of public lands to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

“The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument expansion will help increase equitable access to nature, improve public health, conserve a critical drinking water source for residents, and address the climate biodiversity crisis, and honor the original stewards of these lands, the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and Gabrieleño (also known as Kizh, Gabrielino, Tongva) Peoples.”

The public can join the campaign and sign the petition to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument at sangabrielmountainsforever.org/takeaction .

####

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Conservation Lands Foundation leads the only national movement of grassroots advocates to protect, restore, and expand National Conservation Lands. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org .

Visiting BLM Lands During a Government Shutdown: Your Guide to Responsible Recreation

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 23:02:40 GMT

As we approach the possibility of a government shutdown, it's important for us to understand the potential consequences. A government shutdown will temporarily halt non-essential government services, place government employees on furlough, and have tremendous impacts on public lands. Let's examine how Bureau of Land Management lands will be impacted and how you can safely and responsibly visit public lands.

Bureau of Land Management lands will remain open during a government shutdown
Photo: Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, Arizona by Leslie Kehmeier

Many BLM visitor centers will be closed to the public during a government shutdown.
Photo: BLM Utah

Respect. Connect. Protect.

During a government shutdown, as you visit BLM lands, it's crucial to remember the principles of "Respect. Connect. Protect." which emphasizes safe, responsible, and respectful outdoor recreation to ensure we all take care of these lands we love and need.

Respect: When you visit, respect for nature’s unpredictability needs to be top of mind. Please come prepared, especially during a government shutdown where services will be limited, and treat these lands with respect. Stay on designated trails, avoid disturbing wildlife, and respect closures and regulations.
Connect: Use your time on BLM lands to connect with nature, yourself, and others. When you visit public lands, you have a unique opportunity to connect with yourselves, with each other, and with the history and meaning of the land itself.
Protect: Protect the environment and the experience of others by minimizing your impact. Leave no trace of your visit—pack out all trash, including pet waste, as there won't be any trash collection services. Additionally, bring essential supplies such as water, toilet paper, emergency supplies, and food. With restrooms closed, be prepared to dispose of human waste responsibly using proper disposal bags or equipment.

Your Actions Matter

In the event of a government shutdown, it's important to be aware of impacts on Bureau of Land Management lands. While you can still enjoy many recreational activities on public lands, most services and facilities will be limited or unavailable. By understanding what you can and cannot do on BLM lands during a government shutdown and by following the "Respect. Connect. Protect." principles, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience while minimizing your impact on these precious public lands. Together, we can help preserve these natural treasures for future generations.

Public Land Impacts

During the 2019 government shutdown, the effects on public lands and national parks were keenly felt. With many national parks closed, visitors sought alternative outdoor destinations, including Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, leading to a surge in usage and environmental impact. In response to these challenges, many Friends groups had to step in to provide additional resources for essential tasks like trash pickup, bathroom cleaning, and ensuring visitor safety. This illustrates the crucial role played by community organizations in safeguarding these cherished natural areas year-round, especially in times of emergency.

What You Can Do on BLM Lands

To provide clarity and guidance during government shutdowns, the BLM has established a contingency plan that outlines what will happen to BLM operations, facilities, and services in the event of a government shutdown.

Access to Public Lands: During a government shutdown, BLM lands will remain open to the public. This means you can continue to access these lands for recreational activities like hiking, camping, fishing, and more. Efforts will be made to post signs, as appropriate, to indicate where services are or are not available.

Campgrounds and other Recreation Sites: Campgrounds, boat ramps, and other recreation sites will be open, however, at some facilities the full range of services may not be available including restrooms and water systems. In cases where funds are not available to maintain such services, signs will be posted but visitors may remain at these sites at their own risk.

Existing Reservations: If you have already made reservations for camping or other recreational activities on BLM lands, those reservations will generally be honored. However, it's crucial to check for any updates or changes on the BLM's website and seek out local resources.

Law Enforcement: Law enforcement activities on BLM lands, including patrolling and ensuring public safety, will continue during a shutdown. If you encounter any issues or need assistance, you can still rely on BLM law enforcement officers.

Emergency Services: Emergency services, such as search and rescue operations, will also remain operational on BLM lands. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, do not hesitate to call for help. Please note that many BLM lands are in areas without any cell service - plan accordingly.

Impacted Services

Visitor Centers and Facilities: During a government shutdown, BLM visitor centers, campgrounds, and other facilities that require staffing may be closed. This means you won't have access to services like restrooms, visitor information, or permits.

Reservations: A lapse in funding may impact reservations and travel plans. If customers have an existing reservation during this lapse of funding period, and the location is not fully staffed, the reservation may not be honored. Check with your local BLM office for more information.

Permits and Special Use Authorizations: If you require special permits or authorizations for activities on BLM lands, such as filming, research, or commercial operations, the processing of these permits may be delayed during a government shutdown.

Resource Management and Maintenance: Non-essential resource management and maintenance activities, such as trail maintenance and habitat restoration, may be temporarily halted.

Local advocates praise BLM plan for NW California public lands

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 20:14:13 GMT

Redding, California - Local advocates say a new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) draft plan for 382,000 acres of public lands in northwestern California has significant potential to expand conservation, increase climate resilience, and address wildfire threats in some of the state’s most prized forest lands and waterways. The long-anticipated plan will update management direction for the Arcata and Redding Field Offices that steward public lands in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama and Butte counties. These plans were last updated in the early 1990s. The BLM's draft environmental review began in 2016 and was put on hold until 2021.

“We encourage everyone who cares about public lands to get involved in this important process,” said Ryan Henson, Senior Policy Director for CalWild. “Issues impacting locals include protecting places like English Ridge in Mendocino County that are sources of clean water and habitats for wildlife, enhancing recreational opportunities, and conserving cultural and historic sites important to Native American tribes. If you use and enjoy public lands in this region please join in this opportunity to be involved.”

The environmental review from the BLM analyzes potential areas of critical environmental concern, wild rivers, protecting old growth forests, proposed prescribed fire and fuels management, and tools for managing lands with wilderness character.

“Among the many areas of land the BLM manages in Shasta and Tehama Counties, protection and restoration of waterways and wild rivers are critically important to expanding spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead trout in this region and restoring wildlife habitat, especially for migrating fish and birds,” stated David Ledger, President of the Shasta Environmental Alliance. “We encourage the public to look at how the Northwest California Integrated Plan proposes to manage existing BLM parcels along important streams like the Sacramento River and Clear and Cottonwood Creeks. These places are worthy of emphasis during public comment.”

“Public lands in northwest California are some of the most iconic in the state,” said Jora Fogg, Associate Program Director at Conservation Lands Foundation. “At the intersection of the Cascade Mountains and Sierra Nevada, the expanses of 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. We are excited to see the BLM release a draft plan that recognizes the value of restoring and conserving our public lands while providing much needed access to nature. We look forward to providing feedback on this plan through the public process and encourage all Californians and public land supporters to do the same.”

Today, the BLM is expected to publish formal notice of a 90-day public comment period, along with an announcement of public meetings in Arcata and Redding. Public comments are due to the agency by December 28, 2023. More details about the planning process and instructions on how to submit comments are available on the ePlanning website.

###

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Visits Molok Luyuk

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 20:26:00 GMT

San Francisco, Calif. - Yesterday, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited Molok Luyuk (pronounced “Ma.lok/ Lue.yoke”), the proposed addition to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument near Sacramento, California. Haaland met with representatives from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Koi Nation, Pomo of Upper Lake Habematolel, local elected officials, the Conservation Lands Foundation, and other conservation and outdoor recreation groups who are leading the effort to permanently protect the Molok Luyuk landscape.

Below is a statement from Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the Secretary’s visit:

“We thank Secretary Haaland for her visit and interest in hearing from Tribal Nations and local communities on how protecting Molok Luyuk is necessary to safeguard sites of sacred, cultural and historic significance, wildlife and rare plant habitat, and outdoor recreation for current and future generations.

“The Biden administration, with support from Secretary Haaland, has protected more than 1.5 million acres of lands sacred to Native communities by designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona and the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada. Expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk builds on that legacy, while helping to meet the administration’s goals of protecting 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030.

“Molok Luyuk means “Condor Ridge'' in the Patwin language and is the ancestral home of the Hill Patwin people. Descendants of the Hill Patwin live here today as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletzel Dehe Wintun Nation and the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians. Historic trails across Molok Luyuk linked these tribes to each other and to the wider network of trade and cultural exchange throughout the region. Indigenous people from all directions have come to its springs for ceremonies and healing since time immemorial.

“Adding Molok Luyuk to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is supported by Tribal Nations and Indigenous organizations, including the Yocha Dehe, the Kletsel Dehe, and the National Congress of American Indians. The tribes are a significant cultural and economic presence in this region and have pledged their assistance and resources to manage Molok Luyuk. The expansion is also supported by Lake County, the California Department of Natural Resources, and many conservation and recreation groups in California and across the nation.

“We truly appreciate Secretary Haaland’s visit. We hope she leaves the landscape inspired and carries forward the message that Tribes and local communities share: Molok Luyuk is worthy of and in need of permanent protection.”

####

California's Chuckwalla Campaign Launches

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 20:17:50 GMT

California - Today, the Conservation Lands Foundation joined members of our Friends Grassroots Network in California to launch a campaign calling on President Biden to designate Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park.

Below is a statement from Maricela Rosales, California Associate Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation:

“Designating a Chuckwalla National Monument is a historic opportunity to protect the California Desert region and provide wildlife habitat and landscape connectivity at a key moment in time when we need to aggressively advance our nation’s and California’s conservation goal of protecting 30% of public lands and coastal waters by 2030.

“The proposed national monument would protect approximately 660,000 acres reaching west from the Coachella Valley region to the east near the Colorado River. Beyond supporting desert wildlife by connecting “islands” of protected areas, the proposal would help expand equitable access to nature for residents of the Eastern Coachella Valley, Blythe, and other local communities; honor Tribal cultural heritage by safeguarding a living and cultural landscape connected to the wellbeing and survival of Indigenous communities, including the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano peoples; protect the desert’s unique biodiversity, like the chuckwalla lizard; and preserve our nation’s history.

“In partnership with our local Friends Grassroots Network members, Californians, and Representative Raul Ruiz, MD, we are asking President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Chuckwalla a National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park.”

####

Learn more and add your name in support by visiting the Protect Chuckwalla website .

New Report: Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Drives Economic Growth

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 21:58:49 GMT

New Mexico's stunning landscapes have long been a source of pride for its residents and a magnet for tourists seeking the outdoors. The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, designated in 2014, has not only preserved these landscapes but has also proven to be a powerful economic engine for the state. A recent economic report commissioned by the Las Cruces Green Chamber, " A Decade of Opportunity: The Economic Impact of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument ," highlights the monument's significant contributions to New Mexico's local economy.

A family hikes in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, New Mexico
Photo: BLM New Mexico

Tourism Boom

One of the most notable findings of the report is the remarkable increase in tourism driven by the national monument. Over the past decade, visitation to the monument has tripled. This influx of tourists has translated into substantial economic benefits for the region.

According to the report, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument attracted over 600,000 visitors in 2022, injecting approximately $35 million into the local economy each year . This revenue boost has supported businesses ranging from hotels and restaurants to outdoor outfitters and art galleries.

Supporting Local Economies

The economic impact of the national monument extends beyond tourism dollars. The report reveals that the monument generated over 300 jobs in the local community last year and over $13 million in taxes over the past decade. The report underscores the fact that the positive economic impact of the national monument extends to nearby communities.

Conservation and Preservation

While the economic benefits are undeniable, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument also plays a vital role in safeguarding the natural and cultural heritage of the region. It protects a wide range of ecosystems, preserving them for future generations. This conservation effort aligns with New Mexico's commitment to sustainable tourism and responsible land management.

Supporting Local Communities

The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument has proven itself as a valuable asset to New Mexico's local economy. As the economic report " A Decade of Opportunity " illustrates, the monument has not only preserved the region's natural and cultural treasures but also provided a substantial economic boost. With its ability to create jobs, stimulate tourism, and support local communities, the national monument stands as a shining example of how conservation efforts can go hand in hand with economic prosperity. As New Mexico continues to reap the benefits of this natural wonder, it remains a testament to the power of preserving our nation's natural heritage.

The Biden Administration's Proposed Protections for America’s Arctic is a Critical Step to Address Climate Change and Conserve World Class Biodiversity

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 20:29:50 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact : Kris Deutschman

September 6, 2023 C: 970.670.0193

kris@conservationlands.org

Durango, CO – In response to today’s announcement by the White House proposing sweeping protections for America’s Arctic including a proposed rule for the Western Arctic, Brian Sybert, executive director of the Conservation Lands Foundation, released the following statement:

“The Western Arctic is an area that holds tremendous value for wildlife, Native communities, and the overall climate resiliency of the region. We’re in strong support of the Biden-Harris Administration and the Interior Department taking this important step forward.

“The Conservation Lands Foundation has long recognized this 22-million acre remote parcel of public land in the Western Arctic as a national treasure and that we must manage it for the conservation of wildlife such as grizzly bears, wolverines, caribou, and avian life that is unmatched. We encourage the American public to engage in the public process for the proposed protections and demonstrate strong support for protecting the natural and cultural values that make the Western Arctic a national treasure.

“For over a decade, the Conservation Lands Foundation has worked to protect the Western Arctic. We are grateful to see the Biden-Harris Administration taking bold action to protect this treasured arctic landscape.”

####

Oregon's Owyhee Canyonlands Campaign Launches: Calls on President Biden to Designate It as a National Monument

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:33:46 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 6, 2023

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org, 970-670-0193

OREGON’S OWYHEE CANYONLANDS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES: CALLS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DESIGNATE IT A NATIONAL MONUMENT

Durango, CO - Today, Conservation Lands Foundation joined Friends of the Owyhee and the Oregon Natural Desert Association, to launch a campaign to designate the Owyhee Canyonlands in southeastern Oregon as a National Monument.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, executive director for the Conservation Lands Foundation:

“Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands are one-of-a-kind and a millions of years in the making, natural phenomena and we’re excited to join local organizations Friends of the Owyhee and Oregon Natural Desert Association to launch this campaign to permanently protect them as a National Monument.

“These canyonlands are a wild, intact area connecting Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada. Only 5% of this geodiversity hotspot is currently protected, making it one of the largest conservation opportunities in the West for President Biden to protect the country’s natural environment and move our nation closer to reaching the goals laid out in the America the Beautiful initiative.

“Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley recently re-introduced Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act (S.1890), a community-driven, Oregon-crafted solution for protecting the most important and threatened places in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, but we no longer have the luxury of time for Congress to act.

“Once protected by its remoteness, the Owyhee Canyonlands now face threats of development, climate change and inaction. We must act now to secure the landscape's future for generations to come, and continue the momentum of the Biden administration in safeguarding culturally, historically and ecologically important landscapes throughout the country.

“After decades of efforts by our local Friends Grassroots Network members, Oregonians, and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, we are asking President Biden to finish the job and designate the Owyhee Canyonlands a National Monument.”

####

About Conservation Lands Foundation

CLiF Notes: Your update on major new public land protections

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 22:07:09 GMT

New Plan Will Protect Over One Million Acres of Wyoming’s Red Desert

Another Win for National Monument Protections!

The Bureau of Land Management just released the long-awaited resource management plan for Wyoming’s Red Desert, a region recognized for the remarkable 150-mile mule deer migration corridor, significant cultural resources, and world-class recreation.

The plan, which is now open for a 90-day public comment period, designates 16 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, totaling more than 1.8 million acres, and closes over 60% of the planning area to oil and gas development.

The Conservation Lands Foundation has been working for many years on this long-awaited plan and it’s one of many that our staff and local Friends organizations are currently involved with. Stay tuned for a deep dive on these plans and why they’re critical to protecting vulnerable and valuable public lands.

Last Friday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by the State of Utah challenging President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to reinstate the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. The Conservation Lands Foundation has been defending these monuments in court for more than five years and this dismissal was a huge victory in our efforts to protect these important landscapes. Read more.

Photo: Bob Wick

President Biden Designates New National Monument

In case you missed it, last week President Biden designated his fifth national monument - Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona. The designation protects nearly one million acres of land sacred to many Tribal Nations in the Southwest and the thousands of cultural and sacred sites that are precious to them.

We celebrate President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to designate a new monument and add a unit of more than 600,000 acres to the National Conservation Lands that honors requests from Tribal Nations and local communities. Read more.

Take Action: Thank President Biden for Designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

Photo: Jim Dublinski

Community Leaders in Action: Friends and Neighbors of Deschutes Canyon Area

Congratulations to Friends and Neighbors of Deschutes Canyon Area for receiving the prestigious Bureau of Land Management “Group Excellence” national volunteer award.

Contributing nearly 4,000 hours of service each year in and around Oregon's Deschutes Canyon and sharing their passion for the area by teaching about invasive weeds, native plants, geology, and wildlife during workshops and guided walks is definitely award-worthy!

Photo: Bureau of Land Management

Thanks for reading and caring about America's National Conservation Lands.

To protect more of the public lands that matter, make a one-time or monthly donation.

Public Lands Rule Backed by Clear Majority in Western States

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 20:37:38 GMT

A clear majority of voters in public lands states want to see conservation better incorporated into federal planning.

BLM Public Lands Rule Backed by Clear Majority in Western States

A strong majority of voters across the political spectrum support the new Bureau of Land Management's new rule to give conservation equal footing with other uses of public lands according to a new poll released today by the Center for Western Priorities , which surveyed Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

"This poll confirms what we knew all along -- the people who live in communities most impacted by the rule want to see it happen," said Danielle Murray, Senior Policy and Legal Director at Conservation Lands Foundation. "All the noise coming from politicians in Washington D.C. shouldn't distort the truth: Conservation is popular and voters want it to have equal footing for other land uses."

The poll asked voters if they wanted conservation to be "a use of the land, equal to other uses such as mining, oil drilling, and mining." Here are the levels of support it found in each state:

66% of Arizonans
70% of Coloradans
66% of Nevadans

Learn more about the campaign to balance public lands management through the new rule at ActNowForPublicLands.org.

President Biden Designates the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:51:18 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, President Joe Biden designated the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, executive director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument:

“We celebrate President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to designate a new monument and unit to the National Conservation Lands that honors requests from a dozen Tribal Nations; local elected officials such as Rep. Raul Grijalva; and business and community leaders in Arizona and throughout the country. For decades, these communities have called for permanent protections of these federal public lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park. Today, approximately 1 million acres have been designated to protect the cultural, natural, recreational and scientific resources of the region.

“We continue to encourage the Biden administration to take action to honor the legacies and voices of local communities by designating and expanding more national monuments, such as the site of the Springfield Race Massacre in Illinois, Historic Greenwood/Black Wall Street in Oklahoma, Molok Luyuk and San Gabriel Mountains in California and Great Bend of the Gila in Arizona.”

####

Why Funding from Congress is Key to Protecting National Conservation Lands

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 23:07:11 GMT

Today, August 4, 2023, marks the third anniversary of the signing into law of the Great American Outdoors Act , a crucial step forward in providing funding for America’s public lands and outdoor spaces. While the GAOA represented a positive step toward providing essential funding mechanisms for public lands, much more needs to be done to ensure land management agencies have the proper staffing and resources necessary to steward and protect public lands for future generations.

The Bureau of Land Management manages the majority of public lands in the United States.

Photo: South Fork of the Snake River, Idaho by Bob Wick

Annual appropriations are insufficient to meet the growing recreation demands on Bureau of Land Management lands.

Photo: Deschutes Wild and Scenic River, Oregon by Bob Wick

House proposing severe cuts to the Bureau of Land Management for Fiscal Year 2024

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages more acres of public land than any other federal land management agency but has been underfunded and understaffed for decades despite record-high visitation in recent years. Yet, instead of proposing a much-needed increase for the BLM, the House of Representatives recently proposed a severe cut in funding for the agency, undercutting its ability to adequately care for these cherished landscapes.

Should Congress approve these cuts later this year, it will represent another failure to support BLM in fulfilling its critical mission.

The Great American Outdoors Act: A Milestone for Conservation

The GAOA was signed into law with support from both parties, signaling a national commitment to safeguarding America’s public lands. The law allocates funding to address a staggering backlog of maintenance projects in public lands and outdoor spaces. Additionally, the law provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which utilizes non-taxpayer money to fund conservation and outdoor projects.

Importance of Proper Funding

While the GAOA provides much-needed resources for addressing the backlog of public land infrastructure projects, it is vital to recognize that much more needs to be done to ensure land management agencies like the BLM are properly funded. Despite BLM being the largest federal land management agency, only 5% of the National Parks and Public Land Restoration Fund created by the GAOA goes to BLM.

This is despite the fact that the system of National Conservation Lands, which contain some of the nation’s most spectacular landscapes, wildlife habitat, cultural resources, and outdoor recreational pursuits, has nearly doubled in size since 2000, as well as the fact that annual funding provided by Congress to manage these important places has not kept pace.

Annual Appropriations: A Key Factor

The annual appropriations process is the primary mechanism through which Congress funds public land management agencies like the BLM. Adequate funding is crucial for ensuring that the Bureau can carry out its essential responsibilities effectively and manage these landscapes to maintain their cultural and biological values.

House Proposes Severe Funding Cuts

Congress is approaching a critical point in the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2024. The House Appropriations Committee recently passed their version of the FY24 Interior appropriations bill, which includes a nearly 10% cut of funding for National Conservation Lands from FY23. In addition, the House version includes dangerous riders that attack national monuments and undermine the recently proposed and widely-popular Public Lands Rule .

This slash in funding would only exacerbate the repeated failure to adequately address the needs of managing National Conservation Lands, which are facing record-high visitation and climate change-related impacts like wildfire and drought. As Nevada Representative Susie Lee said in opposition to the House cuts, “We cannot intentionally kneecap an agency and then turn around and complain that the agency isn’t running well.” These budget cuts will severely hinder the agency’s ability to protect and maintain public lands for future generations.

Time to Care: Advocating for Proper Funding

As individuals passionate about the outdoors and the conservation of public lands, we can play a crucial role in advocating for proper funding for the Bureau of Land Management. Stay tuned for ways you can contact your elected representative on this issue and raise awareness about the importance of funding public lands.

President Biden Designates the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:53:22 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2023

Washington, D.C. - Today, on the anniversary of Emmett Till’s birth, President Joe Biden designated the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, executive director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument:

“We applaud President Biden for using his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate this new monument that ensures the life and legacy of Emmett Till and his mother, civil rights icon Mamie Till-Mobley, will never be forgotten. This national monument from Sumner, Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois will help ensure that their story is preserved, protected and shared for generations to come.

“We will continue to urge the Biden administration to honor the legacies and voices of local communities by designating and expanding more national monuments, such as the site of the Springfield Race Massacre in Illinois, Historic Greenwood/Black Wall Street in Oklahoma, Molok Luyuk in California and Great Bend of the Gila and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon in Arizona.”

The public can learn more and send a thank you message to the President at conservationlands.org/emmett_till.

CLiF Notes: A New Monument, New Threats, and the Public Speaks

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 18:56:33 GMT

Breaking News: President Biden designates Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

QT Luong is a strong supporter of our mission to protect and expand America’s National Conservation Lands system, including National Monuments. Hear more about his experiences on the land and capturing its beauty in our Community Conversation .

4. For the Busy Parent

Busy parents have a lot on their plates this time of year. You can make the season a tad bit easier on them by gifting high-quality winter accessories from Patagonia for their kids. Every parent knows you can never have enough of those lying around.

Through Patagonia’s Worn Wear program, you can gift an item of clothing knowing that even when the kids outgrow the item, it can be passed down through the generations. Patagonia has been a longtime supporter of the Conservation Lands Foundation, and they recently announced that 100% of their proceeds will go right back to fighting climate change.

5. For the World Traveler

From daypacks to duffel bags and everything in between, you can’t go wrong with gifting an Osprey pack for the person in your life who is always jet setting away to their next adventure. This awesome company is a big supporter of Conservation Lands Foundation, especially in our work to empower and strengthen our Friends Grassroots Network.

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

Today, on the anniversary of Emmett Till’s birth, President Joe Biden designated the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. We applaud President Biden for using his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate this new monument that will ensure the life and legacy of Emmett Till and his mother, civil rights icon Mamie Till-Moble y, will never be forgotten.

Take Action: Thank President Biden for designating Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

In 1955, fourteen-year-old Emmett Till was brutally murdered by two white men who were unjustly acquitted. Despite the immense grief his mother faced, Mamie Till-Mobley made the bold decision to have an open-casket funeral, allowing the world to witness the horrific brutality inflicted upon her son. Her brave act brought international attention to racial violence and fueled the fight for civil rights.

We will continue to urge the Biden administration to honor the stories, legacies, and voices of local communities by designating and expanding more national monuments, such as the Site of the Springfield Race Massacre in Illinois, Historic Greenwood/Black Wall Street in Oklahoma, Molok Luyuk in California, and Great Bend of the Gila and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Your Impact: Public Lands Rule has overwhelming support

More than 200,000 people officially registered comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule and 92% of them support the proposal to put conservation of public lands and waters on equal footing with extractive uses. This includes hundreds of companies, elected officials, community leaders, and land and wildlife advocates who weighed in with their support.

While we celebrate the success of the Public Lands Rule comment period, we’re turning our efforts to fight new threats in Congress. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative John Curtis (R-UT) have introduced legislation that would require the Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning to withdraw the rulemaking. The House Natural Resources Committee passed the House version of this bill, and we expect the House of Representatives to vote on it soon.

We are staying vigilant against this legislation, along with other attempts to prevent the Public Lands Rule from being implemented.

Photo: Bob Wick

Threats to National Conservation Lands emerge in Congress

Congress is moving forward with the Fiscal Year 2024 budget process, and the House is proposing deep cuts to the Bureau of Land Management and National Conservation Lands at a time when there are record numbers of people visiting these spectacular lands.

The House proposal also includes language that undermines Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah and sets a terrible precedent for national monuments across the country.

We are ramping up our advocacy campaigns against both of these damaging efforts and will need each and every one of you to help increase resources to care for National Conservation Lands and protect the country’s national monuments. More to come soon.

Photo: Bob Wick

CLF priority campaign legislation moving forward

Earlier this month, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands Subcommittee held a hearing on more than a dozen public land, energy, and natural resources bills, including bills that support protection of the Dolores River Canyon in Colorado and the Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon, provide wild and scenic designation for segments of the Gila River in New Mexico, and enhance protection of public lands in Colorado through the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy Act.

We will continue to urge Congress to support these bills that have the support of local communities, protect vulnerable and valuable public lands and waters, safeguard the cultural continuity of Tribal Nations, and help rural economies thrive.

Photo: Gavin Noyes

We’re Looking for New Team Members!

The Conservation Lands Foundation is currently seeking experienced and qualified candidates who love the outdoors as much as we do! We are hiring to fill two positions in the organization: Senior Development Director and Associate Program Director, Southwest.

Senior Development Director

Oversees the fundraising team and operations, develops and implements fundraising strategies to achieve annual income and programmatic goals, and supervises two staff members.

Read the job description

Associate Program Director

Helps advance our work in Utah and Colorado by working collaboratively with regional and statewide conservation organizations, Friends groups, the Bureau of Land Management, and other partners.

