Public Lands
How Imperiled Are America's Public Lands?
The Trump administration's latest pick to manage nearly a quarter-billion acres of public land doesn't think the government should own land. But can he do anything about it?
The Wilderness Society Pressures the Trump Administration to Measure the Climate Impacts From Oil and Gas Leasing
The environmental non-profit estimates that recent federal oil and gas leases will produce more greenhouse gas emissions than the European Union emits in a year.
Plans to Move the Bureau of Land Management Headquarters West Raise Questions
Critics of the move say it's a way to weaken the agency and eliminate senior officials and scientists who don't want to relocate.
The Trump Administration Waives Environmental Regulations (Again) for Border Wall Construction
The Department of Homeland Security is bypassing dozens of laws to speed up the construction of several miles of fencing in Texas.
Campsites Among the Stumps: The Unmaking of the Great American Commons
A dispatch from the ongoing war on America’s public lands.
Unhealthy Air and Hazy Skies: How Pollution Is Affecting National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association's new report recommends mitigating pollution and transitioning to clean energy, with an emphasis on fair solutions.
Elizabeth Warren's Plan to Protect Public Lands Highlights Environmental Justice Issues
Warren's plan includes ending fossil fuel drilling on public lands, eliminating entrance fees for national parks, and mandating spending for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Compromise With the Oil and Gas Industry Made the Sage Grouse Vulnerable to Extinction
Rather than list the bird as an endangered species, the Obama administration struck a compromise deal with energy companies—and now Trump is undoing it.
Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
OxyContin's maker contemplates bankruptcy, anti-abortion bills move forward in Georgia and Tennessee, and women will take a walk in space.
Reintroducing Wolves to Isle Royale National Park
Four wolves were airdropped onto an island where ice bridges no longer allow consistent access to the mainland.
The Hidden Battle Threatening the Future of America's Wild Places
State and federal agencies are warring over who has control of wildlife on public lands, while landscapes get trampled and invasive species obliterate endangered ones.
The National Park Service Authorized Over $250 Million in 'Unobligated' Funds to Keep Parks Open During the Shutdown
A Senate subcommittee is looking into the legality of the decision to tap into the recreation fees for operational costs.
Meet the New Grand Canyon Ranger Who Is Older Than the National Park
Rose Torphy is the oldest-ever junior park ranger at the Grand Canyon, and a vocal advocate for the park's beauty.
Bears Ears Now Has the Support of Its Home County's Leadership
The San Juan County commission voted two-to-one in favor of a resolution that rescinds the county's previous opposition to the monument and condemns its reduction by Donald Trump.
Inside the Fight Against the Growing Cactus Black Market
The booming succulent market is creating wide-scale theft of cacti from national parks. Can microchip tracking solve the problem?
Stories You Might Have Missed Last Week
Americans are behind on car payments, coastal-access advocates get good news, and NASA says goodbye to an old friend.
The Key Questions the Senate Should Ask Trump's Nominee to Head the Department of the Interior
David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist, is a behind-the-scenes operator who has positioned himself as an ardent opponent of conservation advocates.
National Parks May Receive Congressional Funding for Shutdown Losses
According to an internal email, the National Park Service will be given congressional funding to retroactively pay for operational costs expended during the partial government shutdown.
A House Bill Would Expand Bears Ears to 1.9 Million Acres
The bill would restore the areas excised from the monument by Trump, and add additional acreage.
The Key Environmental Issues to Watch After Trump's Second Year in Office
During his tenure, the administration has blocked research, prioritized corporations over citizens, and put endangered species at even greater risk.
A Public Lands Non-Profit Calls for All National Parks to Close Until the Shutdown Ends
National parks that remain open during the shutdown have seen a number of issues as a result of understaffing, including litter and vandalism.
Trump Has Yet to Nominate a DOI Secretary to Replace Ryan Zinke, So Here's Who's Taking Over
David Bernhardt, who will step in to fill the role, is a lawyer and lobbyist with strong fossil fuel and water industry ties.
The DOI Temporarily Removed Documents About a Controversial Plan to Loosen Sage Grouse Protections
The documents went back up two days after a newspaper reported their removal, and just 12 days before the close of the plan's public comment period.
The BLM Deletes Information on the Endangered Sage Grouse, Just Ahead of Public Comment Period
One webpage, now removed, touted the current policies' successes—and praised the bird's mating dances.