Statement from Trust for Public Land on the Bureau of Land Management’s Newly Announced Public Lands Rule 

Washington D.C. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized its newly announced Public Lands Rule on Thursday in an effort to better prioritize conservation of the 244 million acres of public lands under BLM’s purview. BLM lands are managed for multiple uses that at times can conflict, including oil and gas extraction, grazing, timber, mining, renewable energy development, public recreation, watershed health, wildlife and fish habitat, and conservation. The new rule seeks to put conservation on more equal footing with the other multiple uses for America’s public lands. 

Diane Regas, President and CEO of Trust for Public Land, issued the following statement:

“TPL commends the Biden Administration for its efforts to better protect the public lands we all cherish. This marks a pivotal moment for conservation as it realigns public land management priorities with the full interest of the public.  

Our shared lands provide numerous benefits to communities, from climate resilience, to health, and clean water, to thriving wildlife, public recreation and a connection to the outdoors. It is imperative that we redouble efforts to ensure these   benefits continue for future generations.

Federal public lands are our shared treasure and responsibility. If America is to protect 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, we cannot overlook the 10% of the country that is currently managed by BLM. This week’s decision is a major step to safeguard the natural spaces that are so important and increasingly scarce. TPL applauds the Biden Administration, Department of the Interior Secretary Haaland and BLM for their leadership.” 

### 

About Trust for Public Land    

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org