Conservation, at its core, means taking care of the land so it can take care of us: ensuring the forests, rivers, and mountains we cherish today are still there for future generations. It’s an idea deeply rooted in the word “conserve” itself.
That’s why it’s more than a little ironic that the Trump Administration is now moving to repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule, a policy created to do exactly that: conserve America’s public lands for the long haul.
The effort isn’t just about bureaucratic language. It’s about the future of 245 million acres of shared lands, including millions of acres here in Colorado. And for those who hike, climb, hunt, or simply value open space, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
What the Public Lands Rule Actually Does
The Public Lands Rule, finalized in May 2024, was a long-awaited update to how the BLM manages public lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which is the same law that guides grazing, mining, and recreation on federal lands.
The rule’s central idea is simple: conservation and restoration should stand on equal footing with other land uses. It directs the BLM to:
Prioritize ecosystem health in all management decisions.
Use science, data, and Indigenous knowledge to guide policy.
Identify and protect intact landscapes while restoring degraded areas.
Create conservation and restoration leases, allowing partners to invest in ecosystem recovery without displacing other valid uses.
It doesn’t “lock up” land. It balances the scales after decades of prioritizing extraction over stewardship.
Why the Rule Was Created
For decades, the BLM’s “multiple use” mandate has often been interpreted to mean “use as much as possible.” Energy development, grazing, and mining have long shaped management decisions, while habitat restoration and recreation access often came second.
The Public Lands Rule aimed to change that imbalance by giving conservation a clear seat at the table. According to an analysis by the University of Colorado, the rule recognized that healthy lands are the foundation for all other uses — from clean water and wildlife habitat to sustainable recreation and grazing.
In other words: it was a step toward managing public lands not just for what we take from them, but for what we all depend on them to provide.
Why It’s Now Under Threat
In September 2025, the Trump Administration announced a proposal to rescind the Public Lands Rule, calling it an overreach that gives “outsized priority” to conservation. The administration and its allies argue that the rule could limit access for energy, timber, and grazing interests and undermine local economies.
But conservation groups, outdoor organizations, and legal experts say those claims don’t hold water.
The rule doesn’t prohibit development — it simply requires that land health, wildlife, and water be considered alongside other uses. And before the repeal effort began, not a single conservation lease had been issued.
Repealing the rule, critics argue, would push BLM management back toward an outdated model that treats public lands primarily as commodities, rather than as living landscapes that support all Americans.
The Real Meaning of “Conserve”
If the word “conservative” truly stems from the root “to conserve,” then protecting the natural resources that sustain us should be a shared value, not a political flashpoint.
Repealing conservation isn’t conservative. It’s short-sighted.
It trades long-term health for short-term gain, ignoring the lessons we’ve already learned about drought, wildfire, and habitat loss across the West. It undermines the BLM’s legal duty to manage for multiple uses and sustained yield — the principle that today’s benefits shouldn’t come at tomorrow’s expense.
Conservation isn’t about locking lands away; it’s about keeping them healthy and usable for ranchers, recreationists, wildlife, and everyone who calls the West home.
Why This Matters for Colorado
Here in Colorado, BLM lands include everything from the high desert of the Gunnison Basin to the alpine plateaus near Crested Butte and the canyon country of the Western Slope. These landscapes are essential for recreation, but they’re also the headwaters of our rivers, the corridors wildlife use to migrate, and the open spaces that define our state’s character.
Repealing the Public Lands Rule could open the door to more intensive development in sensitive areas, fragmenting habitat, degrading water quality, and reducing opportunities for quiet recreation and solitude.
Healthy public lands support healthy communities, and that’s something worth conserving.
How You Can Help
Repealing the BLM Conservation Rule Isn’t Conservative; It’s Short-Sighted
Conservation, at its core, means taking care of the land so it can take care of us: ensuring the forests, rivers, and mountains we cherish today are still there for future generations. It’s an idea deeply rooted in the word “conserve” itself.
That’s why it’s more than a little ironic that the Trump Administration is now moving to repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule, a policy created to do exactly that: conserve America’s public lands for the long haul.
The effort isn’t just about bureaucratic language. It’s about the future of 245 million acres of shared lands, including millions of acres here in Colorado. And for those who hike, climb, hunt, or simply value open space, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
What the Public Lands Rule Actually Does
The Public Lands Rule, finalized in May 2024, was a long-awaited update to how the BLM manages public lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which is the same law that guides grazing, mining, and recreation on federal lands.
