Job Posting: Associate Program Director, Arizona and New Mexico

The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject the nomination of Stevan Pearce for Bureau of Land Management Director

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

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.” ###

The Conservation Lands Foundation is excited to announce the launch of our search for a California-based Senior Program Director, a key leadership role in a state with over 30 Friends Grassroots Network organizations. The Conservation Lands Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Director to serve as the strategic architect behind our land protection and constituency-building efforts in California . In this pivotal role, you will lead proactive campaigns to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands —38 million acres of premier public lands and waters managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). For the complete job description and more information, please review our Senior Program Director job description:

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

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. 

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.” ###

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.

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.