The Biden Administration’s BLM Conservation and Landscape Health Rule sought to elevate conservation and restoration as recognized uses of public lands. The Trump Administration, under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, is now proposing to rescind that rule, arguing that it is restoring balance in federal land management by prioritizing multiple-use access, empowering local decision-making, and supporting responsible energy development, ranching, grazing, timber production, and recreation across America’s public lands.
The 2024 Public Lands Rule—formally known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule—made conservation (i.e., “no use”) an official use of public lands, placing it on equal footing with grazing, energy development, and recreation. Critics argue that the rule created regulatory uncertainty, reduced access to land, and undermined the long-standing multiple-use mandate established by Congress. Proponents saw it as a long-overdue recognition that conservation and restoration should be core management priorities.
At a time when public lands policy is once again in the national spotlight, this friendly debate will feature leading voices who share a belief in market-based conservation—but hold diverse views on whether the rule should be rescinded, retained, or revised.
Join ConservAmerica, PERC, and our expert panelists on Wednesday, October 22, at 1pm ET for a webinar debate on the BLM’s Conservation and Landscape Health (“Public Lands”) Rule.
Panelists:
Brent Fewell, moderator
Senior Counsel, ConservAmerica; Founder, Earth & Water Group
Jonathan Wood
Vice President of Law and Policy, PERC
Rob Sisson
Senior Fellow, ConservAmerica
Myron Ebell
OR & WA DC Chairman, American Lands Council
