Public lands in the U.S. back under negotiation again
In a move that threatens to roll back decades of progress, the Trump administration has announced the rescission of the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, also known as the Public Lands Rule, and the U.S. Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation Rule. These policy changes, if implemented, could return land management to a lopsided, extraction-first mentality, to the detriment of our federal lands and future generations.
Finalized in 2024, the Public Lands Rule marked a critical shift at the Bureau of Land Management, aiming to rebalance the focus from industrial use to sustainable management of wildlife and natural resources. The proposed rescission of this rule, along with the Roadless Rule, is part of a larger pattern of policy changes aimed at dismantling public protections for the benefit of private interests.
The public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, spanning 245 million acres, are critical to conserving wildlife and support over 300 threatened and endangered species and 2,400 sensitive species. Unfortunately, the state of these lands is concerning. Of the 155 million acres eligible for land health assessments, 57 million have failing land health grades, and 36 million have not ever been assessed.
Invasive weeds are a significant issue on public lands, with almost 30% of the cold deserts of the interior west dominated by weeds, compared to 4% in 1992. The Public Lands Rule expands the use of land health assessments and establishes an adaptive management framework, which could help combat this issue.
The proposed rescission of both rules is expected to be devastating for our federal lands. To voice your opposition, the public is encouraged to submit a comment by September 19th for the Roadless Rule rescission and by November 10th for the Public Lands Rule rescission. The comments section is available for readers to express their opinions on these proposed rescissions.
In addition to submitting comments, the public is also encouraged to contact U.S. Senators and Representatives to express opposition to the rescission of these important land management policies. Together, we can ensure that our public lands are managed sustainably for the benefit of all, not just a few.
This article, penned by Andrew Bowman, urges the public to take action against the proposed rescissions. Let's stand together to protect our public lands for future generations.
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