Your impact: BLM plan sees overwhelming public support

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 23:13:29 GMT

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management ended a 90-day comment period on the proposed Public Lands Rule, which will put conservation on equal footing with oil and gas development and other extractive uses. 92 percent of the more than 200,000 comments submitted were in support of the Public Lands Rule!*

Attendees of the BLM Reno public meeting showing their support for public lands!

Public land enthusiasts weren’t the only ones who supported the plan. Legal experts, scientists, and elected officials from across the country sent their comments to the Bureau of Land Management in favor of the Public Lands Rule.

Together, we demonstrated broad and substantial public support for the Bureau of Land Management to implement an ambitious conservation vision in order to meet the needs of the 21st century. Thank you to everyone who submitted their comments and made their voices heard.

The Public Lands Rule highlights the need for the agency to work with local communities to focus on the conservation of land, water, and wildlife to ensure future access to federal public lands while combating the growing impacts of climate change. It also encourages agency managers to work more closely with Tribal nations to ensure stronger cultural resource protection for ancestral lands across the West. The plan seeks to correct a system that has been wildly imbalanced. Currently, 90% of BLM land is open to drilling whereas only 14% are managed for conservation.

In Good Company

During the public comment period, the Conservation Lands Foundation and its Friends Grassroots Network created substantial public awareness around the need for the Public Lands Rule and mobilized the public to take action.

“Industry and industry allies opposed the rule in efforts to continue to monopolize and control management, but people in public lands communities support this rule because it is built with public land users in mind,” said Murray.

What’s Next?

The Bureau of Land Management will review all public comments and use them to revise the proposed rule, which will then be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget before being finalized and published in the Federal Register. This process could take up to a year.

While your participation in this campaign has been immensely helpful to help bring balance to the Bureau of Land Management’s mission to focus on conservation, there is a small but vocal minority of the opposition who want to keep the scales tipped in the oil and gas industry’s favor.

Some members of Congress are introducing legislation to prohibit the implementation of this plan. We will be sure to keep you informed on upcoming opportunities to #ActNowForPublicLands.

While the campaign to bring balance to future public lands management may not be over just yet, we’re certainly taking this moment to celebrate a momentous achievement in making our collective voices heard. Thank you!

Additional Resources

Press Release: BLM Rule to balance land use sees overwhelming public support

Report: The Conservation Lands Foundation’s Policy Director Kara Matsumoto co-authored a report with the Center for American Progress that examines how the Public Lands Rule will provide meaningful conservation protections to deserving landscapes across the country.

*Based on a statistical analysis by the Center for Western Priorities

Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senate Subcommittee to Support Legislation That Will Protect Valuable and Vulnerable Public Lands

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:57:32 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands Subcommittee will hold a hearing on more than a dozen public land, energy and natural resources bills.

Brian Sybert, executive director of Conservation Lands Foundation issued the following statement ahead of today’s subcommittee hearing regarding six bills that CLF supports:

“Each of these bills has the support of local communities and we urge the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands Subcommittee to support them and protect these vulnerable and valuable public lands and waters, safeguard the cultural continuity of Tribal Nations and help rural economies thrive.

The Conservation Lands Foundation is proud to work with our Friends Grassroots Network members to help craft legislative solutions that balance public land protection with economic development, two of which will be discussed in today’s hearing:

S. 1890, the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, introduced by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, protects 1.1 million acres of the most important and threatened places in the Owyhee Canyonlands, establishes a science-based grazing program, transfers lands to the Trust for the Burns Paiute Tribe and provides essential economic development investments for Malheur County. Conservation Lands Foundation and Friends Grassroots Network members Oregon Natural Desert Association and Friends of the Owyhee have been working closely with Tribal representatives, ranchers and recreationists to craft this community-driven solution.
S. 636, the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, introduced by Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, protects more than 68,000 acres of public lands and 76 miles of the spectacular Dolores River. The Conservation Lands Foundation and Friends Grassroots Network member the Dolores River Boating Advocates have been working with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, local county commissions, landowners, farmers and more to develop this bill that carries broad-based local support.

“The Conservation Lands Foundation also supports the following bills that will be heard by the Subcommittee:

S. 1622, the End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act, introduced by Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, puts an end to a wasteful practice that ties up public lands with very limited oil and gas resources in costly and unproductive fossil fuel speculation. We support this legislation that promotes better land-use management and maximizes government efficiency while enhancing the management of more sustainable revenue-generating activities on public lands such as outdoor recreation.
S. 1634, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) Act, introduced by Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, protects nearly 400,000 acres of public lands to ensure some of Colorado’s and America’s most iconic and historic places are preserved for the benefit of wildlife and local economies.
S. 1776, the Protect Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, introduced by California Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, protects more than one million acres of public wildlands and over 500 miles of free flowing rivers from the Los Angeles region to near the state’s northern border.
S. 2042, the Slo an Canyon Conservation and Horizon Lateral Water Pipeline Act, introduced by Nevada Senator Cortez Masto, expands the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area by nearly 20% and addresses critical water needs of the Las Vegas Valley.

We applaud the leadership of the Senators who introduced these bills and we urge Congress to advance these bipartisan crafted solutions.”

# # #

Castner Range of El Paso, Texas Is Finally a National Monument

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 22:07:55 GMT

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 President Joe Biden used the 1906 Antiquities Act to declare El Paso’s Castner Range a national monument. This brought success to a campaign begun 52 years ago to conserve the 7,081-acre property, which contains twenty-five percent of El Paso’s six-peak Franklin Mountains Range.

Most of the rest of the peaks—whose highest reaches 7,192 feet and marks the western boundary of Castner Range—also lie within the boundaries of the Franklin Mountains State Park, surrounded entirely by the municipality of El Paso and easily accessible to El Pasoans, 85 percent of whom are Hispanic.

Castner Range National Monument
Photo by Mark Clune

In 1926, the Castner Range property was purchased by the United States Army as an addition to its enormous Fort Bliss military base, El Paso’s largest employer. Castner Range—named after Brigadier General Joseph Compton Castner, Commanding General of Fort Bliss at the time—was used as a live artillery-training facility until 1966, when El Paso’s neighborhoods began to grow in the vicinity. Since 1966, Castner Range has been officially off-limits to the public, given the subsurface and even the on-surface presence of MECs (munitions and explosions of concern) and UXOs (unexploded ordnance’ from the Range’s artillery-training days.

In 1979, the Texas legislature created the Franklin Mountains State Park, which gave rise to a campaign to make Castner Range a part of it, but a third of a century later the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (which owns and runs state parks) decided it would only annex the Range if all its MECs and UXOs were first cleared away. Hence our national monument campaign, which met with success largely because of the efforts of the Frontera Land Alliance, the El Paso area’s only 501(c)3 nationally-accredited land conservation organization, its Executive Director Janaé Reneaud Field, its President Scott M. Cutler, and the El Paso Community Foundation (Eric Pearson, Executive Director/President). El Paso’s three-term Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) played a key role at the federal level. Her strong connections with both the Department of the Army and the Department of the Interior and whose membership on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus contributed greatly to her and our success. Representative Escobar has built upon the national monument campaign effectively energized by then-U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, who introduced the first Castner Range National Monument bill in 2016.

The poppies of Castner Range

Photo by Mark Clune

Throughout our region, Castner Range is best known for “the poppies,” the argemone Mexicana flowers that bloom every spring, profusely after strong winter rains. El Paso lies in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert where the average annual rainfall is eight inches. Castner Range is also home to the following threatened species: the Sneed’s Pincushion Cactus (Escobaria [Coryphantha] sneedii), the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) and the Chihuahuan Desert Lyre Snake (Trimorphodon vilkinsoni). Also found on Castner Range are Agave Lechuguilla, Ocotillo, Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Sotol, Texas Sacahuista, Pricklypear, Desert Willow, Texas Rainbow Cactus, and many others. Hundreds of animal species call the Range their home, including walking desert tarantula, scorpions, millipedes, several species of beetles and several dozen reptiles including the Greater Earless Lizard, the Great Plains Skink, the Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail, the Trans-Pecos Rat Snake, and the Western Coachwhip. Birds include the Greater Roadrunner, the Cactus Wren, and the Canyon Towhee.

Following the precedent set by California’s Fort Ord National Monument, the Castner Range National Monument will open up to public access those parts of the Range that have been cleared of MECs and UXOs. The public can hike on yet-to-be-constructed trails, which will mostly connect with the already-built Franklin Mountains State Park trails. As is true of Fort Ord, the uncleared parts of the Range will remain off-limits.

Richard Teschner, a native of Milwaukee, is now a Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Spanish at the University of Texas-El Paso., where he’s taught since 1976. Over the last twenty years he’s been active in local land conservation and—since 2008—in the recently-successful campaign to make Castner Range a national monument. By hiring a lobbyist, he was instrumental in the Texas Legislature’s allocation of several million dollars for a new Franklin Mountains State Park visitors center and headquarters. For his activities and donations, Richard has received awards from the City of El Paso such as the Conquistador, the Star on the Mountain, and the Lifetime Achievement of the El Paso Environmental Services Department.

BLM Rule to Balance Land Use Sees Overwhelming Public Support

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 22:17:31 GMT

Washington - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today ended a 90-day comment period on the proposed Public Lands Rule, which will put conservation on equal footing with oil and gas development and other extractive uses - 92% of the comments supported the Public Lands Rule, and were submitted from all 50 states.

The Bureau’s proposal highlights the need for the agency to work with local communities to focus on the conservation of land, water, and wildlife to ensure future access to federal public lands while combating the growing impacts of climate change. It also encourages agency managers to work more closely with Tribal nations to ensure stronger cultural resource protection for ancestral lands across the West. The plan seeks to correct a system that has been wildly imbalanced. Currently, 90% of BLM land is open to drilling whereas only 14% are managed for conservation.

“The outpouring of support for the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule shows that people across the nation care about healthy land, water and wildlife and want to see these values endure for generations. We can’t continue to delay such vital protections for the natural world,” said Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society. “The United States should be a global leader and embrace public lands as a powerful solution to help address the climate and nature-loss crises. The fossil fuel industry has had outsized access to 90 percent of BLM public lands for many decades. The public has spoken and wants redress for that unfair, polluting advantage. It’s time we act accordingly.”

“After decades of prioritizing extraction and development on public lands over all other uses, the Bureau of Land Management is faced with lands that are severely degraded and vulnerable to wildfire and other climate-fueled events. This proposed Public Lands Rule elevates conservation as an equal use on public lands – on par with energy development, grazing, timber harvests or recreation—so that the health of wildlife, public lands and watersheds can be improved,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation . “As directed by Congress, the agency is supposed to thoughtfully develop lands in the right places while also protecting natural and cultural resources. The Public Lands Rule will help drive investment into the restoration of BLM’s forests, grasslands and shrublands to ensure that future generations can continue to work and recreate on these lands.”

“The overwhelming support is reflective of recent polling that shows Americans, regardless of party affiliation, support national goals of conserving our nation's lands and waters. Yes- industry and industry allies opposed the rule in efforts to continue to monopolize and control management. But people in public lands communities support this rule because it is built with public land users in mind,” said Danielle Murray, Senior Legal and Policy Director at the Conservation Lands Foundation. “The proposed rule would put conservation on par with other uses and allow local input during the planning process. We thank the Biden administration for recognizing that our public lands are one of the nation's most valuable resources.”

BLM plays a critical role in the American West, managing approximately 245 million acres of lands that are vitally important to the conservation of water, wildlife, cultural resources, and our growing demand for access to the outdoors. With the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule, the United States has a chance to lead the world on addressing nature loss.

Throughout the comment period, an array of public constituencies expressed support for the Public Lands Rule, including:

Elected leaders from across the West have expressed support for the BLM’s Public Lands Rule.

Nearly four dozen Democrats asked Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to strengthen a plan elevating conservation on public lands.

Over 80 Colorado Local Officials Call for More Protections for Bureau of Land Management Lands.

New Mexico Local Elected Officials Urge Bureau of Land Management to Prioritize the Conservation of our Shared Public Lands.

The Salt Lake Tribune, Denver Post, Albuquerque Journal and other western papers have editorialized in support of the Public Lands Rule.

The Outdoor Business Community including The Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Alliance support the Public Lands Rule.

27 Legal Professors and Scholars offer comments in support of the proposed rule.

Op-Eds from former BLM officials, local elected leaders, sportsman and business owners ran in papers across the west from California, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Reaction to the proposed Public Lands Rule

“People who visit, and communities that live close to, Bureau of Land Management lands know they include some of the nation’s most important watersheds and habitat for wildlife and fish. They know the beauty of the scenic expanses and the cultural significance of those places. Laws calling for conservation on those lands have been on the books since the 1970s. It is an overdue and welcome step to see our national policies updated to help land managers ensure better on-the-ground conservation outcomes all across the West.”

-James Kenna, Retired California State Director, Bureau of Land Management

“Our nation’s largest public lands agency, the Bureau of Land Management, has largely focused on resource extraction and commodity development for nearly 40 years,” said Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia. “As the climate crisis worsens and nature disappears, the US government must prioritize the protection of land and water for future generations and Indigenous communities, and to conserve habitat for endangered species. Otherwise, we won’t have a planet worth living on.”

- Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia

“When used wisely, the Bureau of Land Management conservation mechanisms will support our local economies, tourism, and outdoor recreation as well as provide certainty for our rural and gateway communities so we can make long-term investments. The public meeting in Colorado will help the BLM ensure that the rule will modernize management policies to allow for increased recreational opportunities and access to nature.”

- Chaffee County Commissioner Keith Baker

“We are grateful that the Bureau of Land Management is holding these public meetings on the proposed Public Lands Rule. This rule is critical to ensuring that New Mexico’s and America’s cherished public lands are managed in a balanced manner so that wildlife and local communities will benefit now and well into the future. We look forward to working with the agency as it implements this long-overdue rule and applaud the BLM for continuing to expand collaboration with local communities and Tribes. As a whole, this important new rule helps ensure that public lands are given the responsible stewardship, resources and protections they so desperately deserve.”

- Rev. Andrew Black, the public lands field director at the National Wildlife Federation, founder of Earthkeepers360, and minister at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe

“The proposed BLM conservation rule will give a new tool to land managers, the public, and state and Tribal governments to engage in collaborative land stewardship that aims to caretake watersheds, reduce wildfire risks, improve habitat resilience, provide for responsible development, and expand recreation opportunities. The new rule is not a quick or easy fix but encourages robust dialogue—and hopefully action— between those who use our public lands. Multiple uses of land, water, and wildlife for generations to come is clearly worth discussion.”

- Jennifer Black, New Mexico Artemis Sportswoman

“With the world facing severe and urgent threats as a result of biodiversity loss and climate change, it’s time for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to better balance conservation and development in its management of public lands. The agency’s draft Conservation and Landscape Health rule is a major step forward, but the BLM must improve it to ensure durable outcomes, conserve important wildlife migration corridors, provide co-stewardship opportunities for Tribal Nations, and sustain economic benefit for communities throughout the West—one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. This rule-making is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of public lands and the communities and wildlife that depend on them.”

- Marcia Argust, director for the U.S. conservation project at The Pew Charitable Trusts

“Our national parks are cultural and natural treasures that tell the story of America for present and future generations. Fully protecting parks is a vast responsibility that requires us to look beyond borders and to also protect landscapes surrounding parks. By ensuring BLM lands are conserved and managed in a way that comprehensively protects large landscapes, the proposed rule goes a long way toward achieving this critical vision.”

- Tracy Coppola, Colorado Senior Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association

“BLM Lands across Oregon are the backbone of our local economies/ People come from near and far to hunt and fish, hike and bike, raft and camp, and more on these lands. And with these activities come critical dollars spent in our stores, our hotels, and with our outfitter guides. A strong BLM Rule will ensure that our local communities can continue to thrive and grow for generations to come.”

- Tim Davis with Friends of the Owyhee

“It’s essential that New Mexico hunters and anglers made make themselves heard in this rule-making process. Our public lands belong to all of us, and we stood side-by-side and need to insist that conservation have a seat at the table when we’re planning how to manage them now and into the future.”

- Jesse Deubel, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation

“The Bureau of Land Management has always been tasked with safeguarding the health of 245 million acres of public land for the ‘use and enjoyment of present and future generations.’ Unfortunately, too often the agency focused more on extracting from those lands instead of restoring them. The proposed Public Lands Rule will bring proper balance to land management and is great news for all who rely on public lands – from rural communities to hunters and anglers, and other outdoor recreationists.”

- Breanna González, Colorado field coordinator, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO)

“The Bureau of Land Management has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect Oregon’s public lands, including the incredible high desert habitat. This remarkable area where we fish and hunt supports our communities and our way of life. It is time the BLM recognizes the cultural, economic, and environmental necessity of prioritizing conservation as our legacy and gift to future generations.”

- Liz Hamilton, the executive director of Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association (NSIA)

"The American people have made it clear that the Bureau of Land Management's proposed Public Lands Rule, bringing conservation to the same level of importance as other land uses, is well supported. This will mean that the BLM has another tool in the toolbox to best manage lands under its purview, according to the 'multiple use' mandate given by Congress. We at SUWA are glad to see so many people in support of common sense conservation that will be beneficial for the land, wildlife, and people who reside in Utah and across the West."

- Travis Hammill, DC Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

“The world class hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities Bureau of Land Management lands provide New Mexicans, and our state’s culture, heritage and way-of-life are forever connected to these protected lands. In Santa Fe County, the destruction of petroglyphs within the Caja del Rio Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) should be a call-to-action for the Bureau of Land Management. It is time to ensure that no further damage is done, and I am hopeful a strong Public Lands Rule from the BLM can honor the stewardship of the Puebloan people and protect these areas for generations to come.”

- Anna Hansen, Santa Fe County Commission Chair

“As a proud New Mexican and public lands advocate, I am thrilled to see the overwhelmingly positive response to the new Public Lands Rule, which prioritizes the protection of our public lands, cultural resources, and wildlife. This rule represents a significant step forward in our efforts to combat the growing impacts of climate change while preserving our cherished outdoor spaces for future generations. I am grateful for the tireless advocacy of our communities and tribal nations who have worked hard to ensure that these lands are protected and accessible to all. The BLM's renewed focus on conservation, recreation, and cultural resource protection is essential for the economic well-being of our rural communities and small businesses that rely on these lands. I am excited to see how this new policy will help us address the challenges of managing public lands in New Mexico and across the West, and I look forward to hearing from the public as we continue to refine and implement this critical rule.”

- Keegan King, CEO of Native Land Institute

"A strong rule can benefit wildlife in Colorado, by prioritizing protection of areas of public lands that wildlife call home. For example, the rule could help protect the most important habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse, a bird that is at risk of extinction and found only in Colorado and Utah. Gunnison sage-grouse are a favorite among birders who love to watch spring courtship rituals where males dance their hearts out to impress females. Elk, deer, songbirds, and many other wildlife species depend on the same habitat. This rule could help protect this crucial wildlife habitat by designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern."

- Megan Mueller, Conservation Biologist with Rocky Mountain Wild

“Drought, wildfires, invasive species, and over-use have all contributed to the degradation of wildlife habitat. It’s time that conservation is put on equal footing as the other multiple uses on the lands and waters managed by the Bureau of Land Management so that habitats can be restored. The proposed conservation rule will provide a way for the agency to ensure public lands thrive for generations to come.”

- Suzanne O’Neill, executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation

“The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. EcoFlight uses the aerial perspective to educate stakeholders about conservation challenges across the Western U.S., and from that bird’s eye-view over the years, we have witnessed too many BLM lands managed primarily for singular use only, such as fossil fuel extraction, and not available to the American public for recreation or sport or solitude. The BLM’s Public Lands Rule is an important first step for agencies to make balanced decisions that consider the needs of both current and future generations and give conservation equal footing with other land-uses. The proposed rule is supported by diverse Coloradans and elected officials, and will benefit our wildlands, wildlife habitat, and provide an important means for carbon sequestration in this changing climate.”

- Jane Pargiter, Executive Director of EcoFlight

“Over 120 local elected officials from Western states have called on the Biden administration to protect more Bureau of Land Management lands as part of the administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. We look forward to the BLM hearing about why the Public Lands Rule is so important to Westerners, and how it can conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands, wildlife, and waters in tandem with locally-led efforts to advance conservation across the West.”

- Anna Peterson, Executive Director of The Mountain Pact

“I’m encouraged to see BLM’s new Public Lands Rule, which prioritizes the protection of our public lands and natural and cultural resources. My home state of New Mexico has so many fragile cultural and natural resources that lie beyond significant protection from various types of development and encroachment. This new rule places conservation on a par with BLM’s other multiple uses and the timing is critical for so many threatened places and resources.”

- Paul F. Reed, Preservation Archaeologist, Archaeology Southwest

“Next 100 Colorado supports the proposed Bureau of Land Management rulemaking process; which includes a public meeting in Denver. This is a critical step the agency must take to prioritize balanced management practices in a just and inclusive way. For too long, the BLM has focused on extractive industries that negatively impact communities of color and disadvantaged communities. It is time that antiquated BLM land management policies are modernized to develop an inclusive conservation approach that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of communities and considers the values of communities who have been historically excluded. We hope this rulemaking will provide communities with the necessary tools to safeguard sensitive cultural resources, provide improved access to recreational opportunities, connect people to healthier landscapes, and protect communities of color.”

- Alma 'Rosie' Sanchez Co-chair, Next 100 Colorado

"As an outdoor business owner in Colorado, protected public lands play a critical role in my business and way of life. Protecting more of these BLM lands can help support local economies, local tourism industries and even local manufacturing like our Grand Junction-based outdoor brand while preserving our outstanding opportunities for recreation, including camping, hiking, paddling, hunting and fishing. Today’s public meeting is a great opportunity to encourage the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management should do all that they can to better conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands and waters. By doing so, they will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, equitable access to nature, and safeguard the climate which will ensure that these important public lands continue to offer the unique recreational opportunities that bring millions of Americans to the great outdoors.”

- Kevin Timm, Co-Founder and Co-owner Seek Outside, a Grand Junction-based manufacturer of high performance lightweight tents, backpacks and wood stoves

“In New Mexico, we’ve seen devastating climate impacts on our public lands. Whether it’s drought, invasive species, wildfire, or over-use, many ecosystems are struggling and need to be safeguarded or restored. This proposed rule is long-overdue and will give the Bureau of Land Management new tools to ensure that our wildlife, our lands and waters, our sporting heritage, and rural traditional communities can thrive for generations to come.”

- Max Trujillo, San Miguel County Commissioner and Senior Field Coordinator of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO)

“BLM Lands in New Mexico make up an important part of our local economy. People come from near and far to hike, bike, and more on these lands, and they spend their dollars in our stores, our hotels, and with our outfitter guides. Simply put, small, locally owned businesses like mine depend on BLM lands and we need to protect them. I am excited for New Mexicans to share with the BLM what these lands mean to them.”

- Ivan Valdez, Reel Life Santa Fe

"As a sportsperson who loves Colorado’s great outdoors, I stand in strong support of the BLM Public Lands Rule. Putting conservation on equal footing with oil and gas development will help boost our local economies, preserve wildlife habitat, and safeguard clean water. Today, Coloradans are coming together to let the BLM know that we want to preserve our way of life and ensure that future generations will always have access to our shared public lands."

- Brien Webster, public lands campaign manager at Conservation Colorado

“America’s parks and public lands are places of exploration and inspiration. Inappropriate development and activities on lands surrounding and connected to parks can directly impact park resources as well as visitor experience. The BLM’s vision provides a more balanced approach to conservation, development, and recreation. Parks and public lands are among the nation’s most iconic open areas of the West that drive tourism, offer refuge for wildlife, provide access to nature, and safeguard innumerable stories of human experiences on the land. Now is the time to save these critical places that are the backbone of a vibrant future.”

- Emily Wolf, New Mexico Program Coordinator for the Southwest Region of the National Parks Conservation Association

“Our nation’s protected public lands are tremendous assets to our Western communities. They play a critical role in our way of life and support our outdoor recreation and tourism economies, health, and well-being. They help make the communities where we live what they are while contributing to a healthier and better tomorrow for future generations. We must protect and restore more of these Bureau of Land Management lands and hope this rule-making process will be an opportunity for western voices to be heard.”

- Town of Truckee, California Vice Mayor David Polivy

“Many of our Western communities are being devastated by the impacts of the climate crisis. As a result, many of the areas important to Westerners and visitors are at risk of being unnecessarily degraded or lost, especially since many of the BLM lands in our communities are not permanently protected. We hope that through this rulemaking process, as the largest land manager in the nation, the Bureau of Land Management will play a leading role in protecting more of these lands and waters, and in turn, our communities for the future.”

- City of Flagstaff, Arizona Council Member, Jim McCarthy

2022 Friends Grassroots Network Grant Report

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 23:06:23 GMT

Over the last 16 years, the Conservation Lands Foundation has established a successful community-led approach to public land protection. Our mission is to protect, restore and expand the National Conservation Land system managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and we do that by strengthening the leadership and impact of our now 80+ member strong Friends Grassroots Network.

Our community-based philanthropy is based on the proven belief that each member of our Network knows best how to maximize the impact of the resources we provide. The use of our grants is unrestricted and we build relationships based on transparency, dialogue, and mutual learning.

We’re committed to regularly examining our decision-making culture and grant guidance to improve our practices and ensure that our impact is supportive and uplifting to Black, Indigenous, and other leaders and communities of color.

With these values at the forefront, in 2022 we distributed $1,970,000 in grant awards among 81 Friends Grassroots Network and partner organizations across 12 states. These grants supported projects such as public lands protection campaigns, youth education, communications support, and equitable and inclusive land management. Our full grant report can be found here.

CLiF Notes: June Edition

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:49:16 GMT

This month's edition of CLiF Notes features ways to take action for public lands, an update on one of our priority campaigns, protections for the greater Chaco landscape, and much more.

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

Act Now for Public Lands

The majority of U.S. public lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and 90% of these lands are open to extraction and other commodity-driven development. A recently proposed plan, the Public Lands Rule, will help solidify conservation into the agency’s mandate to manage public lands for multiple uses.

Take Action: Support the Public Lands Rule

This is your last opportunity for your voice to be heard on this issue. The public comment period ends on July 5, 2023. We hope you join us in urging the Bureau of Land Management to manage public lands in a way that will protect wildlife, watersheds, and cultural resources, and promote robust and healthy communities in the West.

Read: Conservation Lands Foundation’s Policy Director Kara Matsumoto recently co-authored a report with the Center for American Progress that examines how the Public Lands Rule will provide meaningful conservation protections to deserving landscapes across the country.

Listen: Retired Bureau of Land Management California State Director and Conservation Lands Foundation Trustee Jim Kenna joined the Center for Western Priorities on an episode of their podcast, The Landscape , to take a deeper dive into the Public Lands Rule and its long-term benefits to public lands.

Photo: Bob Wick

Priority Campaign Update: The Owyhee Canyonlands

Last week, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley re-introduced the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, a community-driven, Oregon-crafted solution for protecting the most important and threatened places in the Owyhee Canyonlands.

The Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network partners– Friends of the Owyhee and Oregon Natural Desert Association–have been working over the last four years to craft this proposal, which includes wilderness protections for about 1.1 million acres, almost 30,000 acres of in-trust lands for the Burns Paiute Tribe, and sustainable economic investments and opportunities for the poorest county in Oregon.

Virtually explore and take action to permanently protect the largest expanse of unprotected wildlands in the lower 48 states through our Owyhee Wonders StoryMap.

