Protecting America’s Public Lands
Roughly 300 million acres of American lands, most in the West, are set aside as public lands and maintained using taxes paid by all Americans. These lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and National Wildlife Refuge System are by charter supposed to be managed for multiple uses including recreation and provision of wildlife habitat and clean water sources. Increasingly, however, they are run for the benefit of extractive industries and with little regard for the preservation of the rare wildlife or iconic natural beauty for which they are famous.
With the help of conscientious range management specialists, scientists, law enforcement officers and other workers within these agencies, PEER is uncovering how our precious national heritage is being sold to the highest bidder, often under the direction of poorly qualified and illegally appointed political appointees.
Livestock grazing allows heavily subsidized private operators to degrade our public lands.
Our national parks are drowning in a rising tide of plastic waste.
Cell phone towers spread across national parks without proper planning and public input.
Off-road vehicle abuse is a growing problem on our public lands, especially in the West.
Environmental and public health risks are being ignored by regulatory agencies and decisions heavily influenced by profit-driven industries.
Twenty-five million acres of recommended wilderness in our national park system are in limbo, marooned by politics.
Unregulated air tours threaten the serenity of national parks and are a danger to wildlife.
REPORT | The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Land Management
As the Biden administration nears its halfway point, there are both encouraging signs of progress and plenty of room for growth when it comes to conserving public lands. Stronger leadership from the Biden administration and within federal land agencies is critical to act on both the climate and biodiversity crises. No public lands agency more epitomizes the challenges and opportunities ahead than the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – the country’s largest land manager at more than 245 million acres.
Mapping Rangeland Health
Our interactive BLM Rangeland Health Standards Evaluation Data (2020) on MangoMaps is based on data from 2020, obtained via the Freedom of Information Act. PEER worked with a former BLM contractor to analyze what these records reveal about the condition of our public lands and BLM’s discharge of its duties to safeguard them.
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NEWS FROM PEER
COMMENTARY | Glacier Skies to Finally Go Quiet
The path to serenity in the skies above all national parks is no longer subject to the demands of commercial tourism but the work is far from over.
PEERMail | Climate Change, Plastics and Our National Parks
Together, we can make plastic-free parks a reality in #2NOT10 years!
COMMENTARY | The Inflation Reduction Act Funds Additional Staffing at National Park Service
The National Park Service received funding to hire 5,000 more employees over the next ten years as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Plastic-Free National Parks Are Needed Now
Drive Launched to Remove Plastic Bottles in Two – Not Ten –Years
National Park Air Tour Plans Late and Off-Course
First 2 Overflight Limits OKed; 20 Behind Schedule, Most Lack Eco-Reviews
Interior Has Bad Case of Climate “Cow Blindness”
Failure to Address Commercial Livestock Climate Impacts Invites Lawsuits
REPORT | The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Land Management
Report on the Bureau of Land Management under the Biden Administration and its obligation to rebuild the agency to meet today’s challenges
Court Puts National Park Overflights on Tight Leash
Agencies Taken to Task for Violating Air Tour Management Plan Deadlines
PEERMail | Agency Policies Threaten Iconic Bird
The Interior Secretary announced a phaseout of single-use plastics in national parks and other public lands.
BLM Oil Exemptions Undercut Sage Grouse Safeguards
More Than 80 Waivers from Just 3 Field Offices Prompt Call for Inquiry and Lawsuit
REPORT | Building a Better BLM
To build a better BLM, PEER recommends prioritizing staff protecting land health and biodiversity and shift priorities away from resource extraction
PEERMail | Good News on Banning Plastics
The Interior Secretary announced a phaseout of single-use plastics in national parks and other public lands.
National Park E-Bike Rule Lacks Required Eco-Review
Court Directs Park Service to Consider Cumulative and Foreseeable Impacts
National Park Service Punts on Plastic-Free Policies
NPS Balks on Plastic Bottle Sales Ban or Restoring Superintendent Discretion
COMMENTARY | This National Park Week Demands a Future Worthy of the NPS Conservation Legacy
It is important to remember the many challenges facing national parks during this National Park Week.
PEERMail | Honoring National Parks and Earth Day
Our national parks are the pride of our country but keeping them healthy, accessible and sustainable is a challenge that must be met.
COMMENTARY | Going Big on Land Conservation in 30×30
Meeting the climate change and biodiversity goals of 30×30 must include conservation of as much of our lands as possible.
VIDEO | Mapping the Range
BLM needs to create a central BLM geodatabase, coordinate all of the agency databases, complete and update all Land Health Standards evaluations.
Park Service Eliminates Public Notice of New Cell Towers
Public Shut Out of Review of Telecom Expansion as 5G Era Dawns
PEERMail | Rangeland Health Means Fixing the BLM Grazing Program
PEER is working to ensure that a functional BLM grazing program is a part of the land conservation conversation.
