As Donald Trump prepares for his second term, environmental advocates fear sweeping cuts to protections for public lands, driven by calls for deregulation, privatization, and resource extraction.
Jonathan Thompson writes for High Country News.
In short:
- Trump’s platform includes expanding fossil fuel extraction on public lands, with a focus on uranium, oil and gas projects.
- Efforts to shrink national monuments like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are expected to intensify, supported by a Republican-controlled Congress.
- Proposed reforms could weaken the Endangered Species Act, jeopardizing species recovery programs such as the California condor conservation efforts.
Key quote:
“Public goods like species restoration simply don’t fit into Musk’s profit-focused vision.”
— Jonathan Thompson, High Country News
Why this matters:
Public lands provide ecological, cultural and recreational benefits, yet face increasing pressure to be managed for profit. Dismantling federal protections could lead to privatization, threatening wildlife habitats, cultural sites and public access. The survival of endangered species like the California condor hangs in the balance.