Photo: Tim Davis

The Friends Grassroots Network in Action

Friends Grassroots Network member Oregon Natural Desert Association won litigation against the Bureau of Land Management over its original resource management plan for the Owyhee Canyonlands and set a new precedent for forcing the agency to consider managing lands for wilderness values.

The amendment to this plan includes more than 400,000 acres of new lands with wilderness characteristics (administratively managed as wilderness) in the Owyhee region. It also means that while a monument or Congressionally designated Wilderness is important, there are strong administrative protections in place for the time being.

Chaco region protected from development

On June 2, the Department of the Interior announced its plan to administratively withdraw over 300,000 acres of public lands and minerals surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from future oil and gas leasing for a period of 20 years.

Interior Secretary Haaland made this withdrawal official after holding multiple public meetings and seeking comments from the public throughout 2022, during which time Pueblos of New Mexico and the American Southwest, Conservation Lands Foundation, and people from across the state and country spoke up in support of protecting the Greater Chaco Landscape.

We applaud President Biden and Secretary Haaland for taking tangible actions to protect this landscape. The announcement comes one month after the entire New Mexico congressional delegation, led by Senator Ben Ray Luján and Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, reintroduced the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2023, a bill to permanently withdraw the federal lands and minerals around Chaco Canyon from expanded oil and gas development.

Annual review highlights a year of momentum and success

Our 2022 annual review is here!

We're incredibly proud of a year marked by the people and partnerships that made public land protections happen.

Thanks to your support, we were able to:

Grant nearly $2 million to members of our Friends Grassroots Network
Protect over 9 million acres of public lands from oil and gas development
Secure a 25 percent increase in funding for the Bureau of Land Management to manage and protect National Conservation Lands in 2023

Read the complete review here . Protect what matters. Make a one-time or monthly donation.

New Mexico Communities and Environmental Groups Applaud Biden Administration for Protecting Lands Surrounding Chaco Canyon

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 22:26:26 GMT

Albuquerque, NM – New Mexicans express deep gratitude toward the Department of Interior (DOI) for approving a 20-year mineral withdrawal of federal lands and minerals within a 10-mile protection zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland made this withdrawal official after holding multiple public meetings and seeking comments from the public throughout 2022, during which time people from across the state and country spoke up in support of protecting the Greater Chaco Landscape. The withdrawal prohibits new oil and gas leasing on roughly 336,400 acres of public lands surrounding the park.

Secretary Haaland withdraws public lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from future leasing, mining claims.
Photo: Department of the Interior

The action by the Biden administration supports efforts in Congress to enact lasting protection. On May 3, 2023, New Mexico’s full congressional delegation, consisting of Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez, reintroduced the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, which would prevent new oil and gas leasing on the federal lands encompassed by the administrative withdrawal. Originally introduced in 2019 and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, the legislation would protect thousands of significant cultural properties and sites. While New Mexicans await passage of this legislation, the finalized 20-year withdrawal provides interim safeguards against continued threats to natural and cultural resources and public health in the region.

Last June, following the initial comment period, the All Pueblo Council of Governors traveled to Washington, DC urging the Biden administration to protect Chaco Canyon. In a press release, today, they stated, “The All Pueblo Council of Governors expresses our utmost gratitude for this momentous decision. Secretary Haaland and her leadership and staff within the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted a thorough and careful analysis before completing this withdrawal, listening to and elevating tribal voices throughout the process. Their work will leave an invaluable mark on this sacred landscape.” Additionally, the BLM received over 130,000 public comments in support of the 10-mile withdrawal during the two comment periods held in 2022.

The Greater Chaco Landscape includes Chaco Culture National Historical Park and thousands of ancient villages, roads, and shrines that were built by the ancestors of the Pueblos nations, which emerged and flourished in Chaco Canyon between 850 and 1250 A.D. Chaco Canyon has also been designated as a “World Heritage Site,” as the culture and heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest are inextricably linked to lasting protections for the Greater Chaco Landscape.

Over the years, reckless drilling has caused significant harm to the health of Indigenous and other local communities, lifeways, air quality, and cultural values in the landscape surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Oil and gas wells, roads, pipelines, and other infrastructure have destroyed significant cultural sites and transformed others into industrial parks . To allow more drilling in this area would completely disregard the calls from the Pueblos, Tribes, and other communities who share a deep connection to Chaco Canyon.

The area protected by the withdrawal does not include any private lands or allotments; is historically, spiritually, and ecologically significant to numerous Tribes in the Southwest; and its protection is critical.

Below are several statements detailing what this broad support for increased protections means for Greater Chaco as the Department of the Interior has finalized this 20-year withdrawal and Congress considers permanent protections.

"Today, as we come together in celebration of the protection of Chaco Canyon, we bear witness to the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities and their allies, who have stood firm in their commitment to safeguarding this sacred land, said Keegan King, Executive Director of the Native Land Institute. This achievement is not just about preserving a physical space; it's about honoring the living connection between the land and its people, a connection that is fundamental to the continuity of our cultural heritage. And while we take a moment to acknowledge the progress we've made, we know that there is still much work to be done. We stand united in our mission, driven by our dedication to the land and the invaluable legacy it holds. Together, we will ensure that Chaco Canyon and other sacred landscapes continue to thrive for generations to come."

“We are thankful the Biden administration is providing the long-term protections the Greater Chaco Landscape needs, with the Bureau of Land Management finalizing an oil and gas leasing withdrawal within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park,” said Paul F. Reed, preservation archaeologist at Archaeology Southwest . “We have pushed for the 10-mile cultural protection zone since 2016 and are pleased with this very important action. Protecting Greater Chaco from more drilling honors the decades-long effort on behalf of Pueblos, Tribes, and communities to protect the ancestral places, landscape, and history of the Pueblo people. The structures, sacred places, and other cultural resources in Chaco Canyon have stood for hundreds of years, and if all of us do our part and act as good stewards, they can stand for hundreds more.”

“We’re incredibly excited to witness the administrative mineral withdrawal of the Greater Chaco Region and celebrate the intentional protection of a space of immeasurable significance to the Puebloan and Diné peoples. We thank Secretary Haaland and the Biden Administration for this meaningful and deliberate step forward in the right direction, said Kacey Hovden, New Mexico Program Manager for Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project . “This movement has been led by and for the Indigenous communities of the Region, and is a culmination of intentional partnerships that we hope our state and federal leaders continue to actively and deliberately foster going forward. The Greater Chaco Region belongs to the Indigenous communities of the Southwest, and it is long due for land management planning to be centered on the voices of the communities this land is sacred to.”

“We thank Secretary Haaland for her leadership in enacting this administrative mineral withdrawal for this one-of-a-kind and sacred place. Greater Chaco constitutes a living cultural landscape to the Puebloan and Diné people. Respect for this alone demands that protections be put in place,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild . “Greater Chaco is also important for its night skies, paleontology, remnant wildness, natural beauty, and wildlife habitat. Prohibiting new leasing is critical to combating climate change and improving air quality and public health. New Mexico Wild is proud to stand in solidarity with Pueblo leadership in celebrating this crucial step toward providing the Greater Chaco Landscape the protections that it deserves.”

The Greater Chaco Landscape offers an irreplaceable window into the region’s history and continues to provide for contemporary indigenous cultures. Conservation Lands Foundation stands with the Pueblos of New Mexico and the American Southwest in strong support of safeguarding these sacred lands from future Oil and Gas development,” said Romir Lahiri, New Mexico associate program director for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “We applaud President Biden and Secretary Haaland for taking tangible actions to protect this landscape by enacting this important Mineral Withdrawal.”

“This is an exciting day for New Mexicans and all Americans who have voiced support for preserving the greater Chaco Canyon area. Protecting this unique treasure from oil and gas drilling is the right decision,” said Ellen Montgomery, public lands campaign director with Environment New Mexico and Environment America . “Drilling would disturb elk, bobcats, badgers and more than 100 bird species that live in and around the canyon. Thanks to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, this area is safe for the next 20 years. Now, Congress must act to protect this area forever.”

“NPCA has seen overwhelming support from our members and supporters across New Mexico and beyond for a 20-year ban on new oil and gas leasing on federal lands. We’re grateful to join the longstanding effort led by Pueblo and Diné organizers and leaders along with fellow community, conservation and historic preservation allies. This withdrawal is an important step toward permanent solutions for the broader extended landscape. Thanks to Secretary Deb Haaland for protecting the cultural and ecological values of this living cultural landscape,” said Emily Wolf, New Mexico Senior Program Coordinator for the National Parks Conservation Association.

“President Biden and Secretary Haaland’s decision to protect the lands around Chaco Canyon from future oil and gas development will safeguard important wildlife habitat, preserve clean air and water, and conserve more than 2,400 archaeological sites for future generations,” said Andrew Black, public lands field director for the National Wildlife Federation. “We thank the Biden Administration for ensuring that this spectacular landscape will continue to embody the rich history, culture, spirituality, and resilience of Indigenous communities throughout the Southwest and remain a sacred place for Indigenous people today.”

“Today, we stand with the tens of thousands of Indigenous Peoples and others in the Greater Chaco Region and beyond in celebrating a mineral withdrawal to protect this sacred landscape from more drilling,” said Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director of The Wilderness Society . “This decision is the result of years of Indigenous-led efforts to protect this sacred land, with support from local communities and advocates. We thank President Biden and Secretary Deb Haaland for listening to their demands and safeguarding these culturally significant lands and the communities living here today.”

Additional Background:

The withdrawal will only impact federal surface and subsurface land. It will not impact Navajo and private land that is checkerboarded within the zone, so Tribal members who live in the area will still be able to freely use and develop their land.

Additionally, beyond the ten-mile zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park there are much broader threats to cultural and natural resources and communities in northwestern New Mexico. Over the past few decades, BLM has leased over 90 percent of federal lands surrounding Chaco Canyon for drilling, and oil and gas companies have drilled more than 37,000 wells in the area and built a sprawling network of roads (15,000 miles) that’s five times greater than the distance from Los Angeles to New York.

Bureau of Land Management to Host Public Meeting for Proposed Public Land Rule

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 22:32:18 GMT

Reno, NV - Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host a public meeting for the proposed Public Lands Rule in Reno. The rule is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that puts conservation on equal footing with other uses within the agency. Nevadans are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to make their voices heard, and urge the BLM to elevate conservation and bring balance to how these public lands are managed for generations to come.

Event Details: Public Meeting on BLM Public Lands Rule

Date: Today, Thursday, June 1

Media Availability: 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT (Public Meeting from 5-7pm PT)

Location: Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4950 S Virginia Street, Reno

The BLM oversees the management and public enjoyment of 245 million acres of lands and waters across the United States—including 48 million acres in Nevada. The vast majority of BLM lands are open for oil and gas development and other extractive uses - 90%, while less than a tenth is set aside for conservation. The proposed rule would change future BLM planning and management by ensuring they consider and manage for a resilient ecosystem, which includes protecting intact landscapes, and achieving land health by applying land health standards. The proposed rule also identifies tools to advance conservation management, including: Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, mitigation, restoration and conservation leasing.

The Reno meeting is a part of a nationwide 75-day public comment period, on the agency’s new plan for how it will steward public lands under their care with a rebalanced focus on conservation, water, cultural resource protection and wildlife.

We applaud BLM for attempting to rebalance conservation and climate impacts, and are making several recommended improvements to the rule. They are as follows:

Habitat Connectivity: The final rule should require the identification and protection of habitat connectivity areas, in accordance with the BLM interim policy.

Old Growth and mature forests: The final rule should ensure that, in accordance with Executive Order 14072, older and mature forests are adequately protected and restored.

Intact natural landscapes: The final rule must ensure that, prior to approving any development action, the BLM has conducted an inventory of intact natural landscapes, including lands with wilderness characteristics, and determined that the action will not degrade any intact natural landscape.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs): The final rule should ensure that all eligible areas that meet the criteria are designated as ACECs and are properly managed.

Tribal Consultation and Co-management: BLM should consult with Tribes to further develop the regulatory language and ensure it fully advances opportunities for co-stewardship, incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge, respect for Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights, protection of Tribal cultural sites, and carrying out Tribal consultation in ways that honor the unique historic and current connections of Native Americans to public lands.

We encourage Nevadans and all Americans to submit their own public comment before the June 20th deadline.

####

Below are quotes from local partners who support the Public Lands Rule:

Nevada State Assemblyman Howard Watts III

“Many of our communities are located near Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, which include traditional homelands of Indigenous populations, vital watersheds for downstream communities, and outstanding fish and wildlife habitat. They also provide outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking, paddling, hunting and fishing. I was happy to join with over 100 of my colleagues in encouraging the BLM and the administration to do more to protect these important places and we hope the BLM will work with communities across the state to implement these new rules in upcoming plans.”

Russell Kuhlman, executive director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation

“Nevada’s public lands are facing many obstacles including drought, wildfires, invasive cheatgrass, and feral horses. It’s time that the Bureau of Land Management gives conservation a seat at the table with all of the other multiple uses it manages. I believe this proposed rule will help balance the extractive uses that occur on public lands without hindering them. It will also provide future generations with the opportunities we enjoy today and hopefully more.”

Shaaron Netherton, executive director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness

“We are excited to see a strong emphasis on the need for resource management planning that can address conservation and restoration along with all the other uses of our public lands. Many of Nevada’s land use plans are so out of date that a fresh look at the importance of managing for intact landscapes, wildlife corridor connectivity and restoration is long overdue. We are grateful that the BLM is working on this now.”

Jen Gurecki, CEO of Coalition Snow, a Reno-based snowsports brand and member of Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition

“This proposed rule isn't simply a matter of environmental stewardship; it's a strategic investment in our future. Giving conservation the attention it deserves and working collaboratively with Indigenous Tribes is a forward-thinking move that not only safeguards our natural heritage but also unleashes the potential of a booming outdoor recreation economy. By ensuring that BLM land is managed for a resilient ecosystem, we can tap into an economic force that currently contributes to the GDP three times that of oil and gas development.”

Kristee Watson, deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League

“As an avid sportswoman, who conducts most of my activities on public lands, I believe that the proposed conservation rule is imperative to fulfill the very mission of the Bureau of Land Management. ‘To sustain the health’ is the first thing mentioned in its mission statement. Without the health of these lands, there is no way to fulfill the remainder of its mission: ‘for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.’ I believe that people who truly cherish Nevada’s public lands will support this proposal, which simply seeks to improve the lands that wildlife, sportsmen and women, and rural communities depend on.”

Melissa Skelton, Nevada Artemis Sportswoman

“Bureau of Land Management lands in Nevada are vital for safeguarding wildlife, protecting cultural and natural resources, and driving our outdoor recreation economy. Establishing clear public land safeguards is also key to helping us mitigate the growing impacts of the West from the climate crisis. Seeing the agency make public land conservation a priority is the right step for protecting our outdoor way of life in Nevada, ensuring our local economies stay strong and protecting our climate.”

Bertha Gutierrez, program director of the Conservation Lands Foundation based in Nevada

“BLM lands, including many in Nevada like the newly designated Numunaa Nobe National Conservation Area, are among the nation’s most iconic open areas that drive tourism, offer refuge for wildlife, provide access to nature, and safeguard innumerable stories of human experiences on the land. Now is the time to preserve these iconic places, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape the future for BLM-managed public lands, our communities, and wildlife by participating in the agency’s comment period and public meetings like the one in Reno today.”

Anna Peterson, Executive Director of The Mountain Pact

“Lawmakers, businesses, and outdoor enthusiasts across Nevada want to see more administrative protections by the BLM. Over 120 local elected officials from western states have called on the Biden administration to protect more Bureau of Land Management lands. We look forward to the BLM using this rulemaking process to conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands, wildlife and waters in tandem with locally-led efforts to advance conservation across Nevada.”

New Mexicans Show Strong Support for Bureau of Land Management's Proposed Public Lands Rule

Tue, 30 May 2023 22:41:14 GMT

Albuquerque, NM – New Mexicans across the state commended the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s proposed public lands rule that will prioritize conservation in land management decisions. The agency is holding its second in-person meeting in Albuquerque today to answer questions from the public about the proposal. The BLM plays a critical role in New Mexico, managing over 13.5 million acres of lands across the state.

Known as the “Public Lands Rule,” the proposal highlights the need for the agency to work with local communities to focus on the conservation of land, water, and wildlife to ensure people can protect future access to federal public lands while combating the growing impacts of climate change. The draft Rule also encourages BLM managers to work more closely with tribal nations to ensure cultural resource protection in New Mexico and across the West. In addition, the Rule provides consistent direction to land managers to prioritize the inventory, designation, and special management of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). In addition to the meeting today in Albuquerque, the public has until June 20, 2023 to comment on the Rule.

Bringing conservation on equal footing with the many other uses of BLM lands would boost rural economies that depend on beautiful lands and clean water. The draft plan helps ensure a future in which people can continue to enjoy hiking and biking, hunting and fishing, and other forms of outdoor recreation, giving businesses the assurances they need to grow and thrive. According to the Bureau of Economic Affairs, the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico generates $1.1 billion in wages and salaries, almost 26,000 jobs, and almost 2% of New Mexico’s GDP. In 2022, businesses that serve communities that depend on BLM lands sent a letter calling for greater protections.

New Mexicans and leaders across the West have long been urging the BLM to update its policies to ensure the conservation of our cherished landscapes. Senator Martin Heinrich, along with other Western Senators, sent the Biden administration a letter encouraging the BLM to do more to protect more lands; and similarly, Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Teresa Leger Fernández recently sent a letter signed by 40 members of the House calling on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to direct the BLM to help Western states meet the challenges of the climate crisis by administratively protecting more public land. Local elected leaders have likewise called for greater BLM conservation.

The Public Lands Rule will help the agency better implement and balance its multiple use and sustained yield mission. This long overdue guidance is needed to update BLM’s policy framework to address the land management challenges of today, including rising temperatures, drought, and loss of nature in New Mexico and across the West.

Areas in New Mexico that could benefit from the BLM’s new Rule:

Caja del Rio ACECs: Two ACECs just outside of Santa Fe are known for petroglyphs dating back 8,000 years, other cultural resources, wildlife and special status species, geologic features, and scenic values. The La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site, located within the Caja del Rio, was recently vandalized again, and Pueblo leaders are asking for more patrols and resources to protect this site.
Greater Chaco ACECs: Chaco Canyon was designated in 1987 as one of 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States based on its importance as the center of Puebloan cultural and economic life during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries. The area holds thousands of artifacts and archaeological sites—some of which have yet to be identified and studied. Many tribes throughout the Four Corners are the direct descendants of the Chacoan people and consider the region their traditional homelands. The BLM’s current management plan, adopted in 2003, designated 79 ACECs within the Greater Chaco landscape to protect cultural resources. Unfortunately, these ACECs are small and fail to protect landscape-scale features of cultural importance. Since 2012, the BLM has been working to revise the management plan. However, the BLM rejected a 2014 nomination for a landscape-level ACEC, and the agency issued a draft plan in 2020 that declined to consider additional ACEC designations and included numerous exemptions for oil and gas drilling.
Otero Mesa: This area encompasses the largest remaining Chihuahuan desert black grama grassland and is home to pronghorn antelope, black-tailed prairie dogs, and numerous bird species. It has long been a priority for sportsmen groups like New Mexico Wildlife Federation. The area has been proposed as a Backcountry Conservation Area (BCA) since 2016 and an ACEC since 2008.
The draft rule provides critical guidance to BLM for protecting areas with outdated resource management plans. For example, the Carlsbad Field Office has been working for over a decade to revise its current plan, adopted in 1988, which governs the management of several areas that have been nominated for ACEC designation:
Carlsbad Chihuahuan Desert Rivers ACEC: The Carlsbad Chihuahuan Desert Rivers proposed ACEC – totaling 108,474 acres – includes the riparian corridors of the Delaware, Pecos, and Black rivers. The ACEC would protect cultural, historic, scenic, plant and animal, geologic, paleontological, soil, karst, and riparian resources.
Salt Playas ACEC: The Salt Playas proposed ACEC – totaling 49,772 acres – would protect Carlsbad’s salt lakes, which serve as essential stops for migratory shorebirds and have significant archeological and historical values.
Birds of Prey Grasslands ACEC: The Birds of Prey Grasslands proposed ACEC – totaling 349,355 acres – contains significant grasslands and an extraordinarily high diversity of raptors and other birds. The area is located between two principal routes of the Central Flyway, which is one of four waterfowl flyways in North America.

Community Support for the Public Lands Rule
“We are grateful that the Bureau of Land Management is holding these public meetings on the proposed public lands rule. This rule is critical to ensuring that New Mexico’s and America’s cherished public lands are managed in a balanced manner so that wildlife and local communities will benefit now and well into the future. We look forward to working with the agency as it implements this long-overdue rule and applaud the BLM for continuing to expand collaboration with local communities and Tribes. As a whole, this important new rule helps ensure that public lands are given the responsible stewardship, resources and protections they so desperately deserve.”

- Rev. Andrew Black, the public lands field director at the National Wildlife Federation, founder of Earthkeepers360, and minister at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe

“The proposed BLM conservation rule will give a new tool to land managers, the public, and state and Tribal governments to engage in collaborative land stewardship that aims to caretake watersheds, reduce wildfire risks, improve habitat resilience, provide for responsible development, and expand recreation opportunities. The new rule is not a quick or easy fix but encourages robust dialogue—and hopefully action— between those who use our public lands. Multiple uses of land, water, and wildlife for generations to come is clearly worth discussion.”

- Jennifer Black, New Mexico Artemis Sportswoman

“We applaud the BLM for their new Public Lands Rule. New Mexicans have worked for generations to protect our state’s one-of-a-kind natural and cultural resources. The BLM’s new rule will ensure that conservation is balanced with other uses helping communities protect special places like Otero Mesa and Chaco Canyon,” said Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director of The Wilderness Society. “Our congressional delegation have all been huge champions for conservation across the state, but they need good federal partners to ensure critical landscapes are protected. This new Public Lands Rule will give federal land managers clear direction and guidance to help them prioritize protect our state’s natural and cultural treasures for generations to come.”

- Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director of The Wilderness Society

“It’s essential that New Mexico hunters and anglers make themselves heard in this rule-making process. Our public lands belong to all of us, and we need to insist that conservation have a seat at the table when we’re planning how to manage them now and into the future.”

- Jesse Deubel, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.

“The Caja del Rio is a profoundly important cultural landscape that sustains traditional Hispano and Tribal cultures still to this day. To not do anything to conserve and protect this place yet reap what we have inherited is a sin. The Caja has to be passed on to my children’s children in better shape than I received it, no questions asked, and this starts with enhanced protections by the Bureau of Land Management.”

- Julian C. Gonzales Jr., lifelong sportsman, veteran, rancher, multi-generational New Mexican, and New Mexico Wild Grassroots Organizer

- Anna Hansen, Santa Fe County Commission Chair

- Keegan King, CEO of Native Land Institute

“We’re encouraged to see the Bureau of Land Management’s new Public Lands Rule, and the positive impacts it will have on how public lands are managed in New Mexico and around the country. This rule will help rebalance the agency’s land management priorities and put conservation on equal footing with other uses. In a rapidly changing climate, it’s time for the BLM to manage public lands in New Mexico and across the West in a way that combats climate change, safeguards watersheds and protects our way of life for the benefit of future generations.”

- Romir Lahiri, New Mexico Associate Program Director of Conservation Lands Foundation

“Over 120 local elected officials from Western states have called on the Biden administration to protect more Bureau of Land Management lands as part of the administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. We look forward to the BLM hearing about why the Public Lands Rule is so important to New Mexicans, and how it can conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands, wildlife, and waters in tandem with locally-led efforts to advance conservation across New Mexico.”

- Anna Peterson, Executive Director of The Mountain Pact

- Paul F. Reed, Preservation Archaeologist, Archaeology Southwest

- Max Trujillo, San Miguel County Commissioner and Senior Field Coordinator of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO)

- Ivan Valdez, Reel Life Santa Fe

- Emily Wolf, New Mexico Program Coordinator for the Southwest Region of the National Parks Conservation Association

Background on the BLM in New Mexico

There are 13.5 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed lands in New Mexico, making it the largest land manager in the state.
88% of the lands managed by BLM in the state of New Mexico are open to oil and gas development, while only 11% of the lands are protected.
Currently, 4.3 million acres of BLM managed minerals in New Mexico are under lease for oil and gas development. That's nearly 32% of the total acres of BLM-managed lands in the state.
There are 18 BLM designated wilderness areas in New Mexico, totaling 455,794 acres or less than 1% of the state’s total land mass and 3.3% of the total acres of BLM-managed lands in the state.
There are 48 BLM wilderness study areas in New Mexico totaling 725,006 acres or just under 1% of the state’s total land mass and slightly over 5% of the total acres of BLM-managed lands in the state.
There are 344,459 acres of BLM-identified lands with wilderness characteristics (sometimes referred to as “LWC areas”) or less than 1% of the state’s total land mass and 2.5% of the total acres of BLM managed lands in the state.
New Mexico Wild has identified an additional 2.9 million acres of BLM-managed lands it determined also have wilderness characteristics. The BLM does not currently manage these wilderness quality lands to protect their cultural and ecological values.

###

2022 Financial Reports

Tue, 30 May 2023 21:44:36 GMT

We’re committed to ensuring that our supporters have access to detailed and accurate information about how their contributions are being used. Check out our latest financial reports below, and learn more about the impact of the impact of your contributions here.

Click here to download a PDF version of our 2022 Financial Statement.

Click here to download a PDF version of our 2022 Form 990.

CLiF Notes: Connect with National Conservation Lands

Thu, 18 May 2023 23:59:07 GMT

This week, Conservation Lands Foundation turns 16!

Since 2007, your support helped:

Grow our Friends Network from 10 community-led organizations to more than 80
Permanently protect more than 10 million acres of National Conservation Lands
Defend and restore more than 15 million acres of public land from oil and gas development.

Thank you for joining us as we continue to protect millions more acres as National Conservation Lands for a healthy and prosperous future for all.

In this CLiF Notes edition, we have several updates and opportunities for you to get involved, let’s dive in!

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

On May 1, we launched the Respect. Connect. Protect. Campaign in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and members of our Friends Grassroots Network to increase the public’s understanding of how to visit remote, rugged, and sensitive National Conservation Lands safely, respectfully, and responsibly.

The campaign is designed to engage the next generation of visitors - particularly Gen Z and Millennials - and introduces Spokespebble , the adorable yet earnest voice to support respectful and safe visits on National Conservation Lands. Respect. Connect. Protect. produces endearing videos and social media content to drive people to the campaign’s website portal for tips and resources.

We invite you to help us spread the word by sharing on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter , and TikTok .

In March, the Bureau of Land Management proposed the “ Public Lands Rule, ” a new plan for the future of public land management that puts conservation on equal footing with resource extraction and other development uses.

The Bureau of Land Management is hosting four public meetings for you to learn more about this proposal that would rebalance the agency’s priorities.

We urge you to attend any of the following virtual and in-person meetings:

Denver, Colorado: Thursday, May 25, 5-7 p.m. MT
Denver West Marriott, 1717 Denver West Blvd, Golden, Colorado
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Tuesday, May 30, 5-7 p.m. MT
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th Street NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Reno, Nevada: Thursday, June 1, 5-7 p.m. PT
Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4950 S Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada
Virtual Meeting: Monday, June 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m. MT
Register Here

Time is running out to show your support for bringing balance to how public lands are managed for generations to come.

