The Interior department budget request calls for $17.8 billion in order to advance Interior’s mission “through investments in wildfire management, tribal programs, ecosystem restoration, national park operations, western water infrastructure, and climate resilience.” Notably, Interior’s budget request includes allocating $189 million toward deploying renewable energy on public lands and waters. “The intensifying impacts of climate change are costing lives, disrupting livelihoods, and causing billions of dollars in damages,” the budget summary states.
Analysis: Chaco mineral withdrawal is protecting wildlife and ecosystems
On June 2, 2023, the Biden administration formalized a mineral withdrawal within a 10-mile radius around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico to remove more than 336,400 acres from oil, gas, and mining development. A new Center for American Progress analysis finds that in addition to protecting the area’s cultural and archaeological values, the mineral withdrawal is also protecting more than 60,000 acres of New Mexico’s highest-value ecological resources and helping to protect wildlife. According to the analysis this includes more than 31,000 acres of the state’s most ecologically intact lands, those that are free of human modification and resembling their natural, untouched state, with minimal habitat and species loss. Similarly, the withdrawal area also includes 27,000 acres which support species migrations by protecting migratory pathways for big game such as mule deer, elk, and pronghorn.
Quick hits
Colorado River Basin states pitch two alternative plans for water cuts
Nevada Current | Land Desk | The Hill
Biden’s budget blueprint prioritizes climate and renewable energy
E&E News | E&E News [Interior budget request] | White House Fact Sheet
Colorado could bring back wolverines in unprecedented rewilding effort
BLM’s Public Lands Rule aims to balance, transform the agency’s stewardship
Bears Ears plan prioritizes Tribal collaboration, conservation
New research exposes anti-conservation groups’ lies and industry ties
Oregon forestry officials approve plan to reduce logging on state lands
Opinion: Ash Meadows should be cared for, cherished, and protected from mining
Quote of the day
National wildlife refuges are super-important, as the only national public lands organized around the needs of wildlife, yet funding from Congress is already nowhere near what is needed to manage the refuges or even keep up with the cost of living.”
—Mike Leahy, senior director of wildlife, hunting and fishing policy with the National Wildlife Federation, E&E News
Picture This
Happy Birthday, @BureauIndAffrs!
At 200 years old, the BIA is the oldest bureau at Interior. BIA employees are working every day across the country to strengthen our nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes and invest in Indigenous communities.
Featured image: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. @POTUS