Shape the Future of Public Lands

Growing Support for Largest Federal Public Lands Manager to Embrace Conservation Vision

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.”

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Business Support

Outdoor Business Support letter – Outdoor industry companies want more conservation action by the BLM.

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Elected Official Support

40 Members of the House of Representatives call on Secretary Haaland and the BLM to Prioritize Conservation

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Conservation Community Support

Conservation Lands Foundation 

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Media Coverage

The Albuquerque Journal calls for “true BLM leadership” in recent editorial

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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. 
• Toiyabe 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.
• Public 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!