Submit Your Comment Today

Elevating Tribal Voices in D.C.

Earlier this month, we brought together five Indigenous leaders from across the West to Washington D.C. The advocates met with members of Congress and officials at the Department of the Interior and the White House Council on Environmental Quality to address the importance of Tribal co-stewardship, the recently proposed Public Lands Rule, and the protection of sacred landscapes that hold Indigenous cultural connections.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) can be an important tool for managing and protecting places of cultural importance to Indigenous communities on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. However, the agency has not been consistent in identifying, designating, and managing ACECs, leaving many of these places open to harm.

Participants expressed how the new Public Lands Rule can help the agency prioritize the designation and management of ACECs identified and nominated by Indigenous communities like those in the Red Desert in Wyoming .

Thank you to the Indigenous leaders for their meaningful participation:

Big Wind, Media and Communications, Wyoming Outdoor Council and Indigenous Land Alliance of Wyoming
Patti Baldes, Director, Wind River Native Advocacy Center
Crystal C’Bearing, Deputy Director, Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Yufna Soldier Wolf, Tribal Advocate for Conservation, Wyoming Outdoor Council; Founder, Indigenous Land Alliance of Wyoming
Skylar Begay, Director, Tribal Collaboration in Outreach & Advocacy, Archaeology Southwest

Learn more about the trip from the Indigenous Land Alliance here .

Introducing a New Look

Conservation Lands Foundation’s website has a fresh new look! We’ve redesigned conservationlands.org to make it even easier for you to donate, take action, and stay up-to-date with everything we do.

Be sure to take a look around and don’t miss our intro video on the homepage featuring CLF board, staff, and Friends Grassroots Network members.

Visit Our New Site

2022 Annual Donors

Thu, 04 May 2023 22:43:38 GMT

We are grateful for the generous individuals, foundations, corporations and agencies whose gifts, pledges and in-kind services made our impact and success possible in 2021.

Click here for a full list of donors who have made gifts between January 1 and December 31, 2022.

Community Leaders in Action: Get Outdoors Nevada

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 22:22:08 GMT

Our Friends Grassroots Network works year-round to make a difference for America's National Conservation Lands. Today, we're spotlighting Get Outdoors Nevada, a nonprofit organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada that provides education and volunteer services.

Get Outdoors Nevada strives for community engagement in all they do, whether it's teaching kids about the desert, sharing stewardship opportunities on local parks and trails, or chatting with Nevadans and visitors at various events throughout the Las Vegas Valley. We sat down with Rachel Bergren, executive director of Get Outdoors Nevada, to chat about Get Outdoors Nevada's work and plans for 2023!

What’s something everyone should know about your organization?

Conservation Lands Foundation teamed up with Get Outdoors Nevada in Fall 2022 for a community-wide clean-up of the "Great Unconformity."

We were so excited to join Get Outdoors Nevada late last year for the Great Unconformity Clean-Up. How many tons of trash were removed?

Get Outdoors Nevada will celebrate our 23rd birthday this year! The organization was formed in 2000 by a group of passionate outdoor enthusiasts and community leaders who understood the critical link between our spectacular outdoor places and our quality-of-life in Nevada. Today, we remain as passionate as ever about Nevada's urban and natural outdoor spaces and we strive to provide opportunities to people of all backgrounds and ages to experience, learn about, and care for these special places!

The Great Unconformity is really special and we love introducing participants to the distinctive features of this unique landscape. Last year, we were pleased to host two community clean-ups at the Great Unconformity on September 17 and November 19. We had over 100 volunteers join us for these two events and the groups collected a combined 5,875 lbs of trash!

Can you tell our readers a bit more about this particular landscape and why it’s deserving of protection?

This special landscape contains unique cultural, geological, and biological resources, and it offers extraordinary potential for accessible and safe outdoor recreation and education opportunities to the community on the East side of Las Vegas Valley. Currently, residents in the northeastern section of the Valley have no easy access to natural areas for hiking, family picnics, or simply enjoying time immersed in nature. Get Outdoors Nevada is exceptionally proud to be working with a growing list of community partners to bring more attention and protection to this iconic landscape.

What was one of Get Outdoors Nevada’s proudest achievements in 2022?

We are proud of all that we accomplished with our partners and community members in 2022---it's impossible to pick just one!

Organizationally speaking, we are very proud and excited to have completed a new 3-year strategic plan in 2022! As part of the planning process, we updated our organizational vision and mission statements to reflect our evolution, growth and current work in the community. With respect to our programs, we were delighted to have robust program engagement in 2022, particularly for our education programs which were significantly impacted by the pandemic. In 2022, we delivered 344 education programs and 51 field trips, providing learning experiences for more than 12,000 participants, rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. In addition, we were proud to host 84 volunteer stewardship events engaging more than 3,800 volunteers and clearing more than 6.5 tons of trash from community parks and trails.

Finally, we were honored to serve as the official volunteer coordination partner for an Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign led by the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission. Through the campaign, volunteer teams were provided with custom sensors that collected temperature and humidity data as they drove pre-mapped routes through neighborhoods across the valley in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The data will be used to identify which neighborhoods experience hotter temperatures in Southern Nevada. Get Outdoors Nevada was excited to contribute to this unique project, which will help inform future policies and projects aimed at mitigating heat islands, lowering the risk of heat stress across the community, and ultimately supporting an environment that is safe, healthy and enjoyable for people to spend time outdoors.

Get Outdoors Nevada was proud to be a part of the campaign to protect Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, designated by President Biden in March 2023. Photo: Department of the Interior.

I’m sure Get Outdoors Nevada has big plans for 2023 - any ones we should know about?

We were proud to be a part of the Honor Avi Kwa Ame coalition, which worked to protect this sacred landscape in southern Nevada. We were thrilled that President Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame as a National Monument in March 2023, protecting this important landscape for future generations.

In addition, we recently merged our volunteer and education program operations in order to strengthen internal program integration. We believe that adopting an integrated approach to program planning, implementation, and evaluation will lead to better outcomes for our partners, program participants, and our staff and volunteers. As we head into 2023 with a new team structure and solid programs in place, we are looking forward to building on our work throughout the community in meaningful ways. In addition to sustaining our flagship programs, our plans include creating more native habitat corridors with our partners at the City of Las Vegas, providing more field trip opportunities for Clark County students to explore our public lands, and increased public outreach promoting opportunities to use, enjoy and care for our community's vast network of open spaces, parks and trails.

Finally, we are proud to continue our advocacy work in helping to develop a new National Monument campaign to protect important landscapes on the East side of Las Vegas.

Watch: Learn more about Get Outdoors Nevada's recent accomplishments in their Annual Report Video!

How can folks get involved with Get Outdoors Nevada? Any upcoming projects or events?

We offer a variety of learning and service opportunities to join us in the outdoors---we invite everyone to follow us on social media @getoutdoorsnv and check out our events calendar to learn more and to sign-up!

Championing Public Lands in Washington, D.C.

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 22:28:45 GMT

Conservation Lands Foundation gathered advocates from our Friends Grassroots Network to advocate on behalf of the landscapes they care about in Washington, D.C. Oregon Natural Desert Association's Campaign Manager Karly Foster summarizes her experience in the nation's capitol to advocate for public lands and conservation in Oregon’s high desert.

This article was originally published by the Oregon Natural Desert Association. Be sure to sign up for their e-newsletters and follow them on social media!

Members of the Friends Grassroots Network meet with Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning and Principal Deputy Director Nada Culver.

Elevating Public Lands Conservation as a National Priority

My colleagues and I prioritized a set of public lands issues of national concern, then trained ourselves for meetings on the “Hill” with legislators in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. No matter who was on our schedule, what region of the country they were from, or where their political affiliation lies, we were prepared to explain the importance of conserving public lands for all Americans. I was ready to talk about national monuments and other conservation designations, needed funding for the Bureau of Land Management, and an important new policy the bureau has proposed to elevate conservation, wildlife habitat connectivity and tribal co-stewardship of public lands. The proposed new regulation was officially announced by the bureau this past week and will also include new direction for the agency to provide for land health and climate resilience on the public domain.

Prowling the Halls of Congress

I was pleased to meet with legislative staff from a number of states, including Representative Dina Titus of Nevada. Pictured below, Rep. Titus’s conservation leadership helped to secure designation of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, a key desert landscape in the Great Basin.

I also met with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden’s staff to discuss important conservation issues and opportunities in the high desert, including the threats posed by the new Mountain Home Air Force Base jet fighter training plan , protections for Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, and opportunities to conserve wildlife habitat in the Greater Hart-Sheldon.

Additionally, I had the chance to meet with the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. Speaking to Policy Aide, Qay-liwh Ammon, and Staff Director for National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Sub Committee, Brandon Bragato, I presented a multitude of overlapping issues and conservation efforts in the Owyhee Canyonlands.

My week in Washington, D.C., last month began with a statement to the news media:

“President Biden has called for protecting 30% of our public lands and waters by 2030, and in Oregon there are imminent opportunities to help reach this goal,” said Karly Foster, Campaign Manager with Oregon Natural Desert Association. “This week I’m asking leaders to support protecting Oregon’s high desert public lands and rivers, including the Owyhee Canyonlands and wildlife corridors in the Greater Hart-Sheldon.”

In early March, I traveled to Washington D.C., to advocate for public lands, waters and wildlife in Oregon’s high desert. Hosted by Conservation Lands Foundation, I was part of a contingent of representatives from the Friends Grassroots Network, a group comprised of partner organizations from across seven western states who advocate for public lands conservation.

It was a wild, busy, productive week. I met with representatives and administrative offices, attended trainings to discuss national conservation priorities and shared the important issues affecting Oregon’s high desert.

Descending on the Department of the Interior

We then scrambled across town to the Department of the Interior to meet with Director Tracy Stone-Manning and Principal Deputy Director Nada Culver of the Bureau of Land Management. We delved into ONDA’s new graphics on the importance of the Greater Hart-Sheldon to pygmy rabbit , pronghorn and greater sage-grouse . The bureau is working on several planning processes in this region to ensure that these public lands continue to support resilient habitats and wildlife migration corridors.

Enjoying Washington, D.C.

In between meetings and after hours, I took in some of the incredible sights in Washington, D.C., including touring through the U.S. Botanic Garden, attending the National League of Conservation Voters reception at the Library of Congress, and snapping a photo of my favorite artwork of the entire trip: carvings of moose in the Department of the Interior building. But, my favorite experience of all was the incredible food the city has to offer!

This One’s in the Books

I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about civic engagement and how to uplift conservation opportunities on public lands in Oregon and the West, and I look forward to building on the new relationships and momentum we created to benefit our conservation campaigns. Conversations we began on Capitol Hill and with the Biden administration will carry forward to the work we do together in the high desert. Stay tuned for ways you can continue to be part of these efforts! And remember, always wear gel inserts while advocating for conservation all day on marble floors…

CLiF Notes: April Edition

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:19:25 GMT

Happy Earth Month! Although it might not feel like it quite yet (at least here in Durango, Colorado), warm weather is just around the corner. While we await the promise of spring, we're delighted to share exciting updates from our team.

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

Welcoming Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

Conservation Lands Foundation staff members join Tribes, coalition partners and Nevada Representative Dina Titus to celebrate the designation of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Washington, D.C.

In case you missed our last alert, on March 21, 2023, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada and Castner Range in Texas as national monuments, protecting over half a million acres of public lands.

Take Action: Thank President Biden for protecting Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

As one of our priority campaigns, we’re thrilled Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is now a part of the National Conservation Lands system, alongside some of the most spectacular natural, historical, cultural and archaeological sites in the country.

We were honored to join representatives from regional Tribes, coalition partners and members of the Nevada delegation and it was heartening to see this sacred landscape gain long-lasting protection.

We invite you to protect other deserving landscapes across the West like the Caja del Rio in New Mexico, Molok Yuluk in California and the Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon. Ever onward!

Act Now for Public Lands

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management announced a plan to modernize the agency’s strategies for managing public lands by rebalancing its focus on conservation, recreation, wildlife, water and local economies.

Act Now for Public Lands: Send your comment today!

As you may know, nearly 40% of all U.S. public lands are overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. Yet, 90% of these lands are open to extraction and other development.

The Bureau of Land Management’s "Public Lands Rule” is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring balance to the agency and shape the future of these landscapes that sustain local communities, wildlife, and our quality of life. They have started a 75-day public comment period and we invite you to join us in acting now for public lands !

Investing in National Conservation Lands

In December 2022, we secured a historic 25% funding increase for America’s National Conservation Lands as part of this year’s Interior Department budget. While this was a monumental victory, we need to ensure Congress continues investing in National Conservation Lands.

To date, we’ve secured the support of more than 100 local and national organizations for another budget increase to manage National Conservation Lands and cultural resources for 2024.

This clear mandate from community-based advocates has led to more House and Senate conservation champions than ever before – 32 House members and 10 Senators have sent letters to appropriators supporting our funding request.

Leave a Conservation Legacy

Join us on May 4th for a webinar to explore important elements of gift planning, such as bequests, giving through a retirement plan, gifts of non-cash assets, leveraging your Donor Advised Fund, and minimizing tax burdens for your heirs. No matter your current finances, you’ll leave our session with the tools to prepare a legacy that will protect essential public lands, water and wildlife for generations to come.

When: Thursday, May 4 at 11 AM MT
RSVP Here

As always, thank you for your continued support of our work to protect the lands you love.

2022 CLF Grantees

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 23:04:03 GMT

We are grateful for the incredible work done by our Friends Grassroots Network and partners in 2022.

Click here to download a PDF of our grant recipients in 2022.

Shape the Future of Public Lands

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 19:11:11 GMT

Growing Support for Largest Federal Public Lands Manager to Embrace Conservation Vision

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

There is broad and growing support for the Bureau of Land Management to implement an ambitious conservation vision in order to meet the needs of the 21st century. Join our movement to chart a new course for the future of public lands.

Act Now for Public Lands: Support the Public Lands Rule

As the nation’s largest land manager, the Bureau of Land Management must show bold leadership and take action to address the climate and biodiversity crises to ensure the healthy future of our economies, environment and way of life. The Bureau can and must use its existing authorities to safeguard wildlife corridors, restore damaged landscapes and protect our remaining wildlands.

The Bureau of Land Management manages three times as much land as the National Park Service, yet only 15% is currently protected.

The Bureau of Land Management’s mission states a commitment to managing America’s public lands by balancing multiple use and sustained yield to adapt to our time's challenges and opportunities. Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Management has never fully embraced or implemented its mission's conservation portion.

To meet the needs of the twenty-first century, the agency must implement new policies and guidance which clearly outline how the agency will protect climate-resilient landscapes across the West. Learn more about how a strong conservation plan can make huge impacts for the future of public lands. READ MORE

Broad support for the Bureau of Land Management to take bold conservation action:

Community Support

America the Beautiful Commitment – “BLM lands represent the single biggest opportunity for President Biden and Secretary Haaland to make conservation progress and balance a system that has overwhelmingly favored the short-term interests of oil, gas, and mining companies.”

Business Support

Outdoor Business Support letter – Outdoor industry companies want more conservation action by the BLM.

Elected Official Support

40 Members of the House of Representatives call on Secretary Haaland and the BLM to Prioritize Conservation

Conservation Community Support

Conservation Lands Foundation

Media Coverage

The Albuquerque Journal calls for “true BLM leadership” in recent editorial

Community Support

Center for American Progress Report – Executive Action vs. the Nature Crisis: Top 8 Opportunities President Biden Should Pursue To Meet His America the Beautiful Commitment – “ BLM lands represent the single biggest opportunity for President Biden and Secretary Haaland to make conservation progress and balance a system that has overwhelmingly favored the short-term interests of oil, gas, and mining companies.”
Center for Western Priorities - The top 8 actions Biden can take to protect 30×30 – Podcast highlights need for BLM action as top priority for Biden Administration.
Navajo Nation Utah Commission Resolution - The Navajo Utah Commission calls for more WSA protections to ensure Biden administration reaches 30x30 goals.
Land, Latinos, and FLPMA: We Demand Protections for Wilderness Study Areas – There is strong support across the Latinx community for protecting BLM lands.

Business Support

Outdoor Business Support letter – Outdoor industry companies want more conservation action by the BLM.
Colorado Outdoor Business Op-ed – Colorado’s outdoor economy is dependent on protected BLM Lands.
New Mexico Outdoor Business Op-ed – Protected BLM lands are critical to New Mexico’s outdoor industry.

Elected Official Support

40 Members of the House of Representatives call on Secretary Haaland and the BLM to Prioritize Conservation
California Natural Resources Agency calls on BLM to “use all of its authorities to advance a collaborative and inclusive approach to conservation…”
Western Senators push Sec. Haaland for more focus on BLM Conservation – Senator’s from California, Colorado and New Mexico call for use of more administrative conservation tools.
Oregon Senators call for more BLM Conservation in letter to DOI – Senator Wyden and Merkley note that “protecting lands managed by the BLM is the single biggest opportunity the administration has to make conservation progress.”
Seven-Senators Wilderness Study Area follow-up letter to Sec. Haaland – Senators reiterate their request that the Secretary of the Interior use existing authorities to establish wilderness study areas.
Seven-Senators Wilderness Study Area (WSA) Letter to Sec. Haaland – Senators call on the Secretary of Interior to push for more BLM conservation.
Sen. Padilla and Rep. Huffman Letter to BLM State Director California Senator and Representative call for more BLM administrative protections as part of planning processes.
Congresswoman Degette’s Scoping Letter - Dean of Colorado delegation pushes for more BLM protections in new planning process
Mountain Pact Local Elect Official Letter of Support – Over 120 present and past western local elected officials call for more protection of BLM managed lands.
Colorado local elected official letter to state director – Local elected officials want new BLM resource management plans to prioritize conservation.

Conservation Community Support

Conservation Community Supports BLM’s effort to protect wildlife connectivity:
AZ 30x30 Coalition Statement
Sierra Club Statement
The Wilderness Society’s Statement
Audubon’s Statement
NWF’s Statement
Mountain Pact Statement
TRCPs Statement
Wildlife Network
Western Watersheds
Arizona Conservation Organization Letter to State Director - BLM has the authority to protect Arizona’s most valuable wildlands.
Grand Canyon Chapter of Sierra Club Letter to State Director - Protected BLM lands are critical to Arizona and these areas must be prioritized.
California/Nevada Sierra Club Committee Letter to State Director - California has made significant commitments to conservation, to succeed it needs the BLM to “go big!”
Montana Chapter of Sierra Club Letter to State Director - BLM in Montana should prioritize recommended wilderness and new Wilderness Study Areas.
T oiyabe Chapter of Sierra Club Letter to State Director (Link here/Doc attached) - Nevada BLM needs to designate more Wilderness Study Areas to ensure the state's cultural resources and native species.

Media Coverage

Colorado's House Democrats call on the use of executive action to protect more BLM land
The Albuquerque Journal calls for “true BLM leadership” in recent editorial
Jim Baca - former Director of the BLM calls on BLM to “lead from the front and prioritize meaningful conservation”
Durango Herald says BLM needs direction, bold action on conservation.
The New York Times calls BLM land conservation the most “useful” thing the administration can do to meet its ambitious goals for nation.
Durango Herald Op-Ed calls for more BLM support of wildlife corridors and connectivity.
Salt Lake Tribune calls for state to be a “public lands” state.
Grand Junction Sentinel – BLM policy good for users, wildlife – Sentinel praises wildlife connectivity instruction memorandum as good step in right direction for BLM.
Grand Junction Sentinel – Managing Lands for the Future – Sentinel highlights needs for more conservation management to balance BLM’s mission.
WyoFile – Red Desert cultural sites reflect broader tribal frustrations - Tribal communities in Wyoming want BLM to protect cultural sites as ACECs.
Washington Post - Report details how Biden can protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 without Congress – BLM conservation is administration’s biggest opportunity.
Greenwire - BLM advances strategy to protect wildlife migration corridors - The Bureau of Land Management directed state offices to identify corridors and conserve or restore them.
P ublic News Service - Bureau of Land Management Prioritizes Wildlife Connectivity – New direction to have positive impacts on Nevada Wildlife.
KJZZ - Bureau of Land Management announces new agency policy on wildlife corridors - new policy could help the Arizona office as it develops new policies for that land.
Huffington Post - Biden Could Be Missing Out On His Biggest Conservation Opportunity - Conservationists worry that the Bureau of Land Management is moving too slowly on a key tool for success.
Greenwire: Senate Dems: More Wilderness Study Areas – Senators want more bold conservation from the BLM.
Grand Junction Sentinel - Public Lands Conservation Lagging in West - Conservationists call for quicker conservation action.
KJZZ - BLM Could Play a Major Role in America the Beautiful. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

President Biden Designates Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range National Monuments

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 22:47:36 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) in Southern Nevada and Castner Range in Texas as national monuments.

In November 2022 during the annual White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden announced his intention to designate Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada as a national monument and last March, Interior Secretary Haaland visited Castner Range in Texas.

Today, the President honored his commitment to Tribal leaders, elected officials, businesses, recreationists, and local communities by designating Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range as national monuments via the Antiquities Act.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on Avi Kwa Ame National Monument:

“Today’s action by President Biden to designate Avi Kwa Ame a national monument honors the decades-long efforts to protect this sacred area and creates a corridor of protection from the Mojave Preserve in California to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Arizona/Nevada border.

“We are thrilled Avi Kwa Ame will now be a part of the National Conservation Lands, alongside some of the most spectacular natural, historical, cultural and archaeological sites in the country, including places like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante which President Biden helped restore early in his administration. We look forward to continuing to work with his administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and elected officials to designate other places worthy of protection.

“Avi Kwa Ame is home to Nevada’s largest Joshua Tree, critical desert tortoise habitat, and several sites of cultural and historic significance. Its designation as a national monument is a bold step forward towards achieving the goals of this Administration’s America the Beautiful goals.”

The public can hear about the importance of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument from members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and local community members at AviKwaAme.com . Learn more about Castner Range National Monument here .

####

Conservation Lands Foundation and Environmental Advocates Urge Federal Officials to Protect More Public Lands

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:50:34 GMT

Washington, D.C. – This week Conservation Lands Foundation and representatives from seven Indigenous and conservation organizations from across the west are meeting with Bureau of Land Management staff and more than 20 members of Congress to urge them to protect more public lands, safeguard the bedrock laws that enable their protection, and properly fund their management.

“Protecting public lands that have immense cultural and ecological value is a win-win for the Biden administration,” said David Feinman, Government Affairs Director with Conservation Lands Foundation. “Conserving more of these places is the single biggest opportunity the administration has to make progress on its climate goals and to partner with Tribes on preserving their ancestral lands.”

Key priorities for advocates are protecting public lands that are sacred to Indigenous Tribes, including expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in northern California. Yesterday, on Tuesday March 7, California Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein and Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson reintroduced the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act. This bill would permanently protect part of Molok Luyuk (Condor Ridge) which is adjacent to the existing Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

“As a tribal citizen of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, a tribe who was landless until 2020, I understand first hand the difficulty that tribes face when confronting the lack of access to land,” said Caressa Nguyen, Tribal Liaison/Grassroots Organizer with Tuleyome in California. “That’s why this week, I’m urging leaders in Congress to support the expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and tribal co-management. When tribes are able to manage their ancestral lands, it increases a landscape’s resilience to natural disasters and benefits everyone.”

Advocates also ask Congress to conserve important public lands in Oregon, which they say could help advance the administration’s climate and conservation goals.

“President Biden has called for protecting 30% of our public lands and waters by 2030, and in Oregon there are imminent opportunities to help reach this goal,” said Karly Foster, Campaign Manager with Oregon Natural Desert Association. “This week I’m asking leaders to support protecting Oregon’s high-desert public lands and rivers, including the Owyhee Canyonlands and wildlife corridors in the Greater Hart-Sheldon area.

Moreover, the groups ask that Congress increase funding for managing the National Conservation Lands, which comprise approximately 35 million acres of public lands nationwide and are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Since 2000, the system of National Conservation Lands has nearly doubled in size but funding to properly care for these lands has not kept pace with this growth. Increased support for these important landscapes can help conserve Indigenous and other cultural resources against vandalism and other threats, restore fish and wildlife habitat after years of neglect, and improve visitor experience and recreational infrastructure such as trails and signage.

They also request that Congress oppose any efforts to undermine the Antiquities Act, the 1906 law that grants U.S. Presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments. To date, 18 Presidents (9 Republicans and 9 Democrats) have used the Antiquities Act to designate more than 130 national monuments.

Finally, groups urge the Department of the Interior to use all of the too ls at the agency’s disposal to expand and defend existing protections for public lands nationwide. This could include designating lands with wilderness characteristics as Areas of Environmental Concern or Wilderness Study Areas.

###

Welcoming New Field Team Members

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 22:54:29 GMT

Conservation Lands Foundation is excited to introduce two new members of our Field Team: Jora Fogg joins us as Associate Program Director in California, and Katya Spiecker as our new Associate Program Director in Colorado and Utah.

Each brings unique expertise and a passion for helping a diverse array of communities restore, protect and expand America’s National Conservation Lands.

Jora Fogg (she/her) brings nearly two decades of experience working for small conservation non-profits in both the scientific and policy spaces. Most recently, she spent eight years as Policy Director with Friends Grassroots Network member Friends of the Inyo.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Jora holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Evergreen State College with a focus in Ornithology. She also serves as a County Planning Commissioner and on the board of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Foundation. Based in June Lake, Jora will be closely working with Friends Grassroots Network members in Northern California to drive community-based advocacy efforts.

Katya Spiecker (they/them) joins our team with over a decade of experience advocating for public lands conservation. Originally from Bend, Oregon, Katya moved to Colorado in 2018. Inspired by nature’s wonders, they developed a diverse knowledge of ecosystem science and natural history.

Holding a bachelor’s of science in Environmental Science from the Oregon Institute of Technology, Katya caught the grassroots organizing bug working for Oregon Natural Desert Association and Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Based in our Durango office, Katya will be closely working with our Friends Grassroots members in Colorado and Utah to ensure that the voices of the people who live near valuable and vulnerable landscapes are heard.

Please join us in welcoming Jora and Katya to the Conservation Lands Foundation!

CLiF Notes: Jumping Into 2023

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 22:32:51 GMT

Our Time to Care campaign is bringing needed funding for America’s National Conservation Lands. Photo: Bureau of Land Management, California

We’re supporting land management that prioritizes conservation over extraction. Photo: Bureau of Land Management, Oregon.

Improving Land Management

As the largest caretaker of public lands in the country, the Bureau of Land Management has an enormous responsibility to protect the remaining valuable and vulnerable climate-resilient landscapes across the West.

With 85 percent of the lands the Bureau manages unprotected, we’re aggressively working to ensure a greater balance for restoring, conserving and sustainably managing these lands.

We’re collaborating with policymakers and uplifting the public’s support for conserving these lands for our water, wildlife and way of life. Our most recent efforts are reflected in these opinion editorials from the New York Times and the Durango Herald.

Growing Public Support

Conservation requires the ongoing support of communities and it’s essential we continually bring more people into the movement. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining environmental leaders across the country in a meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to uplift local communities’ deep and broad public support for arresting the climate crisis, which includes the conservation and stewardship of America’s public lands. And our work to harness community power to designate Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada as a National Monument was reflected in a story in the New York Times this week.

