Bringing Tribes Back to National Parks
Native peoples have deep ties to our greatest known parks – Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Olympic, Mesa Verde, Everglades – and many, many others. Indeed, it must be acknowledged that the federal government created many of our parks by removing tribes from their ancestral territories and pushing them onto much smaller reservations. Today, this is made […]
Reforms Needed to Protect Wildlife from Coal Leasing on Public Lands
We stand at a pivotal moment for coal development and public lands. As our energy sector rapidly shifts from dirty fuel sources to cleaner, safer ones, we have a chance to make sure that transition takes place in a manner that protects wildlife, habitat and our special places. The coal industry is undergoing sweeping change, […]
Vieques Wildlife Refuge Saved from Auction Block
The decision by members of Congress to leave the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge intact benefits thousands of wildlife species, some of which are not found anywhere else on earth. This refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge in the Caribbean, providing habitat and shelter for about 190 bird species, including herons, egrets, grebes, pelicans and […]
Congress, Leave the Strutting to Sage-Grouse
The greater sage-grouse’s annual mating dance on leks, or breeding grounds, is a one-of-a-kind spectacle that draws bird watchers from around the world to the Western U.S. The male sage-grouse fan out their spiky tail feathers, puff up their chests, and strut around while the females wait to be impressed. Year after year, the sage-grouse […]
What We Lose if We Sell Off a Wildlife Refuge
UPDATE: Due to tremendous pressure – including more than 20,000 NWF activists who spoke out to members of Congress – the sell-off of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge was taken out of the Puerto Rico debt legislation on May 19th. This irreplaceable wildlife safe haven will remain in public hands for all to enjoy and […]
Save Public Lands from a Super Pollutant
Public lands, those held in trust by the federal government for the American people, offer an important defense against climate change. Our public lands provide a variety of resources that enable wildlife and communities to reduce the impacts of a shifting environment. As such, it is important that we manage development on our public lands […]
America’s Lands for America’s People
These National Parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other wild lands are essential havens for wildlife, sources for clean water, and recreational spaces for Americans all across the country. More than 307 million people visited National Parks last year, a new record high, and even more hiked, camped, fished, watched wildlife, and enjoyed other public lands […]
Realizing Leopold’s Land Ethic
“A land ethic, then, reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibility for the health of the land.” – Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac Aldo Leopold was the seminal natural resources thought leader of the 20th century. His work brought forth the idea of ecology and […]
Congressional Inaction Fuels Frustration in the West
Thankfully, the armed standoff at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is over. But make no mistake, the larger debate over the control and management of America’s public lands rages on. Many flashpoints, hot rhetoric and deeply held positions divide the West. Even in this charged atmosphere, however, it is clear that westerners, regardless of political outlook, […]
Stamp Out Attacks on Public Lands
It’s hard to find words to describe the recent events in Oregon. Disgraceful, disappointing, infuriating – sentiments of public lands supporters across the country. How can a band of armed bullies take over a public property without punishment, all while demanding unpaid and unregulated use of public lands that belong to all of us? The […]