The original Policy Handbook was developed in 2010 in consultation with The Wilderness Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Conservation Lands Foundation. The handbook has been updated to include policy changes over the last two year.
The 27 million-acre National Landscape Conservation System includes some of the most spectacular scenic, natural, cultural, historical and archeological places in our country. These National Conservation Lands conserve the essential fabric of the West, by playing a role in protecting lands, water, and wildlife for future generations.
In 2025, just 15 years from now, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act will have been guiding the agency’s management for 50 years. In that same year, the National Landscape Conservation System will turn 25.
What should the BLM managed lands look like in 15 years? Our Conservation Vision for BLM Lands in the Year 2025 poses a long term challenge to the BLM to grow its system of National Conservation Lands and to enhance the stewardship of all of the lands under its guardianship.
In 2010 the National Landscape Conservation System marks a 10th anniversary and The Wilderness Society has conducted an assessment of the current management of these valuable conservation lands. Our report documents significant improvement since we first evaluated the program five years ago, in our first assessment, but while laudable, they should be viewed only as a first step.
The Wilderness Society and the National Trust for Historic Preservation spearheaded an effort to get more than 60 national, regional, and local conservation, preservation, recreation and other organizations to sign a letter to President Obama outlining our strong support for the Antiquities Act. The letter encourages defense of the Act in the face of these legislative efforts and also encourages appropriate use of the Act to protect the nation’s important public land values.
Read the entire letter by clicking on the link below.
This series of maps illustrates National Landscape Conservation System locations, made up of the gems within our public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
