DENVER — More than 15,000 National Wildlife Federation members and supporters, along with eight of the organization’s state affiliates, urged the Department of the Interior not to repeal the Public Lands Rule, which is an important tool to ensure that public lands are conserved and restored for future generations. 

“Our public lands provide important wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, opportunities for Indigenous practices and recreation, and are the economic engine that fuel rural economies,” said Kristen Byrnes Floom, public lands attorney at the National Wildlife Federation. “With our lands facing threats from drought, fire, invasive species, and fragmentation, the Department should maintain the Public Lands Rule to prevent future degradation of intact ecosystems. At a minimum, it should consider retaining measures to restore landscapes that have deteriorated, maintain habitat connectivity, engage in meaningful consultation with Tribes, and allow leasing to conserve public lands in a way that is consistent with responsible development and use.”