The Bureau of Land Management will allow conservation groups to lease federal land for habitat restoration, marking a shift from prioritizing extractive industries.
Shawn Regan writes for The New York Times.
In short:
- The Bureau of Land Management’s new rule permits leasing public lands for conservation, a first after decades of prioritizing industries like grazing and mining.
- The policy opens opportunities for conservationists to restore habitats, but concerns remain over limitations and future political changes.
- Lawsuits have been filed by states and industry groups against the rule, arguing it could restrict resource development.
Key quote:
“This monumental, long-overdue step ensures that America’s public lands aren’t just leased to extract their resources, but also to conserve them as well.”
— Shawn Regan, Property and Environment Research Center
Why this matters:
The decision marks a significant change in public land use, prioritizing environmental preservation alongside resource extraction. This move could help combat the effects of climate change and protect ecosystems critical to wildlife and biodiversity.
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