Why It Matters
Nature and biodiversity are declining at record rates in the U.S. If we don’t stop the decline, we’ll lose vital sources of clean air and water, diverse plants and wildlife, sacred and cultural sites, recreational opportunities, and critical drivers of local economies.
Photo: Steese National Conservation Area, Alaska
Who manages more public land – and fish, wildlife, and plant habitat – than any other agency in the United States?
Not enough of nature in the U.S. is protected.
85% of the largest acreage of public lands in the country – managed by the Bureau of Land Management – is currently up for grabs and available for mining, development and other activities.
Photo: Pronghorn outside of a natural gas production area in Wyoming.
THREATS ARE REAL
Unchecked development is splintering intact landscapes and wildlife corridors that allow plants and animals to thrive.
We’re eroding our capacity to store carbon and help ecosystems and communities adapt to changing climate conditions.
The sell-off of unprotected public lands threatens a thriving outdoor recreation economy that directly supports 7.6 million American jobs.
Some of the continent’s oldest and most sacred sites, vital to the cultural continuity of Native Nations, are on these lands and being destroyed.
Opportunities for all of us to connect with the land and engage with nature are shrinking.
Ensuring Access to Nature for Future Generations
Whether you’re an avid hiker, hunter, or angler, a Tribal member with ancestral connections, or rarely visit public lands, protecting more valuable and vulnerable landscapes is vital.
Photo: Delta Wild and Scenic River, Alaska
82%
82% of voters in the West – from across the political spectrum – support a goal of protecting 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
64M+
Over 64 million Americans – more than 1 in 6 – live within 100 miles of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Use The Climate Atlas to learn more about the biodiversity, climate, and other benefits of our country’s public lands – and to identify new opportunities for their protection.
Photo: Bodie Hills, California
