Road to 30: Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands
This story map is the fourth installation of our ongoing “Road to 30” series exploring the vision of protecting 30 percent of our land and water by 2030. Here we look at how the Bureau of Land Management’s National Conservation Lands (formally known as the National Landscape Conservation System) can play an important role in protecting America’s land while also increasing recreation access and supporting the outdoor recreation economy that drives local communities.
Or read a summary below.
Across America, natural areas that we rely on for clean air and water, biodiversity, outdoor recreation, and local economies are disappearing. From habitat fragmentation to the widespread impacts of climate change, lands and waters throughout the country are being lost to development and degradation every day. To combat this crisis, scientists are urging that we conserve 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030 — a goal that can help save nature, strengthen local economies, and improve public health.
There is not just one path to conservation. Finding diverse and innovative ways to protect landscapes that support local communities and preserve the land’s specific values will be critical in achieving the “30x30” goal. Currently, about 12 percent of American lands are protected. While we still have a ways to go, strong leadership and grassroots momentum are bringing us closer to the goal. Here, we explore just one conservation pathway: National Conservation Lands under the Bureau of Land Management.
The Bureau of Land Management & National Conservation Lands
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages over 40 percent of all federal public land in the nation, or about 13 percent of America’s land area. With such a large footprint, protecting lands managed by the agency is essential to the bold goal of protecting 30 percent of America by 2030. BLM land protection is performed under the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS).
Most lands in the NLCS were designated as protected areas before their inclusion in the National Landscape Conservation System; however, the system results in additional management benefits. For example, the system mandate includes language directing the BLM to work with adjacent public and private landowners to enhance wildlife movement and conservation.
Today, the NLCS is a 35-million acre collection of nearly 900 federally recognized areas across 13 states, representing about 10 percent of the land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. National Conservation Land units are protected under 10 different federal conservation designations, which provide a range of opportunities, experiences, and conservation benefits, contributing to the 30x30 goal in different ways. The system as a whole provides an innovative model of diverse protected lands existing under a broad umbrella.
National Conservation Land units range from small to large, near-urban to remote, and contain ecosystems from tundra to forest. Some are conserved specifically for cultural preservation, others as unmodified wilderness, and still others are developed as recreational and interpretive sites. Read about a few examples of National Conservation Lands here.
Red Rock National Conservation Area
The Red Rock National Conservation Area is located just 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip. Compared to many National Conservation Lands, Red Rock Canyon is easily accessible, providing quality nature access to urban Nevadans. At the same time, it contains two highly protected and less accessible Wilderness Areas.
Today, the conservation area showcases unique geology and biology. It also boasts world-class rock climbing and outdoor recreation, supporting Nevada’s booming outdoor recreation economy that generates $12.6 billion annually, maintains 87,000 direct jobs, and contributes over a billion dollars in state and local tax revenue.
Red Rock demonstrates how protecting BLM lands near population centers can increase access to nature and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities while also preserving biodiversity with strong protections.
Basin and Range National Monument
The Basin and Range National Monument protects a vast region of nearly undisturbed public land. The 704,000 acre monument is an example of landscape-scale conservation under the NLCS.
The vast, remote monument protects an intact basin and range landscape, including the pristine Garden and Coal valleys; a conservation exception, as most protected areas in the region focus solely on mountain ranges. The sweeping landscape ensures migration routes for far-ranging species such as pronghorn and mule deer, as well as habitat for diverse species from rattlesnakes to the imperiled Greater Sage-grouse.
Basin and Range National Monument has been threatened by Trump administration attacks on public lands. In 2017 it was among 27 monuments that President Trump instructed then Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to consider shrinking or eliminating to accommodate the fossil-fuel industry and other private development. Thankfully, full protection for the Basin and Range National Monument remains intact.
The area contains limitless opportunities for the intrepid explorer, and preserves priceless pieces of human history.
The Bureau of Land Management National Landscape Conservation System is an innovative model of diverse land protections held under a single umbrella. With this model, BLM lands offer opportunities for extensive land protection across the country, each tailored to the appropriate protection designation for its location and unique situation. As National Conservation Lands in Nevada demonstrate, these units can be incredibly diverse, contributing to nature access, outdoor recreation, and the bold goal of protecting 30 percent of America by 2030.
LEARN MORE THROUGH THE INTERACTIVE STORYMAP!
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To learn more about the 30x30 goal and to participate in discussions about this bold vision, visit RoadTo30.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox, or subscribe to Go West, Young Podcast.”
Read the rest of the Road to 30 storymap series here:
