Last week, the Department of Interior announced a new rule to put “conservation leases” on the same footing as grazing, mining, and other productive uses on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM oversees 245 million of 640 million total public land acres.
The official announcement said the agency will “improve the resilience of public lands in the face of a changing climate; conserve important wildlife habitat and intact landscapes; plan for development; and better recognize unique cultural and natural resources on public lands.”
A 75-day public comment period will soon follow.
“As the nation continues to face unprecedented drought, increasing wildfires and the declining health of our landscapes, our public lands are under growing pressure. It is our responsibility to use the best tools available to restore wildlife habitat, plan for smart development, and conserve the most important places for the benefit of the generations to come,” said Secretary Deb Haaland in a news release. “As we welcome millions of visitors to hunt, fish and recreate on our public lands each year, now is the time to improve the health and management of special places.”