News

Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior finalized the “Public Lands Rule,” redefining the management of approximately 245 million acres of federal lands under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The rule puts conservation, recreation, and renewable energy development on equal footing with traditional land uses such as drilling, mining, and livestock grazing.

“By recognizing conservation as a legitimate use of our public lands, this historic change will excite all Montanans who value our iconic landscapes, waters and wildlife,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation. “This rule prioritizes conservation and public input and will ensure that our lands are managed sustainably for recreational, cultural and economic benefits – not least our $2.9 billion outdoor recreation economy.”

Nearly 40% of all U.S. public lands, predominantly located in the West, are overseen by the BLM. In Montana, the BLM manages over 8 million acres across the state. These lands support local economies and provide habitat for wildlife, while also offering public access and preserving countless narratives of human interaction with the landscape.

For decades, the management of public lands in the U.S. has heavily favored resource extraction activities. The Public Lands Rule represents a significant shift in federal policy by placing an equal emphasis on preserving ecosystems and enhancing public access to natural spaces, alongside economic utilization. This is a critical clarification, as the majority of BLM lands are currently open to extraction and other commodity-driven developments.

The Montana Wildlife Federation applauds the Biden administration’s new Public Lands Rule and it’s balanced approach to managing the BLM’s multiple-use mission by putting conservation, cultural lands protection, access to nature, wildlife, renewable energy and climate change mitigation on the same level as extraction across the West and Alaska.

The final rule says that the BLM will consider conservation as a use of federal land on par with any other use allowed under the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Notably, conservation will not be prioritized over other uses.

Public and Stakeholder Support

The BLM’s process for developing the rule was both transparent and accessible. A 90-day comment period and numerous public meetings provided meaningful opportunities for the agency to engage with recreationists, tribal communities, ranchers, energy developers, hunters/anglers, and many others who use public lands. The proposal received widespread support—92% of the public comments were in favor of the Public Lands Rule.

This overwhelming support, coupled with endorsements from numerous western lawmakers, local elected officials, governors, and editorial support from newspapers, underscores the rule’s popularity and the public’s desire for a more balanced land management strategy.

Eighty-two percent of voters in the Rocky Mountain West support a national goal of conserving America’s lands and waters in the next decade, including over two-thirds of conservative Republican voters. Similarly, four in five voters also say loss of open natural areas is a problem across the West.

Legal experts, including 8 state attorneys general and 27 law professors, have affirmed that the rule aligns with the BLM’s core mission. The Bureau itself makes clear that all valid existing rights to graze, mine, and drill will not be affected by the rule’s core provisions.

Key Components of the Public Lands Rule:

 

Balanced Land Management Approach

The BLM’s revised approach introduces a balanced framework that equally weighs conservation efforts against resource extraction, promoting sustainable development and ensuring that logging, mining, and energy production do not overshadow the critical need to protect natural habitats and cultural sites.

Conservation as a Core Use

A central element of the rule is the formal recognition of conservation as a “use” of public lands, a designation that aligns with the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act. This redefinition enables the BLM to prioritize the protection of intact ecosystems and wildlife migration corridors, which are essential for biodiversity and ecological health.

Climate Change and Ecosystem Protection

The Public Lands Rule also addresses the challenges posed by climate change, such as increased wildfires and droughts, by promoting practices that protect and restore land and water ecosystems.

Introduction of Restoration and Mitigation Leases

An innovative addition to the rule, “restoration leases” and “mitigation leases” will be awarded to entities committed to restoring degraded landscapes and conserving critical habitats. This strategy encourages investments in ecological health and resilience.

Strategic Implementation

The new Public Lands Rule will ensure the BLM has clear direction to support communities in the Western U.S. to build a sustainable future around our shared appreciation for public lands. The implementation of this rule requires thoughtful coordination with various stakeholders, including local communities, tribal nations and conservation groups. This collaborative spirit is essential to successfully balance the multiple uses of public lands while achieving conservation goals.

To ensure the Public Lands Rule is fully implemented and adopted by the agency, public lands supporters need to continue to voice their support.  Now is the time to act. We must take a smarter approach to the public lands, human stories and wildlife that make the American West so unique—before they disappear.

