Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities

Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Protecting vulnerable public lands could meet outdoor recreation needs
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Friday, September 22, 2023
Mountain biking at Black Canyon in Arizona. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association, BLM Flickr ([link removed])

The Center for American Progress (CAP) commissioned an analysis ([link removed]) of public lands that makes the case that the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) proposed public lands rule ([link removed]) provides an opportunity to protect or restore millions of acres of vulnerable public lands with high recreational values that will help meet outdoor recreation needs.

According to CAP's report ([link removed]) of the analysis, more than 20 million acres of BLM lands in the contiguous United State are within ten miles of underserved communities with little access to open spaces. This discrepancy, referred to in the report as the "nature gap," occurs when communities of color and other historically marginalized groups have inequitable access to natural places, often due to historical discrimination, dispossession, and segregation.

The BLM's public lands rule calls for identifying and prioritizing the conservation of "intact" landscapes that are in pristine condition as well as the restoration of rangelands that have been negatively impacted by the impacts of climate change through prolonged drought, wildfire, and other disturbances. The report suggests ([link removed]) that the implementation of a strong public lands rule to preserve and restore landscapes near communities with nature gaps would help provide those communities with better access to natural places.

Although BLM lands have seen record visitation in recent years, the CAP report says BLM lands that are preserved for recreation can be used to handle an overflow of visitor demand at national park sites. "Beyond our best-known parks, America’s public lands hold massive, untapped potential to connect people with nature, meet growing demand for outdoor recreation, and sustain rural economies," said ([link removed]) Drew McConville, a CAP senior fellow and co-author of the analysis. "Through its public lands rule and new investments in recreation, the Biden administration is embracing this opportunity.”


** Quick hits
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States are criminalizing environmental protests

Sierra Magazine ([link removed])

Biden administration, Tribes reach historic agreement to find salmon restoration in Columbia River

Oregon Public Broadcasting ([link removed])

Insurance carriers leave California as climate disasters hit home

Washington Post ([link removed])

Protecting vulnerable public lands could meet outdoor recreation needs

E&E News ([link removed]) | Center for American Progress report ([link removed])

White House directs agencies to account for climate change in budgets

New York Times ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])

Protecting the Pacific Northwest's old-growth forests is better for climate adaptation than planting more trees

High Country News ([link removed])

Interior moves forward with plan to return grizzlies to the Northern Cascades region

E&E News ([link removed])

Cyclists and hikers breathe economic life into an old Wyoming gold mining town

Marketplace ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” This agreement is the start of fixing a wrong. Grand Coulee Dam allowed the desert to bloom, and many faraway cities enjoyed the cheap electricity it produces, at my people’s expense.”

—Greg Abrahamson, chair of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Oregon Public Broadcasting ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@mypubliclands ([link removed])
Who's ready to make a difference for our planet? 🌍

We manage more than 245 million acres of public lands – more land than any other government agency! This September 23, join us in celebrating 30 years of care and community for our public lands alongside our partners at the National Environmental Education Foundation for National Public Lands Day. This special day is a chance for volunteers nationwide to give back to your community's public lands. 👍👏🌊🌲🌸

So, get ready to roll up your sleeves, enjoy some fresh air, join neighbors, friends and family and find a volunteer event near you! It's not only good for our environment, but spending time in nature is beneficial to your health. 📷 BLM

@BLMOregonWashington ([link removed]) @UsInterior ([link removed]) @neefusa_org ([link removed])

#NPLD30 ([link removed]) #publiclands ([link removed]) #Volunteering ([link removed]) #Volunteer ([link removed]) #YourPublicLands ([link removed]) #RecreateResponsibly ([link removed]) #TeamPublicLands ([link removed]) #BLMPublicLands ([link removed]) #PublicLand ([link removed]) #Explore ([link removed]) #Adventure ([link removed]) #Photography ([link removed]) #Landscapes ([link removed]) #NaturePhotography ([link removed]) #Nature
([link removed])

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