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
