The BLM announced updated regulations for the balanced management of America’s public lands, ensuring sustainability for the future on April 18.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued a statement Thursday celebrating an announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior which finalized the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Lands Rule.
“In New Mexico, our public lands are central to our way of life. We value them for their deep history and cultural meaning, their scenic natural beauty, and the many ways we enjoy them – from hiking and camping to hunting and fishing,” said Heinrich. “BLM oversees the largest share of our public lands, including cherished places like the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments. This new rule will help BLM better manage our public lands in the face of a changing climate, protect watersheds that provide clean drinking water, and conserve important wildlife habitat.”
According to the press release, the final Public Lands Rule directs BLM managers to utilize two established conservation tools.
The first tool the rule established, Heinrich wrote, directs BLM managers to prioritize the designation of more Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in their land use planning. Currently, there are relatively few ACECs on BLM lands. These existing ACECs are pivotal in preserving sacred cultural sites, paleontological resources, and crucial wildlife habitats. Broadening the use of this effective tool is crucial to protect a wider range of at-risk natural, historical, and cultural resources across our public lands.
“As stewards of America’s public lands, the Interior Department takes seriously our role in helping bolster landscape resilience in the face of worsening climate impacts,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a press release. “Today’s final rule helps restore balance to our public lands as we continue using the best-available science to restore habitats, guide strategic and responsible development, and sustain our public lands for generations to come.”
Secondly, the rule will empower BLM managers to grant “conservation leases” to nonprofit and community organizations for landscape restoration efforts on BLM public lands. Such collaborative conservation partnerships have demonstrated success, as seen in initiatives like Restore New Mexico, which supports improved soil and rangeland conditions on BLM grasslands. These conservation leases can also serve as environmental mitigation measures, facilitating the development of wind and solar energy projects on public land.
Last June, Heinrich sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland along with support from both chambers. They urged full support for the BLM’s Public Lands Rule and the completion of rulemaking and implementation.
