The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a new management proposal which includes leasing parcels of public lands for conservation. Chamois Andersen, senior representative of the Rockies and Plains program for Defenders of Wildlife, said the new rules would help protect wildlife habitat, clean drinking water sources, and rural economies. .
Following the recent designation of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Southern Nevada, one hunter says he is pleased to know the roughly half-million acres of land will be preserved. Garrett Hammack is a board member of the Nevada Wildlife Federation and said Avi Kwa Ame, known by the Mojave Tribe as Spirit Mountain, is a place he has spent lots of time hunting and recreating. As a father, he said it is important for him to know his son will be able to see and enjoy the place that has meant so much to him over the years. .
A proposed rule from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management could raise conservation up as a priority on the land it manages. Under the proposal, the BLM would prioritize the health and resilience of ecosystems alongside other uses for the land - such as recreation and resource extraction. .