Want to receive CLiF Notes in your email inbox? Sign up for our emails here .

Mobilizing Community

The National Conservation Lands system has nearly doubled in size since its inception in 2000. Yet, annual funding for the Bureau of Land Management to properly take care of these important places has not kept up with this dramatic growth.

As we expand the National Conservation Lands system, we need to ensure funding is in place for the staffing and resources necessary to restore wildlife habitat, protect cultural resources and improve recreational infrastructure like trails and signage.

Over the past four years, we’ve led a community mobilization campaign of more than 100 national and grassroots organizations, including our Friends Grassroots Network, to increase funding for the Bureau of Land Management to take care of the National Conservation Lands.

We’re excited that our steady work and dedication secured a 25 percent funding increase for National Conservation Lands as part of the 2023 Interior budget. This is the biggest year-to-year funding increase Congress has provided for the National Conservation Lands to date.

Learn more here .

Our Conservation Lands Foundation team is jumping into the new year with focus and momentum.

In our first 2023 edition of CLiF Notes, we’re excited to share below a few highlights of recent progress on our three key strategies to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands essential to slowing the climate and biodiversity crises.

Interior Department Puts Biden Administration’s Climate Goals At Risk

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:57:50 GMT

Environmental Impact Report for ConocoPhillips’ Western Arctic Project Ignores Pollution and Local Community Impacts

Today the Interior Department released a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for ConocoPhillips’ proposed Willow Project and I can't stress enough how it stands in direct conflict with the Biden administration's climate and conservation promises.

Conoco continues to report excessive profits and if the Biden administration grants them this massive “infrastructure hub” for oil and gas development in this critical ecosystem it will dramatically threaten the wildlife and human lives that depend on it for generations to come.

The Interior Department must wait at least 30 days before issuing a Record of Decision on Willow. The environmental analysis ignores significant and irreversible pollution and local community impacts and we urge the administration to stop the Willow Project before it's too late.

The Conservation Lands Foundation has been part of the national effort to prevent the approval of the Willow Project and as part of that effort, here's a link to the ads we're running bit.ly/3XFlsMm telling President Biden to do what's right. #StopWillow

####

Time to Care: Investing in National Conservation Lands for the Future

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:18:36 GMT

Late last year, Congress approved an historic investment for America’s National Conservation Lands in their 2023 appropriations bill, a direct result of collective efforts from supporters like you who made their voices heard about the importance of providing the Bureau of Land Management with more resources to manage our public lands.

What are National Conservation Lands?

The system of National Conservation Lands, established in 2000, is the newest designation of public land protection that contains some of the nation’s most spectacular landscapes and are managed by the largest caretaker of public lands in America, the Bureau of Land Management.

Vandalism of petroglyph panels and instances of illegal dumping are on the rise in vulnerable landscapes like the Caja del Rio in New Mexico.

The Mojave Trails National Monument in southern California is just one of the many landscapes that make up the National Conservation Lands system. Photo: Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.

The National Conservation Lands represent our nation’s natural, cultural, and outdoor heritage, and proper funding helps ensure these places are better managed for their essential values.

Communities Call on Congress to Care

Over the past four years, we have succeeded in engaging more than 100 national and grassroots organizations, including our Friends Grassroots Network, in direct advocacy on increasing appropriations for the Bureau of Land Management to take care of the National Conservation Lands.

Our collective impact is securing more funding for these important landscapes and successfully pushing back against efforts to cut this funding.

In 2021 and 2022, we worked closely with Colorado Representative Diana DeGette and Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen to lead advocacy efforts within the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, in support of this grassroots advocacy campaign. With their leadership and support for our collective advocacy, Congress passed a 25% increase in funding as part of the FY2023 Interior budget. We thank Rep. DeGette, Sen. Rosen, and many other conservation champions in Congress for ensuring this historic funding increase was achieved!

While this is a monumental victory for National Conservation Lands and the communities that support them, we know there’s more work to be done to ensure the Bureau of Land Management has the staffing and resources necessary to do the important work of managing our public lands.

Stay tuned for future updates on this work and how you can get involved.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Congress for Historic Investment in National Conservation Lands (CLF)

National Conservation Lands include National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Scenic and Historic Trails, and much more.

While Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network work to grow this system to include landscapes deserving of long-lasting conservation, we are also working to ensure these landscapes are properly managed for the broad diversity of the values they hold, including cultural and historical resources, biodiversity, endangered species, outdoor recreation, climate mitigation, and many others.

Show Us the Money

Since 2000, the system of National Conservation Lands has nearly doubled in size but annual funding to manage these important places has not kept pace.

That’s where Congress has begun to help and needs to continue to do so in the years to come.

The Bureau of Land Management needs adequate funding to ensure National Conservation Lands are properly managed for all of these values by:

Protecting Indigenous and other cultural resources against vandalism and other threats;
Restoring fish and wildlife habitat after years of neglect; and
Improving visitor experience and recreational infrastructure like trails and signage.

Additional funding from Congress helps land managers keep up with the record levels of outdoor recreation, which increases yearly, and ensures these landscapes are properly managed for all of their values.

More people enjoying public lands is a good thing, as long as it’s matched with a corresponding level of staffing and resources to prevent irresponsible use and degradation such as trail damage and graffiti.

The long-standing lack of funding for the Bureau of Land Management has had real consequences for the lands and the communities that serve as their gateways.

Guest Post: ‘The Place Where Shamans Dream’: Safeguarding Spirit Mountain

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:47:23 GMT

The original opinion piece was posted in the New York Times by Alex Schechter. To read the original piece click here . Less than two hours from Las Vegas, the sacred creation site for Yuman-speaking Native Americans may soon become a national monument. It’s been a long time coming.

On a clear Saturday in November, I drove an hour south from my apartment in Las Vegas to reach the Joshua Tree Highway, a 10-mile corridor that cuts through the largest Joshua tree forest in the world. The ancient, tentacled trees were a bizarre sight, but my eye kept wandering toward the horizon where a peak known as Avi Kwa Ame , or Spirit Mountain, looms high over the Piute-Eldorado Valley in southern Nevada. It was midafternoon and in the distance the rock’s light crystalline granite radiated a rosy glow. Its presence was unmistakable.

Laced with desolate canyons, Avi Kwa Ame is the mythical creation site for Yuman-speaking tribes like the Fort Mojave, Cocopah, Quechan‌‌ and Hopi. Their stories place it at the center of the universe. Soon, it may become a national monument.

On that November day, lush plumes of grass separated the squiggly Joshua trees, an unusual sight in such a hot, dry climate. In summer, temperatures in the Mojave Desert regularly soar above 100 degrees, but by late fall, it becomes a refreshing, if stark, haven.

Before my trip, I’d spoken to Alan O’Neill, the former superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area , who told me, “This landscape talks to you when you get close to it.” The giant boulders stuck out like warts among the prickly barrel cactuses and the sun-haloed cholla plants. It was hard to believe Las Vegas was just an hour up the road.

The 500 miles of backcountry roads that encircle Avi Kwa Ame are mostly old transmission line maintenance routes, accessible to anyone with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. If you were to camp here (which the area’s overseer, the Bureau of Land Management, allows), you would have entire canyons to yourself. You would also get a sense of why Indigenous groups have fought for decades to safeguard this area.

Conservation efforts began in 1999, when a 33,000-acre portion of Avi Kwa Ame was listed on the National Register of Historical Places. (In that application, tribal elders referred to the mountain as “the place where shamans dream.”) Large swaths of the desert were later classified as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern to protect the endangered desert tortoise. While these were important steps, they failed to account for the cultural worth of the entire valley — not just the mountain itself. As one tribal leader told Mr. O’Neill in the late 1990s: “You can’t separate the two.”

Now it is hoped that a proposed 450,000-acre Avi Kwa Ame National Monument will connect this area to a wide corridor of parks and monuments that stretches from California all the way to the Colorado Plateau. Such protection would ensure the spiritual site is not tampered with and give travelers interested in Native American culture a new reason to venture beyond the Strip.

Spirit Mountain Wilderness in the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. Photo: West Cliff Creatives.

A turning point

In California, the Mojave National Preserve covers a sweeping 1.6 million acres, but across the state line, the same desert in Nevada remains unprotected. This makes it appealing to energy companies, who have proposed large-scale wind and solar projects here and in other parts of the state (85 percent of Nevada is public land). Residents of nearby Searchlight, a rural community off Highway 95, have resisted such efforts, though until recently, they lacked a concrete plan to designate the area.

A turning point came in 2013, when Judy Bundorf, a Searchlight resident, sued the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior to halt the construction of a 9,000-acre, 14-square-mile industrial wind energy project. Ms. Bundorf’s partially solar-powered home is nestled among spiky yucca and Joshua trees, and after moving to Searchlight in 2002 she became enamored with the area’s rich biodiversity. (The desert is home to more than 200 endemic plants .)

The lawsuit prompted residents to reach out to tribal members from the Fort Mojave and Chemehuevi reservations who had been disputing a separate development in nearby Ivanpah Valley. Even though the proposed wind farm in Searchlight wouldn’t have touched Spirit Mountain, Ms. Bundorf said the tribes “weren’t too pleased” about it, either. Together, with help from two nonprofit groups, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Conservation Lands Foundation , they decided to apply for national monument status.

In June 2021, the Searchlight town board unanimously voted to approve the proposal. (Similar resolutions passed in the neighboring towns of Laughlin and Boulder City.)

A year later, two Nevada congresswomen, Dina Titus and Susie Lee, sent letters to the White House calling on the administration to support the bill to make Avi Kwa Ame a national monument. An online petition garnered 90,000 signatures .

Ms. Titus had previously shepherded three national monuments ( Gold Butte , Basin and Range and Tule Springs Fossil Beds ) through Congress, and she saw that Avi Kwa Ame had broad bipartisan appeal in her district of Las Vegas. “People see this valley growing so fast, they want to save something so it doesn’t become another suburb,” she said.

In late November, at the White House’s annual Tribal Nations Summit , President Biden stated his support for protecting Avi Kwa Ame, though he has yet to declare its status as a national monument. Still, Ms. Titus, who was in the crowd that day, said she felt a surge of joy when she heard the news. “It was very gratifying,” she said.

‘A template for the future’

To date, Bears Ears National Monument in eastern Utah, has been the only national monument to explicitly address its Indigenous roots. (Today, the monument is co-managed by a council made up of delegates from five tribes.) Should Avi Kwa Ame become the next such designation, it would likely send a clear message to Indigenous communities, who have long fought for a meaningful say in the management of their ancestral lands.

“I really see this as a template for the future,” said Taylor Patterson, the executive director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada , a Las Vegas-based nonprofit that focuses on Indigenous issues. “Not often do we have outdoor recreation people working with tribes. It’s symbolic of what all land designation in the future should be like.”

The National Park Service, which hired its first Native American director in late 2021, has at times clashed with tribal nations. Ms. Patterson cited Death Valley National Park, which was established as a national monument in 1933 at the cost of evicting the area’s native inhabitants , the Timbisha Shoshone. “You have a history of essentially kicking people out of their landscape,” she said.

Designations like Avi Kwa Ame, she explained, could help travelers see that America’s beloved national parks and Indigenous sacred sites are essentially two sides of the same coin. “When we talk about visiting Grand Canyon, Death Valley or Yosemite — all of those spaces are sacred to tribal people.”

The Pipa Aha Macav Cultural Center in Needles, California. Photo: West Cliff Creatives

‘When I looked at it, I knew who I was’

Earlier in the week, I had driven to Needles, Calif., to visit the Pipa Aha Macav Cultural Center (Pipa Aha Macav is the Fort Mojave term for “people by the river”). Driving south on Highway 95, I passed a sprawling solar project that eventually gave way to open desert. Creosote bushes, still green from the August monsoon, carpeted the valley. In the distance, I could make out the silhouette of the Highland Range, crowned with dark piñon and juniper forests.

Johnny Ray Hemmers, a tribal council member, met me in the center’s cultural classroom, where local youths learn traditional activities like painting, beading and dancing. Mr. Hemmers, 38, is a warm, quick-talking man with twinkling eyes. He spoke openly about his tribe’s long history in the desert and of the significance of Ave Kwa Ame. “As a child, seeing the mountain meant a lot to me,” he said. “When I looked at it, I knew who I was and where I came from.”

Avi Kwa Ame, for the Fort Mojaves, is not a recreational place. Each October, members take part in a 34-mile ceremonial run that begins at the base of the mountain and continues all the way to Needles, ending with a plunge in the icy Colorado River. The event honors traditional “spirit runners” who once ferried messages between tribes, similar to couriers in ancient Greece.

I also spoke to a member of the Moapa Band of Paiutes, a neighboring tribe, who do not count Avi Kwa Ame as their origin site, but still recognize its deep cultural relevance. “Our footprints are all throughout this area,” Shanan Anderson, the tribe’s cultural manager, told me.

The Fort Mojave tribe identifies itself as the mountain’s caretaker, and its members are no strangers to environmental justice. In 1998, they successfully fended off a proposed nuclear dump site in Ward Valley, 20 miles west of Needles, and in 2006 marked a legal victory against Pacific Gas & Electric, whose pipelines threatened to seep toxic chromium-6 into the Colorado River. They are confident that the campaign for Avi Kwa Ame will end in victory, too.

In June, Mr. Hemmers was part of a delegation that met with Deb Haaland, the secretary of the Interior, at the foot of Avi Kwa Ame to explain the site’s significance. Under craggy granite spires, the tribe sang traditional songs that have been passed down over generations. After hearing their stories, Ms. Haaland was visibly moved. “She had tears in her eyes,” Mr. Hemmers recalled.

Joshua tree forests abound in Avi Kwa Ame. Photo: West Cliff Creatives

A closer look

I was determined to get a closer look at Avi Kwa Ame, so I left the Joshua Tree Highway and rejoined Highway 95, then turned left at a junction marked Christmas Tree Pass. The name comes from a local tradition of dressing up the surrounding juniper trees with tinsel and glass baubles during the holidays, a practice many tribes consider offensive. Since the 1990s, the Bureau of Land Management has tried to discourage such defacement, but the shiny ornaments remain.

A flat dirt road took me through vast desert scrub until I found myself entering the foothills of Avi Kwa Ame. According to Fort Mojave mythology, the creator god Mastamho emerged from these foothills to start the work of shaping mankind. In their eyes, he still resides here.

The high canyon walls held slanted rock formations that resembled ogling faces. I was solidly in the backcountry now, my car dwarfed by mountains that were dizzying, elegant and layered with history. I had to keep stopping to admire the shifting texture of the rock, which varied from busy, jagged spikes to swollen, bulbous mounds. No cars honked or tried to pass me, because so few travel the 70-odd miles from Vegas to get here.

I spent a few minutes ambling at the mountain’s base, then got back in my car. Avi Kwa Ame may be the monument’s holy center, but at such close range, its character eluded me. Instead, I had to step back and see the mountain in the context of its architecture, like an altar inside a Roman basilica.

I pressed on, and emerged at the other side of the canyon, where the vistas became limitless and painterly. I stood on top of a ridge that plummeted 3,000 feet into Lake Mojave, and gazed into the distant reaches of western Arizona. It was dusk, and a fiery orange sunlight spread slowly over the step-like mesas. It was staggeringly beautiful, and the spectacle was over in a few minutes.

Alex Schechter is a travel writer based in Las Vegas.

Internal Organizational Work as the Driver of Equity and Justice - a Human Centered Approach

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 20:37:59 GMT

Watch the webinar here

Passcode (3!@8JizK)

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: CLF Staff

Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director
Jamie Wienk, Associate HR and Administrative Director
Julie Thibodeau, Senior Finance and Operations Director

The foundation of any organization and its ability to achieve true organizational effectiveness starts with human capital. The operational, financial, and human resources function of an organization is critical to supporting human capital. As we come out of this historic pandemic and wade through all of the injustices and inequities in our world, it’s critical we focus on a human-centered approach to our work that embeds equity and justice. Come learn the importance of identifying your organization’s values, approaches to embedding equity and justice into your work, and how best you can support your staff.

Additional Resources:

Simon Sinek- Start with Why

Guest Post: Biden Set an Ambitious Goal for Nature. It's Time He Went After It.

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:51:04 GMT

The original opinion piece was posted in the New York Times by Robert Semple. To read the original piece click here .

Compared with the United Nations climate change summit in Egypt in November, the U.N. biodiversity conference held in Montreal this month may have seemed distinctly minor league.

There were no heads of state, save Canada’s. The proceedings generated few front-page headlines and little play on the evening news. Yet the issue confronting delegates from nearly 200 nations who are parties to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity was nothing less than what many scientists believe to be a planetary emergency: the alarming decline of biodiversity, which threatens the world’s food and water supplies.

This is an emergency, not incidentally, inextricably tied up with global warming. And what the conference ended up agreeing to was also significant: an ambitious pledge to protect nearly one-third of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030, a strategy whose shorthand is 30x30.

The United States has never ratified the biodiversity convention, largely because of Republican opposition, which left the American delegation in Montreal, led by Monica Medina, an assistant secretary of state, cheering from the sidelines.

But President Biden is all in on 30x30. He embraced the goal when he took office and then began a series of steps to undo the damage caused by President Donald Trump’s plundering of America’s natural world — its species-rich public lands and forests — on behalf of oil, coal and timber interests. Most important, he restored three large national monuments created by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama: the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments in southern Utah and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.

He promised to restore protections against logging, mining and road-building in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, home to more than 400 species of wildlife. And he all but ended oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Along the way he has sought robust spending for easements and other conservation programs on farmlands, as well as for the ambitious, decades-long effort to repair the Everglades ecosystem.

Reaching the 30x30 goal in the next eight years will require more than simply undoing Mr. Trump’s damage. While a sizable percentage of America’s oceans are already protected, partly because of a huge marine monument in the western Pacific established by President George W. Bush and later enlarged by Mr. Obama, only about 13 percent of America’s lands enjoy some level of official protection. This means that Mr. Biden must rapidly accelerate conservation measures on federal, state and private lands while keeping intact natural carbon sinks like the old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest and the mangroves, wetlands and timberlands in the Southeast.

The administration has yet to identify specific places for enhanced protection or defined what level of conservation would be required to count toward the 30x30 goal. But some useful strategies come to mind.

One is to make vigorous use of the Antiquities Act, a 1906 law that gives presidents broad powers to create national monuments on federal lands that have “historic or scientific interest.” The law enabled Mr. Obama and Mr. Clinton to embark on monument-creating sprees late in their tenure, but presidents of both parties have invoked it ever since Teddy Roosevelt, often to provide interim protections until Congress could declare them national parks. Mr. Biden recently announced his intention to protect the Avi Kwa Ame, or Spirit Mountain, area in southern Nevada, encompassing roughly 450,000 acres rich in biological diversity. He stopped short of designating the land as a national monument, which would insulate the region from industrial activity. He should do so, as tribes and environmental groups are hoping he will, as the first step in an aggressive effort to use the Antiquities Act to help reach 30x30.

Second, Mr. Biden should press the Agriculture and Interior Departments to complete inventories of old-growth and mature forests and recommend protections in those deemed worthy of protection, much like the Tongass. If there is one alpha culprit in biodiversity loss, it is the clearing of forests and wetlands for farms to feed an exploding world population and, to a lesser extent, to produce biofuels. According to some estimates, the world’s natural forests are home to at least two-thirds of the world’s species. Intact forests also absorb and store enormous amounts of carbon, so preserving them assists not only the species that live there but also the struggle against climate change.

Perhaps most usefully, Mr. Biden could nudge Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to get the Bureau of Land Management to climb aboard the conservation bandwagon. The bureau, which manages 245 million acres of public lands for various uses, has historically favored the short-term interests of oil and gas and mining firms, and has more leeway to protect its holdings from commercial intrusion than it has been inclined to use. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act it has the authority to establish “wilderness study areas,” a valuable tool for protecting lands until they can be given permanent wilderness status. Prominent conservationists in the Senate, notably Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Dick Durbin of Illinois, have asked Ms. Haaland to invoke that authority, which has long been dormant.

Executive actions like these have long inspired complaints from members of Congress about federal “land grabs” and other sins, and will do so again. Thus a measure of political tenacity is required. On this score, the environmental community has been heartened by the addition of John Podesta, who occupied commanding roles in the Clinton and Obama administrations, to Mr. Biden’s inner circle. Mr. Podesta’s writ is to oversee the investment of billions of dollars in wind, solar and other clean energy technologies included in the new $370 billion climate law.

But conservation has always been close to his heart; having educated two presidents on nature’s role in addressing climate change, he could profitably weigh in on the 30x30 challenge.

While executive action is for Biden a surer path to 30x30 than Congress, there are some useful ideas floating around Capitol Hill. One bill that bears Mr. Heinrich’s imprimatur has bipartisan support and could well appeal to the next Congress: the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which would provide $1.4 billion annually to help underfunded state and tribal wildlife agencies identify and protect threatened species by minimizing pollution and protecting habitats.

The bill has strong support from people who hunt and fish, though the money can be used to protect all sorts of plants and animals. New York State’s conservation plan, for instance, identifies 366 species needing help, including the timber rattlesnake and the salt marsh sparrow.

These are just the sort of creatures the delegates in Montreal had in mind, and improving their chances of survival would be a useful step. It is one of many steps, big and small, that must be taken on the road to 30x30.

Guest Post: National Conservation Lands get long-awaited boost in omnibus

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 00:53:19 GMT

The original article was posted on E&E News by Scott Streater. To read the original article click here.

Congress is set to significantly increase funding for the first time in a decade for a Bureau of Land Management program that oversees 35 million acres of some of the federal government's most culturally diverse and scientifically important lands.

The fiscal 2023 omnibus spending package unveiled by Congress early Tuesday includes $61.5 million for BLM's National Conservation Lands system, which includes 28 national monuments, 17 national conservation areas, more than 260 congressionally delegated wilderness areas, 2,700 miles of national wild and scenic rivers, and nearly 6,000 miles of national trails.

If approved, that would represent a $12.3 million increase over the fiscal 2022 enacted funding level of $49 million, but still less than the $68 million that President Joe Biden requested in his funding proposal to Congress earlier this year.

Regardless, the $61.5 million would be the largest congressional allocation to the National Conservation Lands system in more than a decade, when Congress approved $60 million in the fiscal 2009 budget cycle for the system that accounts for almost 10 percent of BLM's total landholdings and roughly 25 percent of the total annual visitors to agency-managed sites. "This is a moment to celebrate," David Feinman, government affairs director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, which advocates for National Conservation Lands, said in an email.

Congressional appropriators that the National Conservation Lands system has "been chronically noted in a bill summary underfunded," and that the additional funding in fiscal 2023 is needed for, among other things, "recreation and management planning for new, expanded, and restored monuments."

"We thank Congress for approving this historic and necessary investment in America’s National Conservation Lands and the agency that manages them," Feinman added.

The proposed 25 percent funding boost for the National Conservation Lands system comes as the Biden administration has tabbed the program as a critical component of its "America the Beautiful" initiative to conserve 30 percent of the nation's lands and waters by 2030.

The administration is expected to add new lands to the National Conservation Lands system to help meet that goal (Greenwire, May 6).

The conservation lands system had already been growing significantly over the past two decades, even as funding dwindled. Feinman noted that since 2000, the National Conservation Lands system "has nearly doubled in size, growing by more than 100 units and 11 million acres."

Congress slashed funding for the program in the fiscal 2010 budget by nearly half — to $31 million from $60 million in fiscal 2009, records show — mostly due to the economic recession gripping the country at the time. Program funding would remain at $31 million for the next five fiscal budget cycles, increasing only to $36 million in the final two budget cycles of the Obama administration. Funding has not come close to returning to pre-recession levels.

Boosting funding for the program has been a top priority among some congressional Democrats. Last spring, Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette (D) got 25 fellow House members — all Democrats — to sign onto a letter she sent to the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee encouraging them to allocate $78 million in the fiscal 2023 budget. Feinman said that while "a large gap continues to remain between the expansion of National Conservation Lands and funding to adequately care for" the lands in them, the fiscal 2023 omnibus funding levels "is a strong step toward resolving the historic lack of funding.

Give the Gift of Conservation

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:11:24 GMT

The holiday season is just around the corner and if you’re anything like us, you might have waited until the last minute to check off everyone on your list.

Dive into our conservation gift guide for ideas with meaning and purpose that have our stamp of approval.

1. For the Philanthropist

Give someone you love the gift of public lands with a Tribute Gift to Conservation Lands Foundation . National Conservation Lands won’t fit in a gift box but they’ll always be in our hearts and available for us to visit if we protect them!

We love MiiR products and we appreciate their support of our work.

3. For the Road Tripper

We’re obsessed with this incredible coffee table book, “ Our National Monuments ,” by photographer QT Luong. And we’re not the only ones. Winner of six awards, this book is guaranteed to inspire a reader’s next great adventure.

And until December 31st, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $54,000 thanks to several generous donors! Any amount helps and every dollar has a real impact. Together, we can make sure America’s public lands are respected, protected, and remain open to explore.

2. For the Camp Cook

Gift that one friend who always seems to come to camp ready to feed the entire group with some gear from MiiR. Whether it’s a coffee pour over set or a personalized tumbler, you’re bound to find something to add to their camp kitchen arsenal. Check out their Holiday Gift Guide for some great gift ideas.

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

More Than Half a Million Acres of New Conservation Protections in National Defense Authorization Act

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:56:28 GMT

On Thursday, December 15, the U.S. Senate joined the U.S. House of Representatives (which voted 350-80 on December 8, 2022) in advancing to President Biden’s desk the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 that includes key public land conservation designations for Nevada.

The conservation designations, roughly 560,000 acres in Nevada, were the only public land conservation protections included in the NDAA. The new designations include the Numunaa Nobe and Pistone-Black Mountain National Conservation Areas; Clan Alpine Mountains, Desatoya Mountains, and Cain Mountain Wilderness; and Numu Newe Special Management Area.

The defense bill also includes key provisions for military readiness with the Fallon Naval Air Station expansion; economic development opportunities for Churchill and Lander counties; and financial mitigation and reservation expansions for the Walker River Paiute and Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribes. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen, and Representative Mark Amodei worked over several years alongside the Fallon Paiute Shoshone and Walker River Paiute Tribes, the U.S. Navy and local Counties to craft the compromise.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation:

“We thank Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen and Representative Mark Amodei for their work over the years crafting a delicate community compromise that has resulted in the only conservation win within this year’s NDAA heading to the President’s desk. We are excited to see more than half a million acres of conservation being designated in the state of Nevada, including three Wilderness areas, two National Conservation Areas and the Numu Newe Special Management Area. We look forward to President Biden signing the legislation and are committed to ensuring these new designations receive the enhanced level of care they deserve.”

###

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Good Governance: Policies & Practices for the IRS Form 990

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 20:45:14 GMT

Watch the webinar here

Passcode (3!@8JizK)

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Katie Davis, 5 Branches Consulting

Governance Policies may not be the first thing leaders want to think about when managing their organizations but having solid governance policies and practices in place makes for smoother operations. During this 90-minute webinar Katie Davis of 5 Branches Consulting will “cook up” a basic recipe for good governance. We’ll then dive deeper, reviewing the following five standard policies that the IRS highlights on Form 990. Even smaller nonprofits that file the 990-N will benefit from more focused attention to compliance.

