Where We See A Land of Many Uses, D.C. Sees Only a Few

Interior Department Poised to Rescind the Public Lands Rule

Action: Comment by November 10, 2025

It has been almost a year since we first wrote about the dangers to our millions of acres of public lands (here is the post). When the Republicans regained office, they moved swiftly to realize their vision of the destruction of forests, parks, wilderness, nature preserves and other public lands. At times, the brazeness of these assaults has taken our breath away and the magnitude of the damage has been despairing. At other times, we know the pillaging is happening in the shadows and behind closed doors. We don't know the magnitude until the destruction is done and there's no turning back. 

Now, 250 million acres managed by the BLM are in danger of being opened to "uses" like oil and gas development, mining and construction. The Public Lands Rule, which puts conservation on a par with these destructive and extractive uses, is squarely in the Administration's sites. Its reasoning is simple. Attorneys for the DOI say that "conservation is not a use." 


Not only is conservation a use, it is the best use of many of these public lands. Thousands of people who enjoy and care for the Outdoors would agree with that. Millions of tiny insects, pollinators, small and large mammals, birds, fish and other wildlife would agree with that. Plants and trees pumping life-giving oxygen into the air would agree. All of the waterways, soil, minerals, breezes, sunlight and air are busily working and using each other to keep our planet healthy. 

Give Earth and our public lands a voice. Speak up, and be sure to give examples of how you want to see public lands used for conservation purposes. 

You can make a public comment and view comments at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/11/2025-17537/rescission-of-conservation-and-landscape-health-rule

Thanks to the Great Old Broads for Wilderness for alerting us to the danger!  


 

 

 

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