Protecting Public Lands During a Pivotal Public Lands Month
Photo credit: Cameron Vaughn
September is Public Lands Month, and this year it arrives at a pivotal moment. People who spend time outside on public lands and waters know the deep connection these places inspire—and that connection fuels the motivation to protect them. Thanks to your advocacy, we’ve moved the needle on some of the most pressing issues facing public lands in recent years.
Your voices helped stop proposals to sell off millions of acres of public land. You pushed lawmakers to pass the historically bipartisan recreation package, the EXPLORE Act. And you have spoken up for funding and staffing to ensure the agencies that care for our lands and waters have the resources they need.
But right now, the challenges are intensifying:
Public land protections are being rolled back. The USDA has proposed rolling back protections on 45 million acres of National Forests by rolling back the Roadless Rule. This opens up lands that include thousands of miles of trails, climbing routes, and whitewater runs. If these protections are removed, backcountry recreation and intact wildlands could be opened to development, roadbuilding, and logging. The BLM plans to rescind the Public Lands Rule, which provides balance for conservation, development, and extraction on multiple use BLM lands.
Funding and staffing for public lands are at risk. Land management agencies have had massive layoffs since the spring, with the USDA alone losing more than 16,000 employees (source). Higher levels of visitation and lower levels of funding have also strained the agencies. And the Legacy Restoration Fund—which has helped address the $41 billion maintenance backlog across public lands—will expire at the end of this month unless Congress acts to reauthorize it.
Even with these threats, we’ve seen that when the outdoor community comes together, it makes a difference. Whether it’s standing up to keep public lands public, meeting with lawmakers on the trails and rivers we share, or advocating to protect beloved trails and forests across the country, collective advocacy works.
Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, said, “America is unique for its commitment to public lands and the incredible outdoor recreation opportunities they provide. While the threats are more intense than we’ve ever seen them, our motivation and ability to stand up for the outdoors is stronger than ever.”
America’s commitment to public lands is unique—and the outdoor recreation opportunities they provide are worth fighting for. This Public Lands Month, please join us in standing up for the forests, rivers, and trails we all depend on.