One of the most marvelous features of the United States is our public land: wild, scenic stretches of land and water that we citizens collectively own and have the right to explore and enjoy. Government agencies manage public lands, with the Bureau of Land Management responsible for more than any other agency. The BLM’s management has long been skewed in favor of extraction industries and commodity development (logging, mining, oil and gas development, and livestock grazing), with profit taking precedence over preservation. Over 85% of BLM-managed land is open for logging, mining and oil drilling.
Now, the BLM is proposing a new framework for managing land that gives conservation the same weight as these other uses. If this new rule is adopted, the BLM would have to focus on restoring wildlife habitat; protecting landscapes and cultural resources; and safeguarding land health and water quality. The need to stem climate change, solve the biodiversity crisis, and ensure we have clean water and air is undeniable. This policy change would directly address these issues.
The process for implementing this rule requires the BLM to gather comments from the public and take our feedback into consideration. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape what happens to our public land. Voice your support for the change and encourage the BLM to prioritize conservation at Regulations.gov . Comments are due by June 20.
Regan Fisher, Portland
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