For those of us living in the West, public lands are deeply woven into our culture. They offer habitat for wildlife, access to rivers, recreational trails, cattle grazing, and oil and gas development. What ties these uses together – and drives long-term rural economic stability – is balance.
The administration’s attacks on public lands now target the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, also known as the Public Lands Rule – a 2024 policy giving conservation equal priority with extraction and recreation on Bureau of Land Management lands. The rule protects ecosystems, restores damaged areas and relies on science to guide long-term land management.
For those whose livelihoods depend on public lands, the rule is common sense. At 4Corners Riversports, our business and culture rely on balanced land management. Most people understand that temporary closures – for campsites or grazing – lead to healthier lands in the long run.
The Public Lands Rule is the BLM responding to the clear increase in threats to public lands that require thoughtful, science-driven management. Fragmented wildlife habitat, invasive species like cheatgrass and tamarisk, increasing wildfires and frequent droughts impact the health and resilience of landscapes and undermine their ability to support multiple uses. To address these threats and to advance existing policies, the BLM must focus on resilient ecosystems’ ability to recover from disturbances and environmental change.
The rule has broad public support – 92% of comments submitted during its adoption favored giving conservation and restoration equal footing with other land uses. The rule does not prioritize conservation over other uses; instead, it provides a clearer framework for managing public lands amid growing pressures. Importantly, the rule aligns with the BLM’s legal mandate to manage public lands for “multiple use and sustained yield” – a goal that isn’t possible without a strong foundation in conservation.
The BLM is clear: Conservation under the rule does not mean closing access and is not a permanent designation. Conservation is both a land use and an investment in the landscape intended to increase the yield of other benefits elsewhere or later in time. It is short-sighted – and to our long-term detriment – to treat public lands as a resource to exploit just because current political conditions allow it.
Resource extraction does not struggle to move forward on public lands. Thirty-seven million acres of federal land have been leased for oil and gas production, while less than half are currently in production. Furthermore, only 15% of BLM lands are managed for conservation. Given this, it is unreasonable to claim current policies hinder extraction. In fact, it is wise to be critical of corporations with nearly unfettered access to our shared resources.
Imagine oil and gas wells developed in riparian areas along the San Juan River – not only would it block public access, but a single flood could contaminate the water and pose risks to human health for years. Or consider permitting a hard rock mine in the middle of an elk winter range – such a decision could harm wildlife populations for generations.
Instead, we must take a balanced approach – considering the condition of land and waterways, the long-term needs of both people and ecosystems, and the future we want for our children and grandchildren.
As residents of Southwest Colorado, we understand the economic value of public lands and their intrinsic worth. Managing these lands requires balancing multiple uses over time. If we treat public lands solely as a resource to extract quickly, without investing in conservation and restoration, we risk degrading soil, water and biodiversity – ultimately threatening the land’s ability to support life and livelihoods in the long run.
Comment on the importance of the Public Lands Rule before Nov. 10 at actnowforpubliclands.org/take-action.
Ashleigh Tucker of Durango is a co-owner of 4Corners Riversports. Rica Fulton of Mancos is the advocacy and stewardship director with Dolores River Boating Advocates.
