Media release: Department of Interior announces plan to give conservation equal footing in public lands

MEDIA RELEASE 

April 4, 2023  
Contact: Jessica Dacey, Director of Communications  
Phone: 760-820-2275  
Email: jessica@mdlt.org   

Department of Interior announces plan to give conservation equal footing in public lands  

The Department of Interior has announced a new proposal to rebalance public land management by placing conservation on “an equal footing” with other land uses and prioritizing ecosystem resilience. The proposed Public Lands Rule would guide the efforts of the Bureau of Land Management, which is responsible for 245 million acres nationally. According to the DoI, the proposal “would provide the tools for the Bureau of Land Management to improve the resilience of public lands in the face of climate change, to conserve important wildlife habitat and intact landscapes, and better recognize unique cultural and natural resources”. A 75-day public comment period on the proposal ends in June.  

“The Mojave Desert Land Trust welcomes The Department of Interior’s announcement of the planned Public Lands Rule to redress the balance of future needs within our public lands with a more equal emphasis on conservation, ecosystem health, tribal stewardship, and the preservation of intact landscapes. We are grateful for the agency’s acknowledgment of the declining health of our landscapes and its effort to readjust its conservation priorities across our public lands. The millions of acres managed by the BLM in California reflect the state’s renowned biodiversity, providing habitat and essential connectivity to iconic species such as the desert tortoise. The California desert is part of the last remaining intact ecosystem in the continental United States. But climate disruption is bringing intense heat, drought, and uncertain precipitation to this region. Habitat loss, wildfires, and invasive species are on the increase. This proposed new rule comes at a pivotal time.” - Kelly Herbinson, Joint Executive Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust 

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. Since its founding in 2006, MDLT has conserved over 110,000 acres, conveying more tracts of land to the National Park Service in the last decade than any other organization. In addition to acquiring land, the land trust established a conservation seed bank to ensure the preservation of native species. MDLT operates an onsite nursery at its Joshua Tree headquarters which has grown over 100,000 native plants for restoration projects and community landscaping. MDLT educates and advocates for the conservation of the desert, involving hundreds of volunteers in our work. For more information, visit mdlt.org.