Photo credit: Lisa Ballard

By Skip Kowalski, MWF Board Member

A lot has changed since I first experienced Idaho’s “wild country” in 1968 when I worked my first seasonal Forest Service job in the Kelly Creek Ranger District. The Dworshak Dam had not yet flooded elk winter range, salmon and steelhead still ran up the North Fork, and the towering western white pine trees had not yet succumbed to blister rust. Although grizzly bears had long been exterminated, black bears were plentiful. This remote country was alive with natural abundance.

Despite these changes, the Upper North Fork remains “wild country” and is important to fish, wildlife, and habitat connectivity. Relatively few roads exist. The wild trout fishery is exceptional, elk and mountain goats frequent the high country, and blister rust-resistant seedlings show promise for restoring white pine habitat. Occasionally, even a grizzly bear is reported.

Straddling the border of Idaho and Montana, this area, known as the “Great Burn,” falls under the stewardship of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho and the Lolo National Forest in Montana. You’ve probably heard the Great Burn mentioned in the news lately as both National Forests revise their management plans.

The Great Burn provides a crucial linkage habitat for wildlife such as grizzly bears and wolverines. Its value as habitat connectivity cannot be overstated, especially given climate change impacts and the increasing population pressures in Idaho and Montana. The more people move here, with their vehicles and recreational demands, the more important the wild and remote country will become for wildlife requiring large, undisturbed landscapes.

Although most of the Great Burn has been recommended and managed as Wilderness for decades, the newly revised plans will dictate whether the opportunity to be designated as Wilderness will be preserved for the next 15 to 30 years. Unfortunately, the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest has eliminated significant acreage from recommended Wilderness on the Idaho side and is no longer taking public comment.

Fortunately, Lolo National Forest is just starting its Plan Revision process and is encouraging the public to get involved. It recently released its Proposed Action and recommends its entire portion of the Great Burn in Montana for Wilderness. This is good news for Montana’s wildlife and habitat connectivity because wildlife in Montana’s portion of the Great Burn will face much greater movement and migration barriers in the future. Obstacles to habitat connectivity will only increase as the population grows in western Montana, bringing in more people, houses, roads and traffic on Interstate 90.

You can make a difference by advocating for the Great Burn and its wildlife during the Lolo Forest Plan Revision. It is crucial to ensure the plan preserves habitat connectivity, important wildlife habitats, and everything we love about our National Forests. Comments are due by 11:59 pm on April 1 to the Forest Service.

Nestled in Northwest Montana and along the Idaho border, the Lolo National Forest is a treasure trove of natural beauty, providing exceptional habitat for fish, wildlife, and offering endless opportunities for Montanans to enjoy hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. As we look towards the future, the Proposed Action for the Revised Lolo Forest Plan presents a unique opportunity for us to ensure that this cherished landscape continues to thrive for generations to come.

We urge everyone to review the proposed action and submit comments by 11:59 pm on Monday, April 1 to help shape a forest plan that prioritizes the health and connectivity of our wildlife habitats. With thoughtful input from the public, we can help shape a forest plan that prioritizes the health and connectivity of our wildlife habitats.

The Lolo National Forest Planning Process is a comprehensive effort to update the forest’s management plan, a task undertaken approximately every 15 to 20 years. This process is critical in determining how the forest will be managed to balance ecological, economic, and recreational needs. The existing forest plan, established in 1986, is now outdated and fails to sufficiently address contemporary challenges like climate change, rising recreational demands, and the necessity for habitat connectivity. As the plan is being revised, there are several areas where public input can significantly impact the outcome.

Positive Components of the Plan

Overall, the Forest Service did a great job in developing the Proposed Action. The introduction of Geographic Areas offers a more nuanced understanding of place-based management, where specific resource management activities can be expected and the nature and extent of cumulative impacts. The preservation of Recommended Wilderness areas, particularly the inclusion of the Hoodoo Roadless Area, is a significant step in ensuring the recovery of species such as the grizzly bear and enhancing habitat connectivity. To further enhance habitat connectivity for a wide variety of wildlife species, MWF would like to see an alternative(s) that recommends additional strategically located Roadless Areas for recommended Wilderness designation.

