On Thursday, the Department of Defense announced five new sentinel landscapes in New Mexico, Utah, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and California.
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** 10 million acres protected as new sentinel landscapes
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Friday, May 24, 2024
Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape in northern Utah. sentinellandscapes.org ([link removed])
On Thursday, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced ([link removed]) five new sentinel landscapes in New Mexico, Utah, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and California. Sentinel landscapes are a unique form of landscape conservation that protects natural resources, strengthens military readiness, and enhances resilience to climate change. Part of the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership ([link removed]) , these designations represent a collaboration among DOD and the departments of Agriculture and Interior.
The five new landscapes will add over 10 million acres of land to the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, significantly adding to the 4.4 million acres that have been enrolled since it started in 2013. In the West, the Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape includes 2.4 million acres and the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape in Utah includes over 2.7 million acres. The largest new sentinel landscape is in California, where the Mojave Desert Sentinel Landscape spans nearly 3.5 million acres. The new designations will focus on a variety of measures, including safeguarding water supplies, managing wildfires, and rehabilitating wildlife habitats.
"The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership provides DOD with the unique opportunity to expand and diversify our partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, state and local governments, Tribes and land managers to enhance the resilience of military installations and the local communities that support them," said ([link removed]) Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and environment.
In addition to sentinel landscapes, there are dozens of other federal designations that can be assigned to public lands to ensure they remain healthy and resilient for future generations. The Center for Western Priorities' resource Conservation Toolbox ([link removed]) describes many of these designations—including sentinel landscapes—and contains visuals that show the relative strength and durability of each designation.
** Quick hits
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The West’s wetlands are struggling. Some have been overlooked altogether
High Country News ([link removed])
$6.8 million upgrade to century-old ditch unites agricultural, environmental interests on the Yampa River
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Wyoming operator prioritizes landscape reclamation and wins prestigious award
Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
After global outrage over wolf killings, Wyoming lawmakers consider changes to predator species laws
Wyoming Public Media ([link removed])
Honeybees get the attention, but in Utah folks should be saying ‘save the wild bees’
KUER ([link removed])
Lawmakers investigate whether Big Oil colluded with OPEC to inflate gas prices
CNN ([link removed])
BLM wild horse adoptions save taxpayers millions, report says
E&E News ([link removed])
Spill rates from oil and gas drilling are dropping in Mountain West’s top fossil fuel states
KUNR ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” I could spend all day just being in the garden and caring for things. Probably because I know that it's a friendly place for nature. And we see it. We see nature responding to the care that we give.”
—Mark de St. Aubin, Utah native plant gardener, KUER ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@yellowstonenps ([link removed])
Do wolves really howl at a full moon? Come to the Lamar Valley tonight and find out! While the moon is its fullest now, viewing should be even better tonight after twilight ends and the moon rises again. Let us know if you're able to see it in Yellowstone!
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