Public Lands Foundation

While we often support the BLM, we are an independent organization and are not afraid to speak up when the Administration goes astray in priorities and actions that impact BLM's multiple use/sustained yield mandate under its Organic Act. We believe Secretary Bernhardt's reorganization plans for the BLM amount to a dismantling of the agency.\n\nOne of our other goals is to increase the public's understanding of, and support for, the proper management of the public lands.\nOur youth programs are designed to:\n • Engage young people in natural resource and public land management issues.\n • Provide BLM with input and perspectives of young people from which they might otherwise not be hearing\n • Create a pool of “ambassadors" who will continue to be informed on land management issues either as Federal employees or private sector employees.

2019 has been a particularly busy year. Our president testified at a Congressional hearing on the BLM reorganization. We have sent officers and board members to DC to meet with Congressional staffs to explain our position opposing the Secretary's reorganization plans for the BLM. We have collaborated with other organizations who share our concerns and have been willing to take an opposing position. Our work has been made more difficult as the BLM leadership has essentially cut off communications with us.\n\nWe also monitor new Congressional legislative initiatives which may or may not be in the best interest of sound public lands management. We do the same for new regulatory initiatives. We keep our members and the public informed of challenges and our activities through our website, social media and quarterly newsletter, the Public Lands Monitor.

We have established goals to achieve our mission and actively encourage, contact, communicate and coordinate among users of BLM managed lands and interest groups on public land issues. PLF has a website (www.publicland.org.), a quarterly newsletter (The Public Lands Monitor) and holds annual meetings to analyze national land mangement issues. Many of our dedicated 600 members, including our Board of Directors and committee members, have extensive knowledge and experience in senior level capacities gained during their careers with the BLM, Department of the Interior and other federal and state agencies. We seek to share our knowledge and experience in helpful ways.

Approximately 100 young people have a better understanding of BLM programs, issues and regulations. BLM has received input from 3 different groups related to future policy making concerns. We have awarded eleven scholarships to students in natural resources and related public policy fields. We will host our 2020 annual meeting in Wyoming. 2019 has been focused on opposing Secretary Bernhardt's reorganization of the BLM. We are working with Congress on appropriations language aimed at stopping any employee moves.