Since its inception in 1946 under Truman, the Bureau of Land Management has been responsible for the administration of more than 245 million acres of public land in the United States, nearly one eighth of the Nation’s land mass.
The BLM has been using (more or less) the same national land-use strategy for the past 40 years, and is now revising their approach via what is being called “Planning 2.o”.
From the TRCP –
From river breaks to high mesas, and from sage coulees to semi-arid mountain ranges, America’s 245 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands are some of the best places to hunt and fish left on the planet. These lands are “Sportsmen’s Country” and their future management is currently being reevaluated by public land managers.
The BLM is revising its national land-use planning strategy. Dubbed “Planning 2.0,” the process represents the first substantial improvement of BLM land-use planning since the agency first began developing such plans almost 40 years ago. This process has the potential to reshape how the BLM manages habitat, recreation, and access across the West, and sportsmen must actively work to influence this process—after all, some of our most valuable fish and wildlife habitats and hunting and fishing lands are at stake.
Don’t Be Fooled By the Relative Quiet on the Public Lands Front
Now that we’re in high summer much of the discussion among sportsmen regarding the current and coming assault on public lands has simmered down, almost to a back burner sort of thing.
Don’t be fooled by the relative quiet; the groups that want to change forever how public lands are managed and owned are hard at work with their agendas. The battle over the sale of our public lands to private interests is far, far from over.
The TRCP is spearheading a petition drive to remind the BLM that sportsmen have a critical vested interest in public lands management and to call for access protection, preservation of fishing and hunting areas and habitat, and balancing energy production and development with meaningful and sound restoration.
Take 30 seconds and sign the petition; it’ll be the best investment you make today.
