** How Western states can contribute to conserving 30% of America by 2030
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Thursday, April 22, 2021
Colorado's Roxborough State Park | Colorado Parks and Wildlife ([link removed])

The American West is home to iconic natural landscapes and varied ecosystems that support wildlife, and strong local communities and economies. However, nature is under threat. Across the West, we're losing a football field of natural area every 30 seconds, a threat to ecosystems and communities that is only being exacerbated by climate change.

To combat the dual climate and biodiversity crises and prevent the collapse of natural systems, scientists are urging that we conserve 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030 ([link removed])  — the 30x30 goal. As America works toward the 30x30 goal, Western states can lead the way with state-sponsored conservation efforts and funding, implementing creative solutions to promote, support, and continue the incredible work already being done all across the West.

A new report by the Center for Western Priorities ([link removed]) analyzes what states around the West are already doing to conserve lands and waters—from expanding state parks to incentivizing private land conservation easements—providing templates for other states to follow. View the report ([link removed]) to learn about innovative conservation efforts in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Quick hits


** Interior Department to cancel public lands oil and gas lease sales through June amid ongoing review
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Associated Press ([link removed])


** White House initiates task force to help Western communities hit by drought
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Reuters ([link removed])


** How Western states can contribute to protecting 30% of America by 2030
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Westwise ([link removed]) | Report ([link removed])


** Methane from abandoned coal mines could be key in the fight against climate change
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Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])


** The ultimate Arches National Park travel guide
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Outside Magazine ([link removed])


** BP aims to end natural gas flaring in Permian Basin by 2025
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** Editorial: Navajo Nation blazing a trail in renewable energy
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Quote of the day

Descendants of some of the first people to live in Utah are showing the way to keep our environment habitable for generations still to come.

They are not alone in this, but people of the Navajo Nation ([link removed]) are among the leaders in the move from expensive, dirty and climate-altering fossil fuels as the source of electricity to clean, renewable and, increasingly, lower-cost means of powering our world.

The rest of Utah would be wise to follow, dropping the distraction of many state officials who continue to support the mining and export of coal and competing to see which of them can do a better job of taking full advantage of Utah’s abundant sources of wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable sources of energy.”
—Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board ([link removed])
Picture this


** @BLMIdaho ([link removed])
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#NationalParkWeek ([link removed]) From Craters of the Moon to Idaho's National Historic Trails and beyond, we love working side by side with @NatlParkService ([link removed]) on your awe-inspiring public lands!

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