Additional Resources:

Guest Post: Congress Must Act Quickly to Pass These Five Conservation Bills to Protect California

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:58:57 GMT

Before Republicans seize a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congress should expedite a slate of bills written to protect important wildlife habitats, public lands and help California combat climate change. These five bills, if passed before the end of the 2022 session, would safeguard Californians’ access to their state’s natural landscape and biodiversity, and provide nature-based solutions to climate change.

The bills include Senate Bill 1459, authored by California senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein — as well as its House companions, HR 693 and HR 878 — which would establish the PUBLIC Lands Act to protect over one million acres of public lands and conserve important wildlife habitats in northwest California, the central coast region and the Los Angeles area.

In addition, it “authorizes the utilization of certain forest residues for research and development of bio-based products that result in net carbon sequestration, authorizes initiatives to restore degraded redwood forest ecosystems in the Redwood National Forest and state parks, requires specified recreational studies and partnerships and expands the boundaries of the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument,” according to the bill’s summary. It would provide recreational activities specifically to residents in the San Gabriel Valley, one of the most nature-deprived urban populations in the country.

The slate includes the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, also known as HR 6366 and SB 4080, which would expand the national monument area in the Napa region to include adjacent public lands to the east — approximately 3,925 acres of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Lake County, California. The bill authorizes the federal government to enter into a co-management agreement with local tribes and returns the area to its indigenous name: “Molok Luyuk” or “Condor Ridge.” These bills in particular are strongly supported by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which has had a connection to the Molok Luyuk area for thousands of years. Many religious ceremonies are held on the ridge, which includes sites that were central to vital trading routes. The ridge is home to more than 40 rare plant species and also serves as a critical corridor between the existing national monument and nearby protected areas for the Tule elk, mountain lions and black bears.

Other bills on the slate seek to remedy Trump administration actions that put millions of acres of desert at risk in the Los Angeles area; they would conserve drinking water sources for state residents, and make sure that Californians have recreational access to protected public lands. These proposed legislative bills are supported by environmental and conservation groups including the Sierra Club, California Wilderness Coalition, the California Native Plant Society and Conservation Lands Foundation, among others, who are jointly calling on Congress to pass this legislation before the end of the 2022 session. The proposed legislation represents a rare opportunity to create laws that will truly protect and preserve California’s precious natural resources and contribute to the state’s $54 billion outdoor recreation economy. Congress must act quickly and decisively before the deadline passes, to preserve this land for future generations.

The original article was posted by the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board. To read the original article click here .

The Resiliency Audit Webinar

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 20:49:55 GMT

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Hailey Hawkins, Sailing Hawks Consulting

Join Hailey Hawkins as we explore a new toolkit designed to examine the level of resilience within an organization’s internal culture. In this webinar, we will explore this tool, how to utilize it within your own organization, and provide recommendations on how to increase resilience in order to promote organizational health and effectiveness and increase staff productivity, satisfaction, and retention.

Additional Resources:

President Biden Commits to Naming Sacred Landscape in Southern Nevada, Avi Kwa Ame, as a National Monument

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 17:36:20 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, President Joe Biden committed to designating Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) a National Monument in Southern Nevada during the 2022 White House’s Tribal Nation’s Summit. The President’s anticipated use of the Antiquities Act would protect an area sacred to ten Yuman speaking tribes (the Mohave, Hualapai, Yavapai, Havasupai, Quechan, Maricopa, Pai Pai, and Kumeyaay) as well as the Hopi and Southern Paiute.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s promise to designate Avi Kwa Ame a national monument:

“Today’s commitment by President Biden to designate Avi Kwa Ame honors the decades-long efforts of Tribes, local and regional governments, and advocates from Indigenous, outdoor recreation, conservation and many other communities.

Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain and the surrounding area, is the point of creation for ten Yuman-speaking Tribes and sacred to the Southern Paiute and Hopi tribes. The roughly 450,000 acres to be designated would connect the Mojave desert from the Mojave Preserve in California to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Arizona/Nevada border. This type of connectivity is key to achieving the goals of the Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful effort, and will lead to increased resiliency for the region in the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis.

We are excited to have Avi Kwa Ame National Monument joining the National Conservation Lands, America's newest designation of publicly-owned lands with some of the most spectacular natural, historical, cultural and archaeological sites in the country, and look forward to continuing to work with the Biden Administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and local elected officials to protect and expand National Conservation Lands across the country.”

You can hear about the importance of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument from members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe at AviKwaAme.com .

####

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Empowering the Next Generation of Scientists

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 22:38:43 GMT

This past year, through Conservation Lands Foundation’s partnership with the Mojave Desert Land Trust, WISDOM participants contributed directly to the future management of the Mojave Trails National Monument by focusing on avian and bumblebee data collection. Past research projects have focused on bighorn sheep and the tamarisk beetle populations. In 2021, WISDOM interns gathered dark sky surveys to help advocate for a Dark Sky Sanctuary designation for the monument.

The WISDOM internship program is made possible through sustained funding from Edison International .

National Conservation Lands make up some of the country’s most scientifically important landscapes where scientists from all over the world make important discoveries, fine-tune valuable research to inform land management practices, and reintroduce endangered species. We’re proud to support programs that enrich these scientific endeavors, especially those that look to develop and empower the next generation of scientists such as the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s successful “WISDOM” program.

“It’s important to us to create the next generation of scientists, conservationists, and advocates.”

-Mary Cook-Rhyne, Mojave Desert Land Trust Education Coordinator

The Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) Program works to increase understanding of environmental science and land management aspects of the Mojave Desert In California while addressing the gender disparity in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. This innovative program connects female college students with researchers and professionals to develop the next generation of public lands managers and stewards. These students then work to gather important scientific information that informs best land management practices.

Video by West Cliff Creative

“It’s just so great to have those opportunities now that familiarize women and women of color with the tools of the trade, the tools that science requires.”

-Elizabeth Paige, College of the Desert WISDOM Intern

Guest Post: Report details how Biden can protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 without Congress

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:19:30 GMT

The original article was posted on WashingtonPost.com . To read the original article click here . Analysis by Maxine Joselow with research by Vanessa Montalbano.

Soon after taking office, President Biden committed to conserving 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030, an ambitious goal aimed at protecting wildlife while slashing planet-warming emissions.

With Republicans set to take control of the House, the next Congress appears unlikely to pass major legislation that would deliver on this goal. But Biden can still fulfill his commitment to conservation if he acts with urgency and wields his executive authority, according to a report shared with The Climate 202 before its broader release Tuesday.

The report from the Center for American Progress , a liberal think tank with close ties to the administration, focused on eight actions that the administration could take to conserve public and private lands while combating climate change, respecting tribal sovereignty, and expanding access to nature for underserved communities.

The actions include designating new national monuments and national marine sanctuaries; conserving old-growth and mature forests; barring future mining and drilling on public lands; and harnessing new conservation funding from the recently passed climate law and the bipartisan infrastructure law.

“The president and his Cabinet have taken some really important steps, but more urgency is needed to meet this part of his climate commitment,” Drew McConville , a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the lead author of the report, told The Climate 202.

“The good news — and a major conclusion here — is that he and his Cabinet already have the tools to make it happen,” said McConville, who previously served as a senior adviser on conservation issues at the White House Council on Environmental Quality under President Barack Obama .

Here’s a closer look at two of the report’s top recommendations:

Monumental decisions

One of the most consequential steps that Biden could take, the analysis argues, would be to establish new national monuments by invoking the Antiquities Act , a 1906 law that empowers the president to safeguard public lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans.

In October, Biden designated Colorado’s Camp Hale as a national monument, safeguarding the World War II-era military site that provides critical habitat for wildlife including elk, deer and migratory songbirds.
And last fall, Biden restored full protections to three national monuments that President Donald Trump had reduced in size, including Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante .
But Democrats, climate activists and Indigenous leaders have urged the president to use his powers to protect several other sites of environmental and cultural significance.

In an issue brief accompanying the report, the Center for American Progress highlighted 16 national monuments and marine sanctuaries that Biden could create or expand, including:

Castner Range , a landscape in West Texas that is managed by the U.S. Army and harbors ancient cultural sites, rare plants and endangered wildlife.
A site in southern Nevada known as Avi Kwa Ame , or Spirit Mountain , that several Native American tribes consider sacred.
The site of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Ill., an assault on a Black community by thousands of White citizens that catalyzed the creation of the NAACP .

“There are a number of national monument proposals that have really robust local support,” McConville said. “We’d encourage the president to listen to those communities and to act while he has the opportunity.”

Drilling down

The report also calls on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to withdraw sensitive and sacred lands from future drilling and mining.

The Interior Department ’s Bureau of Land Management on Monday announced two proposed oil and gas lease sales on more than 95,000 acres of land in Nevada and Utah. The lease sales were mandated by Democrats’ new climate law, dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act , as part of a deal with Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.).
But Haaland has broad authority under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to take other public lands off the table. The move could have a major climate impact: Fossil fuel extraction and production on federal lands accounted for nearly a quarter of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 2005 and 2014, according to the U.S. Geological Survey .

Of course, the fossil fuel industry would probably push back on any effort to withdraw these lands, especially amid high gasoline prices. In a recent 10-point plan to lower energy costs, the American Petroleum Institute called on the administration to swiftly hold mandated quarterly lease sales and to reinstate canceled leases on federal lands and waters.

However, McConville rejected the notion that any withdrawals would have a meaningful impact on prices at the pump, noting that roughly 90 percent of Bureau of Land Management lands are already open to oil and gas leasing and subsequent development.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

An Important Message from Ed Norton Sr.

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 17:40:06 GMT

Dear friend,

This week, the Board of Trustees of the Conservation Lands Foundation elected Mark Headley as our Chair, and Hilary Tompkins, Greg Moore, and Chris Killingsworth as Vice Chairs. Our Board of Trustees elected me as a Trustee Emeritus. These changes in leadership are the product of the deliberate, considered governance that has been the hallmark of the Conservation Lands Foundation since the very beginning.

Serving as Chair of the Conservation Lands Foundation has been the greatest blessing of my personal and professional life. As I step down as Chair, I resist the temptation to recite the achievements of the Conservation Lands Foundation's first 15 years because those successes are too numerous to list and because what we have accomplished has been entirely the product of the effort and dedication of our entire board and staff and the generosity of the foundations and individuals who have provided sustained financial support.

The Conservation Lands Foundation was founded on the simple proposition that places with natural, cultural, and historic value are best protected if there are individuals and groups who know and care for that place, who will stand as its advocate, who will be the necessary constant presence and the countervailing force against those who would harm those values and if those individuals and organizations are linked together and reinforce each as part of a larger movement. We looked at the map of the United States' federal public lands and saw that the 248 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management presented the most significant conservation opportunity and the opportunity to engage the participation and engagement of local communities - or what President Theodore Roosevelt called "the essential democracy" of our public lands. That founding proposition has proved out.

Today, the Bureau of Land Management's National Conservation Lands encompasses approximately 35 million acres of National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, National Historic and Scenic Trails, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Conservation Lands in the California Desert. The Conservation Lands Foundation works closely with and supports more than 80 local organizations in our Friends Grassroots Network. Moreover, and what really matters to me, we are poised and ready to add another 20 million acres in 23 landscapes to the National Conservation Lands.

Our country faces enormous challenges - loss of biodiversity, climate change, and deep political divisions. The Conservation Lands Foundation gives me daily optimism. We have a focused mission and strategy. Our staff stands unrivaled in their knowledge, skill, and dedication. The Friends Grassroots Network includes partnerships with Tribal and diverse communities. The Board of Trustees is actively engaged in the fiduciary responsibilities of good governance, keeping our organization true to its mission and our values.

Over the long course of conservation history in the United States, our public lands have proven to be a unifying force, providing us with a common sense of who we are as a people.

Thank you all,

Edward Norton, Sr.

Better Board Meetings: Improving Your Facilitation

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 20:54:40 GMT

Watch the webinar here

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Megan Siebel, Capacity Refresh

Do you have a strong board chair who can effectively facilitate your board meeting? Does the treasurer understand the organization’s financial position well enough to give a brief, confident financial report? If not, you may need to adjust roles. In this session, we’ll talk about best practices for facilitating the board meeting so that the time is productive, but also generative, engaging, and inclusive. We’ll explore ways to address power dynamics and work to create space for new voices

*This webinar is the first of a three-part webinar series on Board Engagement, Culture, and Meetings*

Five Spooky National Conservation Lands to Explore

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:19:06 GMT

From haunted ghost towns to eerie hoodoo formations, National Conservation Lands offer plenty of opportunities to get your thrills and chills. Here are five of the spookiest places to check out this Halloween.

Dozens of well-preserved ghost towns like Garnet are found on public lands.
Photo by Alyse Backus, Bureau of Land Management Wyoming.

#1: Garnet Ghost Town, Wyoming

Collectively, the Department of the Interior manages an estimated two dozen ghost towns across the West. Garnet Ghost Town, just outside of the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area in Montana, is one of the largest managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Over the years, Bureau of Land Management employees have shared their own encounters with the paranormal like hearing music and laughter coming from Kelly’s Saloon late at night. If you’re feeling really brave, you can rent a cabin in Garnet from December through April. While the town is open year-round, the road is closed to wheeled vehicles from January 1st to April 30th.

As a reminder, it is illegal to remove any historic (older than 50 years) artifacts from public lands.

Strange geological formations abound in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.

#2: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

With places like “Spooky Gulch” and “Little Death Hollow”, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah definitely had to make the list.

And if that wasn’t enough to bring shivers down your spine, Grand Staircase-Escalante has an abundance of creepy crawlies like tarantulas, the largest spider in the Southwest. In fact, this is the time of the year when you’re most likely to spot one out in the wild. But don’t worry - like most wildlife, they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.

Spanning across nearly 2 million acres, Grand Staircase-Escalante offers plenty of opportunities to explore. Come prepared and be extra cautious in slot canyons as weather can change quickly, which can cause flash flooding.

Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area offers plenty of star-gazing opportunities.
Photo by Kurt Kuznicki.

#3: Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area & Dark Sky Sanctuary, Nevada

Are you afraid of the dark? As one of the darkest places on Earth, the Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area (WSA) and Dark Sky Sanctuary might not be the best place for you to visit.

Located in the remote portion of Northwestern Nevada, Massacre Rim is supposedly named for the stone markers where travelers would bury supplies, which emigrants would later mistake for graves. Designated in 2019, the Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area is one of only seven dark sky sanctuaries in the world.

With visiting any remote place, be sure to have a four-wheel drive vehicle, a spare tire (or two), and enough supplies. Wilderness Study Areas are managed to protect their wilderness qualities so vehicle access within the sanctuary is limited to a few designated routes.

Please visit Friends of Nevada Wilderness for more information.

Many have gotten lost in the dense undergrowth and dark groves of Devil’s Staircase Wilderness.
Photo by Michael Campbell, Bureau of Land Management, Ore gon.

#4: Devil’s Staircase Wilderness, Oregon

Nothing says spooky more than a remote and largely inaccessible wilderness of old-growth forest. Well, maybe if it was called “Devil’s Staircase.” Named for a rarely seen waterfall buried deep in the heart of this wilderness area in Oregon, many have gotten lost or forced to turn back in search of this elusive water feature.

The remoteness of the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness makes it largely untouched by logging activity and development - even trails. This of course makes it some of the most critical wildlife habitat in Oregon, especially for the northern spotted owl.

Note: Like all wilderness areas, come prepared with adequate supplies and wilderness first aid experience. The Devil’s Staircase requires advanced backpacking and navigating skills. Please contact the Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District for more information before visiting.

The eerie terrain of the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area.
Photo by David Kirk, Bureau of Land Management, California.

#5: Alabam a Hills National Scenic Area, California

It’s no wonder sci-fi movies like Tremors and Star Trek Generations were filmed here - the spooky terrain of Alabama Hills National Scenic Area makes you feel like you’re in another world.

Located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Alabama Hills sit under the shadow of Mt. Whitney - the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Both geologic features were formed at the same time, over 100 million years ago.

To learn more about Alabama Hills and the local Friends group taking care of this landscape, visit Alabama Hills Stewardship Group.

About National Conservation Lands

National Conservation Lands are protected public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Guest Post: Why Bears Ears Matter

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 19:31:46 GMT

7 reasons why any adventurer should want to protect, appreciate and experience this wild (and contested) Southeast Utah national monument. By Cyrus Norcross.

The original article was posted on publiclands.com . To read the original blog click here.

As pandemic travel restrictions ease, outdoor explorers, scientists and Native Americans are all visiting Bears Ears National Monument much more frequently. The reasons for the visitation uptick start with world-class recreation opportunities that abound: from hiking, camping, fishing and hunting, to whitewater rafting and paddling. But that’s only the start, as the cultural draws stack up quickly: over 100,000 archaeological and fossilized dinosaur sites to survey; endless wildlife to observe, including 18 animals on the endangered species list; plus a wealth of plants to study, used medicinally for centuries by Native American tribes.

It might seem obvious to preserve and protect an area that five of those tribes declare sacred. However, Bears Ears has been nothing but controversial due to its “low to moderate energy and mineral development potential,” notably for uranium/vanadium . Eleven months after President Barack Obama’s 2016 designation of Bears Ears as a national monument, President Donald Trump reduced it by 85 percent—despite the surveyed area’s total lack of coal, minimal renewable energy resources, and low potential ( to only moderate in two small areas ) for oil and gas. The reduction triggered concerns for archaeological sites being looted, new roads and mining sites disrupting the ecosystem, all with unintentional consequences on the area’s biodiversity.

The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (BEITC) responded. Founded in 2015 by five tribes—Navajo, Hopi, Ute Mountain Tribe, Ute Tribe and Zuni—the BEITC has worked tirelessly to preserve Bears Ears. In October 2021, as a testament to its efforts, President Joe Biden redesignated the monument’s initial boundary of 1.3 million acres and added 11,200 acres. And though the original boundaries were reinstated, the work is far from over. Beyond continuing land protection and advocacy efforts, the BEITC strives to educate all on the lasting benefits of a preserved Bears Ears.

On a recent trip with the Public Lands Fund* and the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF), the BEITC provided a critical spotlight of what all is at stake for this one-of-a-kind monument worth any adventurer’s attention and respectful appreciation . On a personal level, as a lifelong resident of the bordering Navajo Nation, I can attest to having overlooked this rich area. Over three full days, I enjoyed all that Bears Ears has to offer with people who laid eyes on the landscape for the first time. I took away seven reasons why this wild, protected and public land in Southeast Utah matters now more than ever.

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURER’S WONDERLAND

Anyone who loves playing outdoors will feel Bears Ears breathing, whether it’s on a hike, hunt, or on the river with paddle or rod in hand. Hikers have a rare opportunity to walk through prehistoric cliff dwellings, gaze up at rock art or down at ancient dinosaur footprints. The friendly and staggeringly scenic San Juan River welcomes all paddlers (perfect for rafts , kayaks , SUPs and canoes alike) wanting to experience the sound of splashes echo off limestone walls or the sight of a great blue heron swallowing a fish whole. Bears Ears campers see the same enveloping night sky as the area’s original Ancestral Puebloan inhabitants. Anglers can trace the San Juan for a chance to nab a legendary channel catfish while hunters have nearly year-round options to harvest black bears, cougars, mule deer, wild turkey and bighorn sheep. As we floated through the stunning geology of the river canyons, I reveled in moments on shore, being swallowed in the mud, seeing wild burros traipse by in their natural habitat: I couldn’t help but think how future generations deserve these unequaled experiences.

COUNTLESS CULTURAL TREASURES

About those 100,000 archaeological sites: They date back 14,000 years. Beyond their sacred status among the five tribes, they present a rich resource for anthropologists. The Upper Sand Island Petroglyph Panel features a mammoth rendering that dates to the Paleoindian Period, 9,000 to 13,000 years ago, debated by scientists as the oldest rock art in America. Just off the San Juan River, paddlers and hikers can soak in the Big Kachina Panel petroglyphs that date back to 1000 years old. Just downriver from the long panel, you can tread lightly into multiple rooms of the Ancestral Puebloan dwelling named the River House, dating back to the 1200s though preserved and stabilized to prevent further structural erosion. Walking through Bears Ears, one can encounter remains of old hogans (traditional Navajo home), sweat lodges, and tipi poles. To untrained eyes, these piles of logs may look like firewood. To an expert, there’s a hidden story; this is the value of a good guide.

During one of our hikes, our guide stopped to flip over a rock, revealing a corn grinding stone. After informing us of its cultural significance, he flipped it back over, its ordinary-looking nature perhaps preventing it from being stolen, though laws are still the biggest deterrent. CLF’s partners on ground here let me know that since the reinstatement of the monument boundaries, once-common cases of looting and destroying archaeological sites have decreased significantly. And the sites add up, mesa tops expose evidence of villages, shrines, and ancient roads—all within the borders of Bears Ear and therefore now protected by law.

Photo: Cyrus Norcross

RARE DISCOVERIES

Paleontologists have unearthed bones here that date back 250 million years. Among these fossils were megafauna teeth, dinosaur footprints, plus evidence of plants and shells. One discovery was the large deposit of fossilized bones from a Phytosaur—a crocodile-like, 20-foot-long reptile with armored skin and blowhole nostrils. “The site is enormous,” paleontologist Rob Gay says of the rare deposit that’s over 200 feet long, making it “the largest Triassic bone bed in the state of Utah and possibly one of the densest in the country, if not the world.” Explore the monument long enough and you’re likely to stumble across unrecorded dinosaur tracks. Like the archaeological sites within the monument borders, fossils are protected from looting by law, which gives paleontologists and curious visitors alike a unique view into the past.

WILD LIVES

As home to 18 endangered species, there are a few winged standouts—the California condor, the Mexican spotted owl and the southwestern willow flycatcher in particular—that you need your camera ready to photograph. (I learned that lesson upon spotting the large 9-foot wingspan of a California condor flying over our raft). Protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the birds are vital to the biodiversity of Bears Ears, though this isn’t just a vibrant flyway. Besides endangered animals, Bears Ears provides habitat to (as President Biden’s proclamation states), other threatened, “sensitive, endemic, or otherwise rare species of wildlife, fish, and plants.” That means black bears, cougars, mule deer, coyotes, gray fox, skunk, jackrabbit, spotted bat, and many more. Credit that diversity to a landscape it describes as “one of the most ecologically intact and least-roaded regions in the contiguous United States,” despite millennia of human habitation.

SACRED LANDS

The BEITC considers Bears Ears not only a sacred home of their ancestors, but also a vital source for gathering herbs, hunting game and conducting ceremonies. The Hopi and Zuni descendants of the Ancestral Puebloans send their youth to help stabilize the ancient structures. Accompanied by elders, they hear stories about their ancestors migration to the area, interpret the rock art and cultivate the area’s 31 plants known for medicinal purposes among all five tribes (including the Four Corners potato, goosefoot, wolfberry and sumac). These plants have also been discovered at archaeological sites, indicating that Ancestral Puebloans used them for sustenance and possibly trade. Additionally, the Ute people have traditionally hunted and grazed their livestock near Bears Ears for years, and many of the tribes gather ceremony items that can only be harvested there. “For Indigenous communities, we are always thinking about our children's children's children,” says the Utah Diné Bikéyah’s (UDB) Cultural Resource Coordinator Angelo Baca (Diné/Hopi) of the coalition’s long perspective, “It’s a different approach from Western thinking when it comes to heritage and preserving it for future generations.”

PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATION

Bears Ears is the first national monument that was proposed by a coalition of Indigenous tribes. Since the removal of their homelands, Native Americans have watched their ancestral lands desecrated and destroyed. The formation of BEITC not only exhibited the will power of an organized collective, but also demonstrated each tribe’s spiritual connection to the land. As the BEITC spearheaded the movement to establish the monument with UDB’s foundational Indigenous community grassroots work, other nonprofits joined the fight, with a notable contribution from the CLF. The grassroots community-based organization advocates to protect, restore and expand national conservation lands utilizing the Friends Grassroots Network, which unites nearly 80 local interest groups across the U.S. Locally, CLF network member Friends of Cedar Mesa has been instrumental in protecting Bears Ears, working alongside CLF and BEITC to build the Bears Ears Education Center. Based in Bluff, Utah, this visitor’s resource teaches the cultural significance of Bears Ears and how to experience it respectfully.

The trip alongside CLF gave me hope that this collaborative, community-driven approach can work. We’d keep making stops—taking photos of a cactus, picking up rocks, staring into the landscape—and, at first, I found it odd. But when a young lady in our group started crying as we snaked through the canyons of the San Juan River, I asked if she was all right. “I’m OK,” she said, “I just have never seen anything so beautiful in my life.” Her sincerity surprised me. As a local resident, I’d neglected the beauty of my homeland and looked past small details these visitors noticed right away. Looking through the eyes of someone who takes nothing for granted helped rekindle a sense of wonderment and a desire to know more. Those details from the added perspectives of a diverse group make all the difference.

A PATH FORWARD

As BEITC continues working with federal agencies, it continues providing a valuable model for the co-management of public lands—one that works for and with its traditional stewards. Tribal governments will be able to reduce conflict involving cultural artifacts, plus provide traditional ecological knowledge about resource management and, through tribal stewardship, land conservation. I felt confidence in this approach after hearing genuine pride from Ida Yellowman (Diné), Baca’s mother and a Navajo elder, in speaking to this joint effort between conservation groups to create the monument, and the shared ongoing work to manage and protect it.

From Bears Ears, the federal government has a unique opportunity to start implementing co-management with other tribes across America. By allowing tribes to lead the way in conservation and land stewardship, big bureaucracy has a real chance to enact positive change with its land management policies. Bears Ears matters because allowing the land’s original inhabitants to protect and conserve it is the best way to help future generations understand and share it for all to enjoy.

All articles are for general informational purposes. Each individual’s needs, preferences, goals and abilities may vary. Be sure to obtain all appropriate training, expert supervision and/or medical advice before engaging in strenuous or potentially hazardous activity.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds California Congressional Leaders for Urging Biden Administration to Protect Molok Luyuk

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:53:17 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2022

Washington, D.C. - Today, Conservation Lands Foundation released the following statement applauding a call to action for the Biden Administration to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California.

Members of California’s congressional delegation - led by Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson and Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein - today sent a letter urging the President to use the Antiquities Act to expand the monument to include Molok Luyuk.

Molok Luyuk, located on the eastern edge of the existing monument, is sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and is a critically important habitat for biodiversity amidst a changing climate.

Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director, Conservation Lands Foundation:

“Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Representatives Garamendi and Thompson, Senators Padilla and Feinstein, and members of the California congressional delegation for urging the Biden Administration to protect Molok Luyuk using the Antiquities Act.

“The request came from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation who have been stewarding the land since time immemorial, and from local grassroots organizations serving communities who will also benefit directly from the protection of these lands.

“The addition of Molok Luyuk to Berryessa National Monument achieves three important goals: It honors the original stewards and caretakers of this land, ensures this remarkable landscape has a robust management plan, and helps the State of California and the Biden Administration meet the critical goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030.”

# # #

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org , 970-670-0193

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Better Board Meetings: Enhancing Your Preparation

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 20:57:32 GMT

Watch the webinar here

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Megan Siebel, Capacity Refresh

Do your board meetings focus on the important topics? Do you have the right balance between immediate business and longer-range planning? In this session, we’ll explore how to prepare for your board meetings so that they can be as productive as possible. We’ll talk about how to create a board meeting agenda and board packet, including presenting financial information, which supports productive conversations in your board meeting.