Additionally, the inclusion of the Appendix 11 (Reader’s Guide) is helpful to aid in navigating the planning documents. This tool simplifies the process for the public to engage with the content, allowing for more focused attention on the substance of the plan rather than the search for information.

Areas for Improvement

There are areas where we believe the plan could be strengthened. The omission of the Ninemile Demographic Connectivity Area (DCA) from the proposed action is a concern. This area plays a crucial role in enhancing habitat connectivity for breeding female grizzly bears. Extending the DCA south of I-90 to ensure connectivity to the Hoodoo Roadless Area is a recommendation MWF strongly advocates for.

Furthermore, connectivity should be elevated to a specific issue for the Lolo National Forest. The forest’s role in providing habitat connectivity across western Montana is undeniable. By making connectivity a distinct issue, it would incentivize the Forest Service to create and analyze alternatives that address habitat linkages and connectivity. Connectivity Maps and Management should be included to identify core areas, corridors, and linkage zones for large wide-ranging species like grizzly bears.

Roadless Areas contribute significantly to wildlife habitat by providing habitat security, connectivity, and rare, special and declining habitats such as old growth. As Roadless Areas are evaluated for future resource potential, the Forest Service should consider designating most or all of the existing Inventoried Roadless Areas for land use allocations that can enhance wildlife habitat and connectivity.

The proposed plan’s identification of five management areas requires refinement. The current reduction in the number of management areas may be too extreme, and additional management areas are necessary to better distinguish between differing management strategies and clarify the intent of expected management. Plan Components should ensure species habitat recovery goals, accommodate wildlife security needs, address habitat connectivity at different scales, and manage vegetation to support species of conservation concern and special habitats.

Navigating the Path Ahead

Overall, MWF appreciates many aspects of the Proposed Action, especially the recommended Wilderness areas, the use of Geographic Areas, and the helpful User’s Guide. However, we feel that the plan could be improved by focusing more on connectivity between habitats, using special designations for untouched areas to protect them better, and adding more management areas to clarify how different parts of the forest will be managed. We also suggest customizing the management plan to suit the unique features of each Geographic Area.

Remember to submit your comments by April 1!

In mid-March, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced long-awaited draft updates to the federal management plan for greater sage-grouse habitat across 10 Western states. Without the updates, oil and gas companies will continue to lease land that could be better managed for big game, ranching, fishing, and recreational activities – a longstanding and well-documented problem in southwestern Montana. 

This update is an opportunity for a renewed commitment to safeguarding the sagebrush ecosystem, which is essential for more than 350 species of conservation concern, including the Greater sage-grouse and other wildlife species that live in and around the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Centennial Valleys. Notably, the updates protect Montana’s outdoor recreation economy, farms, ranches, and our communities’ cultural traditions from speculative development. Public comment will open tomorrow, March 15, and end on June 13, 2024. BLM will conduct 13 public meetings, two of which will be virtual. 

The economic importance of hunting and fishing in federal oil and gas leasing decisions is critical to Montana. A 2021 report commissioned by MWF and conducted by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana revealed that hunting and angling in Beaverhead County alone contribute over $167 million yearly to Montana’s economy. These activities also create more than 1,400 jobs, many of which are located in the county, a significant contribution given the county’s population is just over 9,400. Moreover, the county is home to nearly 500 family farms and ranching businesses, which have generated up to $147 million in revenue in recent years. 

In response, Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation released the following statement: 

“Speculative oil and gas development does not belong alongside family ranches and on our public land in the Big Hole, Beaverhead County, and other places in Montana where there is virtually nothing to drill. Leasing reform benefits will extend beyond improving Greater sage-grouse populations– it promises better habitats for other important species, including pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and trout, by ensuring that oil and gas leasing only occurs where there is real development potential. Montana’s public land and working ranches are critical wildlife habitats and should be managed for conservation, agriculture, recreation, and other uses. Ecology and economics both support taking this step forward.”