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An updated analysis from the Center for Western Priorities finds that not every Western state is living up to its conservation reputation. States like Oregon and Arizona have a proud conservation tradition, but efforts by their elected leaders to protect public lands have run into the reality of a dysfunctional Congress.
The Conservation Gridlock report updates an analysis from 2022 that looked at the acres of national public land protected over the last 20 years in eight Western states. It finds that in the last decade, Oregon, Arizona, and Wyoming have conserved far less land than neighboring states. In fact, the three leading states—California, New Mexico, and Utah—have protected 37 times more acres of public land than the three bottom states.
“It’s a shame that conservation has slowed in states where the vast majority of voters support protecting public lands,” said Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. “There are well-crafted conservation proposals in Oregon and Arizona that have been languishing in Congress for years. It’s time for members of Congress to work with President Biden to deliver for their constituents and protect these unique and valuable public lands before it’s too late.”
In Oregon, a decades-long effort to permanently protect the stunning Owyhee Canyonlands has the support of 79 percent of Oregon voters. Legislation to conserve Oregon’s canyonlands, championed by Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, has languished in Congress for almost ten years. In Arizona, the widely supported effort to safeguard the culturally and ecologically significant rimlands next to Grand Canyon National Park has been stalled for almost 15 years. With little to no hope of public lands legislation making it out of Congress, Western senators and representatives should partner with President Biden to realize his historic commitment to conserve and restore America’s lands and waters, and get locally-driven popular conservation initiatives moving again.
What Western voters think about conservation
The 2023 Conservation in the West Poll found that despite the pressures of inflation and cost of living, voters care just as much about protecting public lands and waters as ever. In the 13 years since the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project launched the annual poll, the majority of Western voters have consistently supported public lands protection, wildlife preservation, renewable energy, and water conservation. Throughout the years, this sentiment has only grown stronger. Explore the most interesting and important findings from the poll on CWP's Westwise blog, and hear directly from pollsters Lori Weigel and Dave Metz on the latest episode of The Landscape!
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Over the course of the last 13 years, the one thing that people have really valued and held dear is the land, the water, and wildlife in their state and their ability to get outdoors.”