*This webinar is the first of a three-part webinar series on Board Engagement, Culture, and Meetings*

President Biden Names Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:02:17 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2022

PRESIDENT BIDEN NAMES CAMP HALE-CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL MONUMENT IN TRIBUTE TO ARMY VETERANS AND THE VALUE OF COLORADO’S PUBLIC LANDS

COLORADO - Today, President Joe Biden designated Camp Hale-Continental Divide a National Monument in central Colorado. The President’s use of the Antiquities Act will protect an area known as Camp Hale-Continental Divide, which includes the stunning Tenmile Range and was the base for the 10th Mountain Division ski troops and the vast alpine terrain where they trained. He also announced an intent to administratively protect the Thompson Divide to provide certainty for local communities until permanent protections become law.

Camp Hale served our country by preparing U.S. troops to infiltrate the German Alps to defeat the Nazis in World War II. The new monument also includes the vast and mountainous Tenmile Range, terrain where soldiers became experts in alpine and winter warfare. Returning soldiers founded Colorado’s world-renown ski industry and helped start the state on a path to becoming a leader in harnessing the economic power of the outdoor recreation economy.

Statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation:

“President Biden’s inspiring action is a powerful tribute to those who served our country and honoring them through the conservation of public lands is an invaluable contribution to the health of our country. It will forever remind us of the sacrifices fellow Americans are capable of making to protect freedoms we all enjoy, including the ability to recreate and seek solace on public lands.

“By highlighting the stories of heroism, stewardship, and tragedy of places like Camp Hale-Continental Divide, we can begin to heal our social divides. President Biden can continue to bring all Americans closer together by using the Antiquities Act as a tool to increase the places that better reflect the stories about who we are as Americans, so that we can relate and feel pride in our shared histories.

“Looking forward, the Conservation Lands Foundation understands that all Americans will benefit as President Biden continues to use the Antiquities Act to protect many more natural and cultural landscapes. President Biden can and should take additional actions to protect large landscapes as leverage against the climate and biodiversity crises. His actions are essential to address the threats we face today as well as in healing political fractures.

“Today is a beautiful day at Camp Hale, and we hope the sun will shine even brighter tomorrow on landscapes including Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada, Castner Range in Texas, Black Wall Street in Oklahoma, and so many other places where American communities are working hard to protect, restore, and tell the stories of generations who have come before us.”

####

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org , 970-670-0193

Read more about Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument here .

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Three easy ways nonprofits can engage in powerful democracy work

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:42:36 GMT

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

Elections have significant impacts on the future of our public lands and the policies that govern how they are managed. Many local elections are decided by just a handful of votes, which means each of us can have a significant impact on whether our values are heard at the polls and represented at all levels of government.

There are strict rules when it comes to what nonprofits can and cannot do when it comes to civic engagement work. That’s why we put together this handy Friends Election Guide to provide you with a framework on how to navigate your nonprofit activities through the democratic process.

Below are our top three takeaways from our Election Guide to get you started. Be sure to read through the complete guide for more information and real-world examples.

1. Nonprofits can - and should - participate in civic engagement.

While restricted in some ways, nonprofit organizations can go a long way in advancing civic engagement in their local communities. Many nonprofit organizations - like those in our Friends Grassroots Network - are 501(c)3 nonprofits, which is an IRS designation that marks the organization as tax-deductible. A C3 cannot endorse or work to elect candidates to office, but, they can engage with elected officials and the democratic process!

“There’s no reason that every C3 shouldn’t be registering everyone to vote who comes in their office and all of their activists.” - TJ Ellerbeck
Rural Utah Project Executive Director

From registering people to vote to providing information on how to vote in elections, C3s can go a long way in getting out the vote! Just make sure it’s nonpartisan - meaning you’re not telling folks who to vote for or targeting voters based on party affiliation - and that you’re conducting civic engagement work regularly.

2. Nonprofits can lobby.

From hitting the steps of the Capitol in Washington D.C. to meeting with your local city council members, nonprofits work year-round to influence legislation they either support or oppose. While nonprofits can lobby, C3s must track their time and expenses closely to make sure they do not exceed 20% of their overall activities.

There are two ways to lobby:

Directly urging your membership to contact their representative on an issue.
Grassroots lobbying, which is asking the public to weigh in on an issue.

3. Nonprofits can participate in the election process in a variety of ways.

There are so many ways your nonprofit can help your members, supporters and the public become educated on where candidates stand on your issues. Nonprofits can host candidate forums, invite candidates to fill out a questionnaire, conduct candidate trainings, and so much more.

Of course, C3s nonprofits should be careful as to how they conduct these activities in order to be IRS-compliant so make sure to visit our Elections Guide for more information.

Thank you to Skye Schell, founder of Yellow Tree Strategies and a leading advisor on nonprofit election engagement, who curated this fantastic Elections Guide . Please reach out if you have any questions.

Local Voices Build Power for Protecting Caja Del Rio Plateau in New Mexico

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:14:23 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2022

Santa Fe, NEW MEXICO - The community-led campaign to protect one of the most ecologically rich and culturally significant landscapes in the Southwest today released a multi-media collection of stories and a virtual field trip as part of the effort to connect the broader public with Tribal representatives and others closely connected to the special landscape of the Caja del Rio Plateau.

Located just a few miles outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Caja del Rio Plateau holds deep historical value and continues to remain of vital importance to the Pueblo people of the middle Rio Grande. The Caja StoryMap brings some of this important history and connection to life.

“The Caja del Rio Plateau is culturally significant both to the Pueblo people who live here today and whose ties date back to time immemorial as well as to the people from traditional Hispano communities, who remain connected to the land and rely on its many resources to sustain traditional ways of life,” said Romir Lahiri, associate program director based in Albuquerque for Conservation Lands Foundation.

“Their stories and the environmental significance of the Caja are important for the broader public to know and will hopefully inspire overwhelming support to protect this special landscape,” said Lahiri.

The Caja del Rio Plateau is also part of a critical wildlife migration corridor along the Upper Rio Grande from New Mexico to Colorado, supporting animal mobility and providing vital habitats for a diverse range of plants and many endangered and sensitive species of mammals, reptiles and birds.

“Everyone is encouraged to take a virtual field trip through the Caja and then add their name in support of protecting it at https://www.protectcajadelrio.com ,” said Lahiri.

The Caja StoryMap was produced by Conservation Lands Foundation with support from New Mexico Wild and the Caja del Rio Coalition.

####

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org , 970-670-0193

About Conservation Lands Foundation

End of Year Fundraising, 2022

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:09:09 GMT

Watch the webinar here

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Bruce Passmore; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Say what? It’s the end of year already? Well, not technically. But there is no time like September to plan your year-end fundraising campaign. In this webinar we will go through the steps of conducting a EOY fundraising review and explore 5 ways you can maximize your EOY fundraising successes. During the last part of the session, we’ll walk through a one-page EOY fundraising plan taking what we learned and applying it immediately to the work at hand.

Additional Resources:

Friends Guide to Elections

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:05:10 GMT

Elections will always have significant impacts on the future of our public lands and the policies that govern how they are managed. As non-profits it is vital that we take every opportunity to ensure those who are making decisions at all levels of government understand why public lands are so important.

While your organization cannot endorse specific candidates or political parties, there are many different ways you can engage in the political and electoral process to ensure the public, the media, and those elected to public office understand the values our public lands hold and why they are worthy of protection.

This guide, expertly drafted by Skye Schell, will help you and your organization understand what you can do, how to do it effectively and legally, and why you should do it. Please also call upon the team at Conservation Lands Foundation if you have questions or need advice on how best to engage in the political and electoral process within the scope of your organization’s work.

There is no more effective voice in the political and electoral process than the grassroots, and at a time when the integrity of our democracy is being challenged more than ever, there is no more important time than now for your organization to speak truth to power. From the biggest of presidential elections to the most local of city elections, all politics matter, especially as it relates to how our landscapes, air and water are managed.

Resources

Access the FGN Guide to Elections here!

Largest Land Manager Urged to Act Now to Protect More Public Lands

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:22:43 GMT

The Bureau of Land Management is meeting this week in Grand Junction and we joined more than 80 organizations urging the Bureau of Land Management to take bold action and use their authority to protect more lands with wilderness characteristics and areas of critical environmental concern through BLM planning processes.

We placed this ad in the Grand Junction Sentinel and sent them a joint letter imploring them to use their existing authorities to safeguard remaining wildlife corridors, restore damaged landscapes, and protect wildlands.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

Media Coverage on the Need for Bold BLM Action

Greenwire: Greens Press Biden for Action – Conservationists support the BLM using all the tools in its toolbox to address the climate and biodiversity crisis.

Greenwire: Senate Dems: More Wilderness Study Areas – Senators want more bold conservation from the BLM.

Grand Junction Sentinel - Public Lands Conservation Lagging in West - Conservationists call for quicker conservation action.

KJZZ - BLM Could Play a Major Role in America the Beautiful

Better Board Meetings: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 21:12:13 GMT

Click here to watch the webinar

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Megan Siebel, Capacity Refresh

Do you have passionate volunteers that you’d like to turn into productive board members while keeping their passion alive? A mindset shift is needed to transition from working as a volunteer for the organization to participating in its governance. In this session, we’ll explore the governance that is required -- providing strategic leadership, assuring financial sustainability, serving as an ambassador for the organization, supporting and supervising the executive director. We’ll also talk about customizing board roles to meet the needs of your organization and to play to the strengths and interests of your individual board members so that they stay engaged and passionate.

*This webinar is the first of a three-part webinar series on Board Engagement, Culture, and Meetings*

Additional Resources:

Board Member Job Description

Local Community and Conservation Advocates Welcome Interior Secretary Haaland’s Visit to proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Southern Nevada

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:28:06 GMT

Highway View of Spirit Mountain

Las Vegas, NV: Today, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited the proposed Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) National Monument in Southern Nevada. Haaland was joined by Conservation Lands Foundation Senior Conservation Director Jocelyn Torres, local elected officials, and community groups leading the effort to permanently protect the Avi Kwa Ame landscape.

“We thank Secretary Haaland for her visit and interest to experience first-hand the important role the Avi Kwa Ame landscape has in protecting sites of sacred, cultural and historic significance; connecting together other protected landscapes; and preserving the backcountry character so many locals and visitors enjoy,” said Jocelyn Torres, Senior Conservation Director for Conservation Lands Foundation.

“Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain and the surrounding area, is the point of creation for ten Yuman-speaking tribes and sacred to the Chemehuevi Paiute and Hopi tribes. You can hear about the importance of Avi Kwa Ame from members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe at AviKwaAme.com .

“The effort to designate Avi Kwa Ame a National Monument is supported by Tribes and Indigenous organizations, including the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, the Inter-Tribal Councils of Nevada and Arizona and Native Voters Alliance Nevada. It’s also supported by local and regional governments, including the three surrounding communities of Boulder City, Searchlight, and Laughlin, as well as many conservation and recreation groups in Nevada.

“We truly appreciate Secretary Haaland’s visit. We hope she leaves the landscape inspired and carries forward the message that Tribes and local communities share - Avi Kwa Ame is worthy and in need of permanent protection.” said Torres.

####

Watch: A Photo Adventure with Bob Wick

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 21:33:18 GMT

Join Conservation Lands Foundation as we take a photo adventure with Bob Wick, former Bureau of Land Management wilderness specialist and photographer. Bob has traveled extensively to almost all of the National Conservation Lands, from the Arctic to Arizona and everywhere in between. In this Community Conversation, Bob shares some of his best images while describing the family of designations protecting these special areas. He also includes photo tips for working with a smartphone and highlights some of the Conservation Lands Foundation's current protection campaigns.

Millions of Acres of Public Land Protections Approved in House National Defense Bill

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 21:37:20 GMT

Washington, D.C . - Conservation Lands Foundation applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today, which includes significant protections for more than 6.7 million acres of public lands in five states across the West.

“The House took a significant step today towards ensuring valuable and vulnerable areas of nature across the West are conserved for their essential role in climate resiliency and our general well-being today and for future generations,” said David Feinman, government affairs director. “We applaud the steadfast leadership of the conservation champions in the House of Representatives who introduced these amendments and ensured their inclusion in the NDAA, and we urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead in advancing these critical public lands conservation priorities.

The bill includes these public land protection amendments:

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act , introduced by Rep. John Garamendi of California, which adds 3,925 acres to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in California.
The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act , introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, which protects more than 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado, further strengthening the state’s booming outdoor recreation economy.
The Grand Canyon Protection Act , introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, which permanently bans new uranium mining on approximately one million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
The Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands (PAW+) Act, introduced by Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado and including legislation introduced by Reps. Salud Carbajal, Judy Chu, Jared Huffman, Adam Schiff of California, and Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington, which protects more than 1.3 million acres in California, Colorado, and Washington and ensures greater access to public lands, restores fish and wildlife habitats, and creates economic development opportunities through outdoor recreation.
The Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act , introduced by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico, which establishes 13,103 acres of wilderness within the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument in New Mexico and provides permanent protection to a critical migratory passage for a range of species.
An amendment to the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Raul Ruiz of California, which reaffirms the intent of that law that 4 million acres of public lands in California designated as California Desert National Conservation Lands and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) should be managed for conservation and withdrawn from prohibited uses.

Leading Climate, Conservation, and Indigenous Groups Call Out Administration on Rushed Draft of Environmental Assessment of ConocoPhillips' Alaska Willow Project

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 00:16:50 GMT

Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) addressing the implications of ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project for America’s Western Arctic.

In response, Conservation Lands Foundation joined a coalition of other leading climate, conservation, and Indigenous organizations – including Alaska Soles Broadband – Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Alaska Wilderness League, Audubon Alaska, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environment America, Evergreen Action, Friends of the Earth U.S., Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Sierra Club, Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, and Trustees for Alaska – reiterating their significant concerns about both the massive project itself and the rushed process BLM has undertaken.

These concerns were recently relayed directly to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in a letter signed by the leaders of climate, conservation, and Indigenous organizations.

“No single oil and gas project poses a greater threat to the Biden Administration’s climate and public lands protection goals than the Willow Project. Allowing ConocoPhillips to proceed in the Western Arctic has the potential to undo the clean energy progress we’ve already made and make the goals we hope to reach by 2030 unattainable,’’ said the coalition. “For that reason, it is of vital importance that the Bureau of Land Management undertake a more careful and comprehensive review of this project.”

The Willow Project is estimated to add more than 250 million metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere over the next 30 years. Its climate impact would be equivalent to the annual emissions of 66 coal plants, roughly a third of all coal plants in America. According to an analysis by the Center for American Progress, emissions from the project would double the climate pollution that President Biden would otherwise avoid with his administration’s plans to expand clean energy development on our public lands and waters.

CLF will be engaging in the 45-day comment period and will keep our supporters updated on how they can add their voices to stop this climate catastrophe.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds House Appropriations Committee for Passing Fy 2023 Interior Appropriations Bill

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 20:55:05 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2022

Contact: David Feinman, davidf@conservationlands.org

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

PRESS STATEMENT: HOUSE COMMITTEE’S APPROVAL OF FY 2023 INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL SHOWS COMMITMENT TO RESTORE VALUABLE AND VULNERABLE PUBLIC LANDS

Washington, D.C. - Conservation Lands Foundation applauds the House Appropriations Committee f or passing the Fiscal Year 2023 Interior Appropriations bill today, which includes significant, necessary increases for management of the National Conservation Lands.

“After more than 15 years of perpetual underfunding by Congress, we are pleased to see the House Appropriations Committee take this action to restore the funding the Bureau of Land Management needs to manage these valuable and vulnerable landscapes,” said David Feinman, government affairs director. “The National Conservation Lands represent our nation’s natural, cultural, and outdoor heritage, and proper funding will help ensure these places are better managed for the essential values they hold.

The bill includes $70 million for the BLM to manage the system of National Conservation Lands, and within that amount, more than $9 million “to expand management and operational capacity.” Should the House and Senate approve this amount later this year, it will provide a 42% increase in funding from the previous year. With this funding, the Bureau of Land Management will be able to:

Fill many vacant positions, and hire new positions, within the Bureau of Land Management to improve public lands management.
Inventory, monitor and protect Indigenous and other cultural resources against vandalism and other threats.
Restore fish and wildlife habitat after years of neglect.
Improve visitor experience, recreational infrastructure and rural economic recovery.
Reclaim degraded lands and waters for climate change mitigation.

This action by the House Appropriations Committee follows increased advocacy from grassroots and national conservation organizations , as well as more than two dozen members of the House of Representatives , who urged the Committee to significantly increase funding for this program. It also follows a robust budget request of $68 million from the Biden administration in their FY23 budget.

The House FY23 Interior appropriations bill will be considered by the full House of Representatives later this summer. The Senate will take up their own FY23 Interior appropriations bill soon, and we join these senators in calling upon the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee to increase funding for stewarding America’s National Conservation Lands.

# # #

Background on Conservation Lands Foundation

Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) has led the only national movement of grassroots advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands for over a decade. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org .

Community Conversation: A Journey with QT Luong through America's National Monuments

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 00:19:31 GMT

Explore America's National Monuments with QT Luong, one of the most prolific photographers working in America's public lands and author of the award-winning photography book, Our National Monuments.

Learn more about QT Luong's latest book here .

Working Across Generations

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 21:17:12 GMT

Watch the webinar here

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Vanessa Lopez, Associate; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Unlocking the strengths of multi-generational workplaces is essential, and sometimes challenging, work. In this webinar, we will explore practices to build understanding, slay age-ist stereotypes, and leverage the value of diversity across decades. You will:

Build awareness of ageism and its impact
Learn how to combat your own biases
Develop skills to leverage the strength of inter-generational workplaces

Additional Resources:
Linked In commercial from Slide 21
TREC Resource- Core Elements of Management
TREC Webinar- Mentoring and Developing Your Staff
TREC Webinar- Engagement: How to Support it and Sustain it Over Time in Yourself and Others

Guest Post: MEET THE NONPROFIT TURNING CONSERVATION UPSIDE-DOWN

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 19:49:38 GMT

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

The original article was posted on publiclands.com . To read the original blog click here .

If you’re going to save 37 million acres with just two dozen staff members, you need a novel approach.

In the American West, there are 37 millions of acres of public land that most Americans have never heard of. While the under-the-radar status has been a major attraction for hikers, backpackers, and climbers in the know, it’s proven a major problem for the future of all that land. After all, a lot of it overlaps prime ranching or oil drilling territory. And even without the competing interests, it’s impossible for voters to protect places they don’t know exist.

Those 37 million acres are National Conservation Lands, a new category of public land that was created about 20 years ago to encompass parcels like national monuments and national scenic and historic trails. Because many of these lands are newly protected and far from metropolitan centers, they’re often underappreciated and under-resourced—sometimes recovering from decades of mismanagement.

“I think the national conservation lands are the baby of all the various designations,” says Jocelyn Torres, senior field director of the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF), the only nonprofit specifically dedicated to advocating for National Conservation Lands. “So we’ve been doing what we can to grow the system and try to elevate it to the point where it’s not the new kid on the block anymore.”

Now, things are finally changing. Thanks to an outdoor recreation surge driven by COVID-19 safety precautions and international travel restrictions, public land across the U.S. has seen a massive uptick in visitation over the past two years. That includes National Conservation Lands, which served as critical overflow areas for congested national parks this past year.

In many ways, that increase was a good thing. National Conservation Lands enabled more people to get outdoors and experience nature when their first-choice trips were derailed. Plus, more Americans than ever now know about places like Bears Ears National Monument in Utah and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada.

However, the escalated visitation came at a cost. Many National Conservation Lands have seen increased erosion, litter, and trailside human waste in the wake of the popularity spike. And the government organization that manages these lands—the Bureau of Land Management—just hasn’t had the resources to address it all.

“There are a lot of big-acreage areas that only have one or two enforcement officers,” Torres explains.

That’s where CLF steps in, using an entirely novel grassroots approach to address these much broader problems.

CLF’s founders decided they didn’t need to start from scratch to start protecting land. Instead, they looked to the dozens of local communities, nonprofits, and Indigenous groups already toiling away to protect their own backyards. While Congress can stamp a national monument border anywhere it wants, the CLF realized that it’s up to those critical community stakeholder groups to help with the actual stewardship. Without their buy-in, official designations don’t change much.

So, CLF began outreach to community-based conservation organizations across the West with a dream of building an elaborate web of mutual support. The result is 81 small, fierce, boots-on-the-ground nonprofits united as CLF’s Friends Grassroots Network.

There’s not much else like it, says Rachel Bergrin, the executive director of Get Outdoors Nevada . Get Outdoors Nevada has been a Friends Grassroots Network member since 2016.

A man climbs Yin-Yang Crack in Red Rock Conservation Area, Las Vegas, NV Photo: Daniel Holz/Tandemstock

“I’ve been working in the nonprofit conservation space for 20 years, and [CLF] is one of the most unique foundations I’ve ever encountered,” says Bergrin. After all, many big environmental groups keep their gaze trained on Washington, D.C., and just focus on policy at a national level. Few approach conservation from the bottom up.

So, how exactly does grassroots organization achieve influence at scale?

“We coordinate with our Friends Grassroots Network to share what we hear on the national level about large policies,” explains Torres. “And they share with us what they see on the ground so we can identify trends across various landscapes.”

CLF also provides intense support to its Friends Grassroots Network in the form of grants, staff trainings, and other resources. And that’s critical. After all, says Bergrin, most nonprofit groups are chronically underfunded (many only have one or two staff members). And without a ton of support, internal camaraderie, or opportunities for professional development, burnout rates can be high.

CLF’s grants and trainings, then, aren’t just about ticking a box. They’re about taking care of the eyes and ears on the ground, and keeping those in the trenches strong, healthy, and motivated to keep fighting the good fight. And that makes all the difference.

“CLF really cares about the health of our organization,” says Erin McDermott, executive director of Friends of Red Rock Canyon , another Nevada nonprofit and Grassroots Network member. Recently, CLF put McDermott and her colleague through a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training, which she says has been “absolutely critical” to Friends of Red Rock Canyon’s mission and goals.

Having something of a safety net, McDermott says, also helped get her through the pandemic.

“Many households stopped their philanthropic giving, and that was a very scary time for nonprofits,” she says. “Knowing that CLF had our back if we needed it—that definitely helped me sleep at night.”

And when members of the Grassroots Network started to report overcrowding issues, CLF responded, pressing Congress to increase the Bureau of Land Management’s budget—an initiative that passed in early October, granting over $69 million for improved management of National Conservation Lands.

“We really see the National Conservation Lands as a piece of the puzzle in the solutions on the climate front and on the health crisis that we’ve all been going through,” Torres says. “These are places people can get out, get fresh air, take a walk, and restore themselves—something we need now more than ever.”

Petition to Stop Construction of Highway Through Utah Public Lands Gains Over 35,000 Signatures

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:30:36 GMT

This week I had the opportunity to hand deliver a petition to the Department of the Interior with signatures from 35,828 residents in every U.S. state. Our petition is urging the Department of the Interior to reverse approval of the Northern Corridor Highway, a four-lane highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) in southern Utah.

While I’m in D.C. this week I’ll be going with Conservation Lands Foundation staff to meetings with Department of Interior leadership and Members of Congress. We’ll be sharing why they need to take action to keep Red Cliffs NCA protected for the benefit of local communities and the integrity of the conservation lands system.

If you haven’t experienced the beauty of Red Cliffs NCA yet, it’s just outside of St. George and Zion National Park. The lands include 130 miles of trails, cultural artifacts, and threatened/endangered species like the Mojave desert tortoise. Over 200,000 people visit annually to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, horseback ride, photograph, and marvel at the expansive red rock landscape.

But all of it is at risk. In 2021, the Trump administration approved the Northern Corridor Highway, a move that directly contradicts Congress’s designation of Red Cliffs NCA in 2009 to safeguard popular trails, cultural resources, and critical habitat for 20 species of sensitive and threatened wildlife, including the threatened Mojave desert tortoise.

The Northern Corridor Highway would be devastating for Red Cliffs. It would permanently damage critical habitat, the ancestral homelands of Southern Paiute and Pueblo communities, and 15 popular hiking trails within the Red Cliffs NCA. It would also set an ominous precedent for development risk within other National Conservation Areas across the United States.

Many locals, and people across the country, are opposed to the highway. We are part of a coalition of local and national conservation coalition who have filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management for this unjust approval. Over 35,000 people have signed our petition and joined us opposing this destructive highway. The widespread response to this petition demonstrates the importance of protecting Red Cliffs NCA.

Want to learn more and join our effort? Our petition is featured in our newly-released magazine: Protect Red Cliffs - Art and Narratives of a Threatened Place. Check it out here .

Pride Month 2022: Nature Has Always Accepted Us

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:32:54 GMT

Happy Pride month, friends! It’s June, which means that many lgbtq+ and two-spirit people around the world are celebrating, reflecting, and seeking ways to recharge. For everyone in the conservation community, this also needs to be a time to recommit to making the places and groups we work in be welcoming, safe, inclusive, and fair for all.

Why? Part of the reason is that we’re experiencing a time when queer-identified people are finding their voices, lifting up their identities, and reveling in the tangled joys and challenges of being human – and natural.

Nature has always “accepted” us.

There is great beauty in how we belong and can contribute to the conservation and protection of the natural world. Think of our conservation queer ancestors who could not bring their full selves to their places of work; they were afraid of getting fired, they kept relationships hidden—often at terrible personal costs.

They were unable to live their true identities due to social norms of the time and targeted discrimination. Yet they accomplished so much for conservation campaigns and kept those doors cracked open for new generations.

At our Friends Grassroot Summit last month, held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, leaders from this “new generation” lead a session: “Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace: Strategies from at LGBTQ+ Lens.”

They presented specific techniques for creating allyship and workplace cultural change so that lgbtq+ people can give their all to this critical work. They discussed why it’s important to move from “caring” about lgbtq+ people to taking concrete actions that support and empower them.

Doing so lifts up chances to sustain the natural world and is an essential force to fighting Republican-led state legislatures attempting to pass an unprecedented number of laws discriminating against lgbtq+ people and, especially, laws that hurt trans kids and criminalize their families.

The conservation and lgbtq+ equality movements have long shared similarities: we often share the inherent belief that the world can be a better place and that determined communities can enact that vision.

We also share a desire to create and protect safe, sustained, and healing places—we do that as queer people who have always built our own communities. Conservationists seek that too, when protecting a forest, public lands, a river—for both people and the nonhumans that live there.

As we successfully build welcoming, safe, and just places for everyone to work and thrive, we will inevitably find greater success and sustained hope.

Friends Summit 2022 Highlights

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 22:48:35 GMT

In mid-May, the Conservation Lands Foundation hosted our first Friends Summit since 2019, safely gathering together nearly 200 community-based conservation leaders and advocates with renowned experts and facilitators at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The venue was selected in an ongoing effort by the Conservation Lands Foundation to support Indigenous communities across the West.

This multi-day conference featured 23 speakers who facilitated 25 plenary and individual sessions to help our partners sharpen their skills in topics such as leadership development, multilingual engagement and cultural sensitivity, strategic organizing, and civic engagement for non-profits.

