public lands

Lizard on a rock

Bright Future for Renewables on Public Lands

This week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) auctioned off its first lease in a designated Solar Energy Zone. The Dry Lake project in Nevada is the first of 19 identified sites … Read more

Time to Go On Offense to Protect Our Cherished Public Lands

Unlike most every other country, America has a huge backyard. The federal public lands of the western United States are the equivalent of a giant commons that everyone can enjoy. … Read more

Wolf pup

Wildlife Funding Diverted to Fight Wildfires

Just last month, fire crews rescued a group of wolf pups from the almost 200,000 acre Funny River Fire in Alaska. Firefighters found the puppies in the blaze after hearing them yipping, and … Read more

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument: Established From the Grassroots Up

People from all backgrounds and political leanings have really put the “public” in “public lands” in New Mexico. For more than a decade, ranchers, business owners, church and civic leaders, … Read more

Today is Kids to Parks Day!

Where I grew up, in the suburbs of New York City, we didn’t have easy access to what everyone thinks of as America’s iconic parks—getting to Yellowstone or Yosemite required … Read more

Montana supports Public Lands and Renewable Energy

Guest post by Hayley Connolly-Newman This week, Senator John Walsh signed on as co-sponsor of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (S. 279). This demonstrates several things to Montanans. … Read more

What’s Good for the Grouse is Good for the Grandeur … and Big Game Hunting

Due to its decreased numbers and status as a warranted species for Endangered Species Act listing, the greater sage grouse is no longer a popular game species. Some Western states do … Read more

New Public Lands Policies Could Mean Better On-the-Ground Practices

The National Wildlife Federation and its partners in the Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development coalition have been urging the Interior Department to fully implement its promised reforms of oil and … Read more

The Carbon Impact of Coal Exports

This week, NWF released an issue brief entitled “Accounting for Carbon Pollution from Coal Mining on Federal Lands” which looks at the overall carbon impact of the coal being leased … Read more

Can Congress Renew Hope for Renewable Energy Development?

As the second session of the 113th Congress develops, it is my great hope that Congress can leave its abysmal bill passage record in the past. In 2013, Congress signed just … Read more