The Department of Interior just announced its intent to repeal the Public Lands Rule and remove conservation as an official use of 245 million acres of public lands and waters managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The repeal of the Public Lands Rule would effectively uphold extractive uses of public lands above all other uses including conservation, wildlife protection, cultural preservation, and outdoor recreation.
Why the Public Lands Rule Matters:
After more than forty years of putting extractive industries first, the Bureau of Land Management took a historic step in 2024 by implementing the Public Lands Rule. For the first time, the agency made clear what the law always required: that conservation, access to nature, protection of cultural resources, wildlife habitat, and action on climate change are just as essential as drilling, mining, and other industrial uses.
The Public Lands Rule affirms that public lands should prioritize the public interest, not just that of corporations.
The Impact
Repealing the Public Lands Rule returns us to an outdated, extraction-first model that prioritizes short-term profits for corporations and private interests over long-term benefits for communities, tribes, and the American people.
Take Action Today
We have until Nov. 10 to tell the Bureau of Land Management that conservation and balanced public land management must remain a priority.
When conservation is eliminated as a land use while extraction continues unchecked, that’s not balance—it’s a corporate giveaway.
Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and family and sharing on social media using the hashtag #ActNowForPublicLands.
Together, we can stop this attack on America’s public lands.
