America’s public lands belong to the public, and all of us anglers, outdoorsmen, and conservationists have to defend these public resources….once again. The Republican majority led U.S. Congress with support from President Trump is currently proposing the sale of 500,000 acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah as a way to find budgetary windfalls. This should not be a partisan issue; outdoor recreation and conservation is one the surviving areas of strong bipartisan support, but here we are. National outdoor recreation and public lands organization are activating their audiences throughout the country to oppose this budget provision.
Take action to protect public lands today.
“This isn’t about partisanship. This is about principle,” said Ryan “Cal” Callaghan, BHA’s North American Board Chair and Conservation Director at MeatEater. “Our public lands are not bargaining chips. They are not surplus. And they are not for sale.
Procedurally, there are legal ways to dispose of public lands for other uses: the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, which ensures proceeds are reinvested in conservation, restoration, and habitat improvements. Unfortunately, the budget reconciliation process, which involves significantly less transparency or public involvement, is running the show. Additionally, this process would direct funds from these 500,000 acres of public lands to the general treasury rather than going back into our public lands.
“There are well-established criteria and processes for disposing of public lands, and reconciliation legislation is not the proper venue for such decisions,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Any proposed sale of public lands must involve a transparent public process, all transactions should serve the public interest, and proceeds should be reinvested in new public land access and habitat conservation.”
While this proposal is being led by Republican members of Congress, particularly Utah’s Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) and Mark Amodei (R-NV-02), there is some strong opposition within the conference. Montana Congressman and former Director of the Department of the Interior is speaking out. “The sale of public land is a red line for me,” Zinke told Outdoor Life in an interview earlier this year. “Along with upholding the Constitution of the United States, fighting attempts to sell or trade wholesale pieces of our public estate is something I will not bend on.”
America’s portfolio of 640 million acres of public lands might not make each of us individually cash-rich, but undoubtedly it affords every single American rich in experience and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you fish, hunt, ski, hike, or just enjoy seeing nature, you can access those opportunities for free throughout this country because of our immense public lands. These lands and outdoor recreation opportunities are far too valuable for a one-time windfall. Plain and simple.
Chris Wood of TU captured that idea eloquently in a recent blog, “Transferring, divesting or selling public lands would be the single greatest mistake that America could ever make short of starting a nuclear war. Europe has its museums and cathedrals. Africa its Serengeti. America has its public lands—lands that define the character and will of a great nation.”
Time is of the essence on this budget provision. Stand up today and let you elected representatives know that you do not support this public land sale. Countless organizations have developed action alerts, but here are some useful links:
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Stand up for public lands today!
Utah and 14 Other States Attacking Public Lands–Slippery Slope Towards Privatization