The rule’s central idea is simple: conservation and restoration should stand on equal footing with other land uses. It directs the BLM to:
Prioritize ecosystem health in all management decisions.
Use science, data, and Indigenous knowledge to guide policy.
Identify and protect intact landscapes while restoring degraded areas.
Create conservation and restoration leases, allowing partners to invest in ecosystem recovery without displacing other valid uses.
It doesn’t “lock up” land. It balances the scales after decades of prioritizing extraction over stewardship.
Why the Rule Was Created
For decades, the BLM’s “multiple use” mandate has often been interpreted to mean “use as much as possible.” Energy development, grazing, and mining have long shaped management decisions, while habitat restoration and recreation access often came second.
The Public Lands Rule aimed to change that imbalance by giving conservation a clear seat at the table. According to an analysis by the University of Colorado, the rule recognized that healthy lands are the foundation for all other uses — from clean water and wildlife habitat to sustainable recreation and grazing.
In other words: it was a step toward managing public lands not just for what we take from them, but for what we all depend on them to provide.
Why It’s Now Under Threat
In September 2025, the Trump Administration announced a proposal to rescind the Public Lands Rule, calling it an overreach that gives “outsized priority” to conservation. The administration and its allies argue that the rule could limit access for energy, timber, and grazing interests and undermine local economies.
But conservation groups, outdoor organizations, and legal experts say those claims don’t hold water.
The rule doesn’t prohibit development — it simply requires that land health, wildlife, and water be considered alongside other uses. And before the repeal effort began, not a single conservation lease had been issued.
Repealing the rule, critics argue, would push BLM management back toward an outdated model that treats public lands primarily as commodities, rather than as living landscapes that support all Americans.
The Real Meaning of “Conserve”
If the word “conservative” truly stems from the root “to conserve,” then protecting the natural resources that sustain us should be a shared value, not a political flashpoint.
Repealing conservation isn’t conservative. It’s short-sighted.
It trades long-term health for short-term gain, ignoring the lessons we’ve already learned about drought, wildfire, and habitat loss across the West. It undermines the BLM’s legal duty to manage for multiple uses and sustained yield — the principle that today’s benefits shouldn’t come at tomorrow’s expense.
Conservation isn’t about locking lands away; it’s about keeping them healthy and usable for ranchers, recreationists, wildlife, and everyone who calls the West home.
Why This Matters for Colorado
Here in Colorado, BLM lands include everything from the high desert of the Gunnison Basin to the alpine plateaus near Crested Butte and the canyon country of the Western Slope. These landscapes are essential for recreation, but they’re also the headwaters of our rivers, the corridors wildlife use to migrate, and the open spaces that define our state’s character.
Repealing the Public Lands Rule could open the door to more intensive development in sensitive areas, fragmenting habitat, degrading water quality, and reducing opportunities for quiet recreation and solitude.
Healthy public lands support healthy communities, and that’s something worth conserving.
How You Can Help
The proposed repeal is open for public comment until November 11, 2025. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and remind the BLM that conservation is a core American value.
Your comment doesn’t have to be long or technical. Just speak from the heart about why healthy public lands matter to you, your family, and your community.
👉 Submit your comment here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/11/2025-17537/rescission-of-conservation-and-landscape-health-rule
Alex Derr is an Eagle Scout, climber, and environmental policy expert located in Denver, Colorado. He created The Next Summit to help others stay safe exploring the mountains and advocate to preserve the peaks for the future. Follow him on Linkedin or Twitter or click here to contact him.
Join 4,000+ other subscribers and receive mountain news updates, route guides, gear reviews, and other articles in our twice-monthly email newsletter.
We take your privacy and security seriously and safeguard your information. You can unsubscribe and manage your preferences at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of all emails we send. Click here to read our privacy policy and learn more.
Welcome to The Next Summit!
Our mission is to protect public lands and peaks through PSAR & LNT outdoor education, policy advocacy, and collaboration with a network of community partners. Click here to learn more and support our ongoing campaigns. Thanks for visiting!
Never Hit the Trail Unprepared
Free weekly tips on routes, safety, and mountain news from The Next Summit.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy
Colorado Keeps Its Roadless Rule. Utah and Wyoming Don’t.
Mount Elbert Reopens as Willow Fire Closure Shrinks
RMNP Closes Kawuneeche Valley Trails Aug 24 to 30: Here’s Why
14er Hiking Hit a Record Low in 2025. Don’t Blame Hikers.
Summit Skills Academy
Ready to Build Real Mountain Skills?
Learn at your own pace with free and premium courses built for hikers and climbers at every level.