Highlights included:

The Spirit Coalescent and Lyla June provided moving and unforgettable instrumental, multi-media visual, poetry, choreography, and musical performances. In the inspiring words of Lyla June, “We each hold a pen. Let us co-author a story of how humanity fell in love with itself and its Mother Earth once again.”
Brenda Mallory, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality provided an insightful closing speech detailing the importance of local leadership and community engagement in the White House’s efforts to improve, preserve, and protect America’s public health and environment.
More than your run-of-the-mill conference, the Friends Summit provides the space for local advocates working at the intersection of community engagement and public land protection to connect, share stories of challenges and successes, and build on our shared goals to grow a powerful, resilient, and inclusive conservation movement for the future.

Outstanding leadership by our Friends Grassroots Network was recognized through awards for advocacy, innovation, and impact.

Friends Group of the Year went to Conserve Southwest Utah

Excellence in Conservation Leadership went to CalWild

Jora Fogg with Friends of the Inyo was named Advocate of the Year

The inaugural Innovation Award was given to the Mojave Desert Land Trust

Attendees attested that the Friends Summit allowed them to forge valuable relationships with other groups, connect with new and old friends, and build personal and organizational resilience. For a grassroots organization it can feel lonely to fight for public lands, but when united in a network, each individual organization is much stronger.

The 2022 Friends Summit was generously sponsored by our partners Haglöfs, MiiR, Nusenda Credit Union, Patagonia, and The VF Foundation.

Thank you to all our partners and participants in making the Friends Summit a success!

Friends Summit 2022 Highlights

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 19:56:35 GMT

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

Highlights included:

The Spirit Coalescent and Lyla June provided moving and unforgettable instrumental, multi-media visual, poetry, choreography, and musical performances. In the inspiring words of Lyla June, “We each hold a pen. Let us co-author a story of how humanity fell in love with itself and its Mother Earth once again.”
Brenda Mallory, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality provided an insightful closing speech detailing the importance of local leadership and community engagement in the White House’s efforts to improve, preserve, and protect America’s public health and environment.

More than your run-of-the-mill conference, the Friends Summit provides the space for local advocates working at the intersection of community engagement and public land protection to connect, share stories of challenges and successes, and build on our shared goals to grow a powerful, resilient, and inclusive conservation movement for the future.

Outstanding leadership by our Friends Grassroots Network was recognized through awards for advocacy, innovation, and impact.

Excellence in Conservation Leadership went to CalWild

Friends Group of the Year went to Conserve Southwest Utah

Jora Fogg with Friends of the Inyo was named Advocate of the Year

The inaugural Innovation Award was given to the Mojave Desert Land Trust

The 2022 Friends Summit was generously sponsored by our partners Haglöfs, MiiR, Nusenda Credit Union, Patagonia, and The VF Foundation.

Thank you to all our partners and participants in making the Friends Summit a success!

Leadership Changes at Conservation Lands Foundation

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:37:54 GMT

Change is inevitable and last month, after 11 years with CLF, John Wallin, who was most recently serving as our Deputy Director, decided it was time for his next professional chapter. John was instrumental in CLF’s ability to secure protections for millions of acres and for helping to set CLF’s current team up for success. All of us at CLF are grateful for his insights, mentorship and humor and excited to see the value he will bring to his next endeavor.

This has created a new leadership chapter at CLF and we’re excited to announce that Jocelyn Torres has been promoted to the new position of Senior Conservation Director and Charlotte Overby has been promoted to Senior Field Director.

Jocelyn and Charlotte will strengthen the integration between our field, national monument campaigns, and grassroots advancement teams to achieve our aggressive and achievable goals over the next two years, while also laying the groundwork for future success at CLF and among our Friends Grassroots Network.

Jocelyn advances from the Senior Field Director position. As our Senior Conservation Director, she will focus on steering the portfolio of programs that include our National Monuments campaigns, support for the Bureau of Land Management’s conservation commitments, as well as the grants and advancement of our Friends Network.

Charlotte advances from the position of Senior Program Director, and will strengthen and mentor our growing field team while navigating the on-the-ground politics and opportunities for our many place-based campaigns.

We know that to be successful in our very ambitious conservation objectives, a Senior Conservation Director is needed to continually monitor and direct the individual pieces of work into a cohesive strategy, identify gaps, nimbly move resources, and see opportunities where we need to double down.

These changes will help us advance our mission and goals more efficiently in the short-term and, just as importantly, set up CLF and our Friends Network for future success.

The CLF is excited about this next chapter and I couldn’t be more confident in our high-performing team to deliver the conservation successes we know are possible.

Thank You, Senator Rosen, for Leading the Effort to Increase Funding for National Conservation Lands!

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 19:59:30 GMT

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen is leading the Senate effort to better fund and care for National Conservation Lands. Her recent letter to her colleagues calling for more funding received support from 9 Senators representing many states, including California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon. These key western states contain a significant portion of National Conservation Lands. We’re grateful to Senator Rosen and her colleagues for their leadership and to you, our supporters, for encouraging your Senators to sign the letter!

As a next step in the process, will you help us encourage members of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to join in support? Anyone can share the below tweets - you don’t have to live in the Members’ districts!

Tell Your Senators: It’s Time to Care & Increase Funding for National Conservation Lands

Wed, 18 May 2022 23:19:53 GMT

Congress recently passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill with $49 million for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to care for and manage National Conservation Lands. That’s a 7.5% increase in funding from the previous year!

While this funding is a step forward, it’s still not enough. We’re asking Congress to provide at least $78 million in Fiscal Year 2023 for the BLM to manage National Conservation Lands so that future generations can enjoy these beloved places. Will you urge your Senators to join us in this effort? It takes just a few minutes!

Could Biden's conservation plan boost overlooked BLM lands?

Fri, 06 May 2022 23:24:37 GMT

Original article published by E&E News via https://subscriber.politicopro.com

The Biden administration's conservation goal could end up giving a crucial boost to a Bureau of Land Management program that over the years has failed to attract congressional support.

Environmental advocates and others have decried what they see as the chronic underfunding of BLM's National Conservation Lands, which comprise 35 million acres of some of the most pristine, culturally diverse and scientifically important parcels managed by the federal government.

This has remained true under the Biden administration, they say, despite administration requests to beef up the program.

Congress allocated $49 million for the program in the fiscal 2022 omnibus spending bill President Joe Biden signed into law in March — $18 million less than requested.

There's concern among some supporters that not much will change when congressional appropriators begin crafting fiscal 2023 funding bills this summer.

But the Biden administration won't be able to meet the conservation goals in the "America the Beautiful" initiative — which aims to preserve 30 percent of the country's lands and waters by 2030 — without parcels being added to the National Conservation Lands system, observers say.

"The National Conservation Lands is a big system that's set to get bigger, and that means it needs to be properly funded if we are to meet the stated initiatives in the America the Beautiful initiative," said Phil Hanceford, a senior staff attorney with the Wilderness Society.

BLM said as much in an emailed statement to E&E News. The additional funding Biden has asked for in his fiscal 2023 budget request — which seeks $68 million for the program — is needed to "allow increased capacity to manage conservation lands and further advance the America the Beautiful initiative," BLM said.

The Wilderness Society and dozens of other conservation groups signed a letter sent in March to the House Interior- Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, recommending Congress allocate a record $78 million for the program in fiscal 2023.

"Such an increase would reflect a correction of the historic underfunding" of the program, as well as underscore "the important role the National Conservation Lands will play in meeting President Biden's" 30-by-30 conservation goals, the letter said.

There is evidence some in Congress are also trying to boost support, such as Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), one of the more vocal supporters of the program.

"Senator Heinrich is a strong supporter" of the system and "asked for increased funding in last year’s appropriations process, and will again this year," his office said in an emailed statement to E&E News.

And last month, Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette (D) got 25 fellow House members — all Democrats — to sign onto a letter she sent to the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, also encouraging them to allocate $78 million in the fiscal 2023 budget.

The extra funding is needed, the letter states, "so BLM can properly manage these critically important places."

The $49 million that Congress allocated in the fiscal 2022 budget is "nowhere near enough" for BLM to do that, said David Feinman, government affairs director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, which advocates for the bureau's National Conservation Lands.

The group organized the letter-writing campaign in March to Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) who chairs the subcommittee, and Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, its top-ranking Republican.

"BLM can't do the work they need to do, and they can't hire the staff they need to do it. When you don't have the people and you don't have the resources to do the work to manage these sites, that work doesn't get done," Feinman said.

BLM's National Conservation Lands include 28 national monuments, among them the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears monuments that former President Donald Trump significantly cut down in size. Biden last year reversed that decision.

The 901 individual units in the system also include 17 national conservation areas, more than 260 congressionally delegated wilderness areas, 2,700 miles of National Wild and Scenic Rivers, and nearly 6,000 miles of National Trails. In total, they account for almost 10 percent of BLM's total landholdings, but roughly 25 percent of the total annual visitors to agency- managed sites.

The system includes sites renowned for their natural beauty, such as the oak groves, wildflower meadows and steep canyons that make up the 112,928-acre Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon, as well as the 210,149-acre Dominguez- Escalante National Conservation Area in west-central Colorado that contains petroglyphs, waterfalls and red sandstone canyons.

It also includes places of environmental and economic importance, such as the 485,300-acre Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Idaho that's home to the largest concentration of nesting raptors in North America, and the 196,877-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las Vegas, which draws more than 1 million visitors a year that generate economic benefits for the surrounding communities.

"These are some of the greatest lands that we have out there," said Hanceford with the Wilderness Society.

But a number of sites designated years ago — including the 242,000-acre Río Grande del Norte National Monument in New Mexico, and the 1.6-million-acre Mojave Trails National Monument in California — don't yet have land-use management plans, Hanceford said.

Biden's fiscal 2023 budget request specifically singles out the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments and the two proclamations he signed last year restoring them to their original size. He also noted that more funding for the program "will strengthen management and operational capacity at these special units."

Jim Kenna, a Conservation Lands Foundation board member who retired as BLM California state director in 2015, said that based on visits to some of the sites and conversations he's had with bureau employees, it's clear that they do not have the resources.

"I know because it's in the DNA of the agency, the people in these field offices will do everything in their power to keep it together. But what I'm seeing is evidence that in some places there is just not enough [resources] in any practical way to do that," he said. "It's got to get back to some sort of reasonable funding level if we expect the conservation outcomes to happen, and we should."

Even as congressional funding has remained mostly flat for most of the last dozen years, more and more lands have been added to the system.

Congress has added wilderness, and several presidents have issued national monument proclamations, adding public lands to the system.

Since fiscal 2010, when congressional funding for the program plummeted dramatically during the recession that was sapping the economy, 10 million acres have been added to the National Conservation Lands system, Feinman said.

"There's always been a cognitive dissonance between wanting to protect these areas and allocating the resources to do that," he said. "That's what Congress needs to fix."

Struggle for respect

BLM's National Conservation Lands program has always had critics in Congress.

Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt established the National Landscape Conservation System in June 2000 — during the closing days of President Bill Clinton's administration — without congressional authorization.

It didn't help matters that the first national monument placed into the system was Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah. Clinton established the monument via a 1996 presidential proclamation despite strong opposition from the state's GOP-led congressional delegation.

Republican lawmakers over the years have routinely questioned why BLM, an agency under a multiple-use mandate, should manage lands for conservation and future generations when the National Park Service and other agencies already do that.

The George W. Bush administration tried to limit the program's expansion by opposing several new national monuments — even as Congress during Bush's two terms in office consistently allocated the most funding for the program in its nearly 22- year history.

The program got a big boost in March 2009 when Congress passed the National Landscape Conservation System Act as part of a massive omnibus public lands bill that established 2.1 million acres of new wilderness areas. This essentially codified the National Conservation Lands into federal law, stating they are designed to "conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations."

But that boost came in the midst of a crippling recession sapping the nation's economic strength. Congress slashed funding for the program in the fiscal 2010 budget by nearly half — to $31 million from $60 million in fiscal 2009, records show.

Program funding would remain at $31 million for the next five fiscal budget cycles, increasing only to $36 million in the final two budget cycles of the Obama administration.

Funding has not come close to returning to pre-recession levels.

The result has been that BLM does not have the resources or staff to adequately manage the National Conservation Lands, as well as other culturally significant sites under the bureau's care, Feinman said.

Feinman pointed to vandalism on ancient petroglyphs discovered in January at La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs west of Santa Fe, N.M., which had been spray painted with graffiti. Volunteers who partnered with BLM to monitor cultural resources at the site discovered the vandalism.

"This is what happens when the agency doesn't have the resources and people to manage these lands," Feinman said.

Friends Summit Sponsor Highlight: Haglöfs

Tue, 03 May 2022 23:30:20 GMT

We’re gearing up for our first Friends Summit since the pandemic! In two weeks, about 200 representatives from our 80+ Friends Grassroots Network organizations will gather for three days to catalyze conservation strategies and celebrate the shared vision of protecting the lands we all love and need.

This year, we’re excited to highlight a new Summit Sponsor. Outdoor equipment brand Haglöfs shares our values that each of us as individuals, organizations and companies must be part of the solution to slowing climate change. Haglöfs is taking responsibility for the emissions of their entire supply chain. They became climate neutral through offsets in 2021, and have committed to reduce their emissions by 50% over the next 10 years, and reach net zero by 2030.

Haglöfs supports stronger regulations to accelerate change and talks honestly about reaching climate neutrality and the pros and cons of offsets on their road to net zero emissions. They believe that the urgency of the climate crisis means “we have to pull every lever!”

Photo credit: Haglöfs

Here’s what Haglöfs, Export Manager, Daniel Stiller Cohn has to say about our partnership:

”The most important thing for me, which led me to pursue a career in the world of outdoors, is to be present with myself and Mother Nature. Every time I’m outdoors in the high mountains, deep forests or grand wilderness I can feel that my internal batteries are getting fully charged. This is something that I encourage everyone to experience in their own way.

“To make sure that Mother Nature stays in this majestic way that we all love and need for our wellbeing, we at Haglöfs are responsible to make sure our impact on the planet is as small as possible and to inspire other brands and people to do the same. We have always had a strong wish to empower local organizations that are working for the same goal, which is why we’ve teamed up with the Conservation Lands Foundation to support their work to protect public lands.”

You can learn more about Haglöfs sustainability strategy here .

Friends Summit Sponsor Highlight: Haglöfs

Tue, 03 May 2022 22:56:19 GMT

Photo credit: Haglöfs

Here’s what Haglöfs, Export Manager, Daniel Stiller Cohn has to say about our partnership:

The Mid-Zone: Deepening the levels of engagement of your mid-level donors

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 21:27:36 GMT

Click here for presentation slides

Presenter: Ellie Stanley, Associate; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Do you have a plan to deal specifically with your mid-level donors?

As fundraisers, we may focus much of our time on acquiring new donors and retaining major donors, but what about your mid-level donors? In this interactive session, we will focus on the building blocks of your mid-level donor program – who are your mid-level donors? What do they really want to hear from you? And how can you move them up your donor ladder of engagement? Join Ellie for this deep dive exploration in “the mid-zone.“

Additional Resources:

Land Conservation Advocates Welcome Interior Secretary Haaland’s Visit to Castner Range (Texas) and Encourage Protection as a National Monument

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 23:33:25 GMT

El Paso, TX – Today, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited Castner Range in El Paso, Texas with local community groups of the Castner Range Coalition, as they continue their 50 year-long campaign to permanently protect this beautiful landscape.

We’re grateful to Secretary Haaland for coming to see first-hand the unique cultural, historical, scientific, and environmental features of Castner Range and hear from the local people who have worked collaboratively for decades to permanently protect the area from development.

Protecting this landscape as a national monument will tell a new story of diverse community members in the City of El Paso healing the land, by turning a landscape harmed by the U.S. military into a wildflower and nature preserve. El Paso is defining its future as a city blooming in harmony with its landscape and one that celebrates and embraces local voices and forward-looking leaders.

Local organizations, led by Frontera Land Alliance , Nuestra Tierra, and others, have worked for more than 50 years to protect Castner Range and are now calling on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Castner Range as a national monument.

Castner Range enjoys the support of the tireless leadership of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas who honor their ancestors who have lived here since time immemorial. This mountainous landscape in West Texas is renowned for its rare and endangered wildlife, irreplaceable water resources, and as a critical climate refuge.

We appreciate Rep. Escobar’s conservation leadership and for working to bring Secretary Haaland to visit this special place to understand how its protection will advance the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiatives.

####

The imperative of permanent protection for the Boundary Waters wilderness

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 23:48:34 GMT

Photo: "Morning reflection" by briandjan607 via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Funder Spotlight: Celebrating Colorado’s Rivers and The VF Foundation’s Commitment to Community Impact

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 21:17:54 GMT

In celebration of International Day of Action For Rivers the Conservation Lands Foundation shines our Funder Spotlight on The VF Foundation. Thanks to their financial support, our grassroots partners engage local communities to help ensure Colorado’s rivers continue to provide clean water, protect wildlife, and offer recreational opportunities so that people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to experience and enjoy them.

The VF Foundation has supported our Colorado-based work since 2019. This includes advancing community-based conservation across the West Slope with our partners including the Dolores River Boating Advocates, Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance, Western Slope Conservation Center, San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, Colorado Canyons Association, Friends of Browns Canyon, and Friends of the Yampa.

The VF Foundation’s investments in movements that create a more equitable and sustainable world is creating a “ripple effect for good” on Colorado’s rivers. Here’s how:

Dolores River Boating Advocates: Dolores River, Southwestern Colorado

Dolores River Boating Advocates River School

In 2021, Dolores River Boating Advocates received an Innovative Environmental Education Program Award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education for its River School program. Serving youth and families from Colorado’s Montezuma and Dolores Counties, this program offers opportunities to experience the Dolores River through one-day river trips, in class lessons, and field trips. Youth learn river safety skills and Leave-No-Trace ethics, are introduced to river ecology, aquatic species and watersheds, see how local communities are tied to the Dolores River, and experience whitewater rafting in a thrilling yet safe environment.

The River School starts with the premise that river rafting in Colorado—an iconic outdoor activity—is not just for people who can afford specialized equipment and skills. This program is designed to remove these barriers, create access to the river, and help foster new river stewards among a broader demographic. Since 2018, the River School has engaged more than 250 youth and family members from the communities of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, Towaoc, and Dove Creek. Recently, the program expanded to engage a high school youth leadership group and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspective.

Colorado Canyons Association: Dominguez-Escalante, McInnis Canyons and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Areas

Colorado Canyons Association

The Colorado Canyons Association inspires an appreciation for the outdoors with place-based experiential youth education programs. Founded in 2017, the Colorado Canyons Association’s river program focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and helping to develop key life skills such as team building, self-confidence, and leadership abilities. With a priority on reaching students who may not otherwise be able to access public lands and waters, STEAM has expanded exponentially, featuring Spanish-speaking guides and serving 555 students in 2021 (no small feat given the pandemic!).

The river program was recently enhanced through the creation of Catalpa Camp, a fully functioning outdoor education camp along the Ruby-Horsethief stretch of the Colorado River. Designed to bring largely under-resourced high school students into the outdoors for leadership development and STEAM-based outdoor education, the space serves as a literal outdoor classroom and shelter from potential storms, so the learning (and fun) can continue regardless of the weather.

Western Slope Conservation Center: North Fork Valley

The Western Slope Conservation Center sustains a team of River Watch volunteers who collect and test North Fork River water samples from an established network of stream stations every month. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife lab analyzes the samples for various chemicals including those that have been associated with mining, wastewater treatment, and agriculture, such as arsenic, ammonia and selenium.

This work is critically important in the North Fork Valley, a region sometimes referred to as Colorado’s “Provence,” due to the area’s organic farms, wineries, and sustainable agriculture traditions connected to public lands. The data helps community members understand various changes in the watershed, how North Fork water quality compares to state stream standards, and identify possible solutions for long-term protection of water quality in the North Fork and Lower Gunnison watersheds. “Keep the North Fork Fruitful” is one of the group’s recent initiatives designed to do just that--grow a broad coalition of people to diversifying the local economy, advance renewable energy, foster outdoor recreation and protect public lands for the long-term.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Congress for Investments in National Conservation Lands

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 20:58:20 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2022

Contact: Kris Deutschman, kris@conservationlands.org , 970-670-0193

4. For the Busy Parent

5. For the World Traveler

The best part? Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge-whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Order by December 16 to ensure your gift makes it in time!

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION APPLAUDS CONGRESS FOR INVESTMENTS IN NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday Conservation Lands Foundation released the following statement in response to Congress passing the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill, which includes increased investments in the National Conservation Lands. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

The bill includes $49.274 million for the Bureau of Land Management so that the agency can better care for and manage the system of National Conservation Lands. That’s a 7.5% increase in funding from the previous year. With this funding, the Bureau of Land Management will be able to:

Create more jobs within the Bureau of Land Management to improve public lands management.
Inventory, monitor and protect Indigenous and other cultural resources against vandalism and other threats.
Restore fish and wildlife habitat after years of neglect.
Improve visitor experience, recreational infrastructure and rural economic recovery.
Reclaim degraded lands and waters for climate change mitigation.

Below are quotes from Conservation Lands Foundation marking this moment:

David Feinman, Government Affairs Director
“This increase in federal funding for National Conservation Lands is a victory for the grassroots advocacy efforts that helped catalyze Congressional action. National Conservation Lands represent our nation’s natural, cultural, and outdoor heritage, and proper funding will help ensure these places are better managed for all of the values they hold. We thank Congress for approving this investment in our public lands and the agency that manages them and we look forward to building off this investment in the years ahead.”

Jim Kenna, Board Member, and Former Bureau of Land Management California State Director
“The Bureau of Land Management manages the largest, most diverse and scientifically important body of cultural, historical, and paleontological resources of any federal land management agency. Never in the agency’s history has it had sufficient resources to adequately address the conservation requirements of its mission under law. While this funding isn’t nearly enough to meet that standard, it’s a start and is headed in the right direction. I’m glad to see Congress reinvesting in public lands and the Bureau of Land Management so the agency can better care for and manage National Conservation Lands. The Friends Grassroots Network of the Conservation Lands Foundation, a coalition of nearly 80 groups across the country, has been providing the community-level leadership that makes this kind of investment so effective.”

# # #

About Conservation Lands Foundation

Latest News - Conservation Lands Foundation

Unprecedented Alliance Highlights Need for Real Affordable Housing Solutions Without Sacrificing Public Lands

April FGN Call: Sustainable Stewardship: Building Impactful Agency Relationships

Our presenter, Davina Smith-Idjesa, Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, provides her lived-experience perspective on how nonprofit organizations can engage with Tribal Nations in respectful, ethical, and effective ways.

February FGN Call: Sustainable Stewardship: Building Impactful Agency Relationships

Join us for a round-table webinar dedicated to building resilient, long-term partnerships between Friends groups and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Conservation Lands Foundation and the Friends Grassroots Network Respond to Administration's Proposed Interior Budget

More on funding for the Bureau of Land Management:

Revoking Chaco Canyon Protections Ignores Pueblos, Tribes, and the Public

The Department of the Interior’s Proposal Provides Only 7 Days to Weigh-In

Utah Voices Take Grand Staircase Fight to Capitol Hill

More on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

The Latest Threat to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

What Is the Congressional Review Act and Why Does It Matter?

Bipartisan Delegation Fights for Grand Staircase

Setting a Dangerous Precedent

Court Allows Organizations to Intervene In Lawsuit to Defend Chuckwalla National Monument

Conservation, education, veteran, and recreation groups fight to protect critical Southern California public lands in Chuckwalla National Monument

More on Chuckwalla National Monument:

Utah Congressmembers Open Attack on National Monument Protections Starting with Grand Staircase-Escalante in Southern Utah and Local Communities and Businesses Outraged

More About Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument:

PUBLIC LANDS ALERT: Anti-Public Lands Nominee to Lead Agency Responsible for Largest Amount of Public Lands Advances to Final Senate Vote

About the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Federal Court Halts Construction of Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah

Decision Pumps Brakes on UDOT’s Rush to Break Ground, which would threaten the Mojave Desert Tortoise

More on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Director of BLM Nominee Stevan Pearce Confirmation Hearing Recap

Join us in calling on your Senators to VOTE NO on Pearce's nomination - a vote is scheduled for next week: ﻿

Conservation Lands Foundation and Partners Respond to Proposal to Gut the Management Plan for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

More on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument:

Take Action

Senator Lee formally begins process to fast-track the destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah

Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act Passes

The State of Our Public Lands is Threatened

Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Attention on the Multiple Efforts Underway to Undermine Public Lands Management, Protection, and Preservation ﻿

Conservation Lands Foundation Joins Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Expansive Oil and Gas Leasing Plan for Western Arctic

Lawsuit challenges Trump’s expansive oil and gas leasing plan for western Arctic Agency guts long-time protections for areas like Teshekpuk Lake and the Colville River

More on the Western Arctic:

2026 Friends Summit Participant Information

We look forward to seeing you at this year's Friends Summit!

May 11 - 13, 2026 (See schedule below)

Our Keynote Speaker: Caroline Gleich

Lawsuit Challenges Illegal Highway Through Utah’s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Local, State, and National Conservation Organizations Seek to Protect Threatened Mojave Desert Tortoise, Redrock Landscapes, and Recreation

January CLiF Notes: Read the Latest on Your Public Lands and Take Action

Letter From Our CEO

The Latest Congressional Attack on National Monuments

New BLM Pick Wants to Sell Off Your Public Lands

BLM Abandons Its Own Findings to Ram Highway Through Red Cliffs NCA

Congress Rejects Massive BLM Cuts

Now Hiring: Associate Program Director, Arizona/New Mexico

In January's CLiF Notes Edition:

Congressional Attack Coming to National Monument Protections, Local Communities and Businesses Outraged

More on National Monuments:

Federal Agency Re-Approves Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Abandons Own Scientific Findings

More on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area:

Local Communities Urge Congress to Oppose Stevan Pearce for Bureau of Land Management Director, Citing "Betrayal of Public Interest"

A Record of Selling Out, Not Stewardship

Conflicts of Interest and Industry Bias

A Threat to National Monuments

Congress Needs to Vote No on Pearce

About the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

November FGN Call: Partnering To Protect Dark Skies

Sarah Burak, Education Director at the Bears Ears Partnership (BEP), presents on her organization's Dark Skies Program.

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds Congress for Supporting National Conservation Lands, Rejecting Drastic White House Funding Cuts

Policy Handbook (October 2025)

This comprehensive Policy Handbook details the foundation and future vision for the National Conservation Lands

There’s No Future Without Nature and Local Leadership is Driving National Protections of Public Land: A Welcome Message from Our New Chief Development Officer

Senate Hears Five Public Lands Protection Bills

Gifts That Give Back: Support Public Lands This Holiday Season

Give the Gift of Conservation

Patagonia + Adyen: Matched Donations at Checkout

Icebug: Donating 100% of Black Friday Proceeds

Osprey: A Half-Century of Conservation Commitment

Haglöfs: Climate Action Meets Public Lands Protection

Why Your Support Matters Now

Shop With Purpose

Impact Report 2025

Protect Public Lands With Patagonia This Holiday Season

Patagonia, Adyen ask customers to protect public lands this holiday season

Join us in calling on your Senators to VOTE NO on Pearce's nomination - a vote is scheduled for next week:

Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Attention on the Multiple Efforts Underway to Undermine Public Lands Management, Protection, and Preservation

Sarah Burak, Education Director at the Bears Ears Partnership (BEP), presents on her organization's Dark Skies Program.

The Team