Your January public lands update: Read the latest and take action.
Congress is attempting to use the Congressional Review Act to remove a national monument management plan, a targeted attack on protected public lands in Utah and across the country.
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.
Conservation Lands Foundation is hiring for an Associate Program Director, New Mexico to help advance our advocacy work to protect public lands in New Mexico and Arizona.
The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject the nomination of Stevan Pearce for Bureau of Land Management Director
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.” ###
Patagonia, Adyen ask customers to protect public lands this holiday season
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:
Special Issue of Park Stewardship Forum Journal Commemorates 25 Years of National Conservation Lands
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:
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.
Congress is attempting to use the Congressional Review Act to remove a national monument management plan, a targeted attack on protected public lands in Utah and across the country.
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.
The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject the nomination of Stevan Pearce for Bureau of Land Management Director
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.” ###
Your January public lands update: Read the latest and take action.
Congress is attempting to use the Congressional Review Act to remove a national monument management plan, a targeted attack on protected public lands in Utah and across the country.
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.
Conservation Lands Foundation is hiring for an Associate Program Director, New Mexico to help advance our advocacy work to protect public lands in New Mexico and Arizona.
The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject the nomination of Stevan Pearce for Bureau of Land Management Director
