Reports and Resources

Conservation Gridlock: 2023 Update

Winning the West: Election 2022

The Center for Western Priorities released a new report, “Winning the West: Election 2022,” detailing how public lands were a winning issue in the 2022 election and how pro-conservation positions often gave candidates a competitive edge in close races.  According to the report, candidates like new Congressman Gabe Vasquez in New Mexico highlighted their conservation […]

Languishing Lands

A new report from the Center for Western Priorities finds that bills to protect over 16 million acres of public land in the West are currently languishing in Congress. Protecting these landscapes would bring the nation closer to achieving the goal of conserving 30 percent of public lands and waters by 2030, a scientifically-driven priority […]

Conservation action can win over the media and the public

A new report from the Center for American Progress and the Center for Western Priorities highlights the consistent popularity of conservation Between the Inflation Reduction Act’s landmark action to confront the climate crisis; the CHIPS and Science Act’s unprecedented strengthening of American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security; and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s […]

The Antiquities Act and America’s national monuments: Frequently Asked Questions

Over the last week, America’s national monuments and the Antiquities Act have been in the news thanks to elected officials in Colorado asking President Biden to invoke the Antiquities Act and other executive powers to protect lands that are part of the CORE Act, which is stalled in Congress despite near-universal support in the state. […]

Conservation Gridlock

In the last decade, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Wyoming have conserved far fewer acres of public lands than neighboring Western states.

The 30×30 Disinformation Brigade

Shortly after the Biden Administration announced its “America the Beautiful” initiative to protect 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030 (aka “30×30”), a band of anti-government extremists launched an organized campaign of lies, speculation, and half-truths to undermine the effort.

“No harm, no foul” doesn’t exist in oil and gas leasing

Report finds wilderness-quality lands are nearly 3 TIMES less likely to be managed to protect those characteristics if they are overlapped by oil and gas leases—even if those leases are purely speculative and are not being drilled.

The Camping Crunch

A new digital interactive report analyzing public lands camping data reveals that summer use of reservable national public lands camping facilities has increased at least as rapidly as overall public lands visitation. The report examines trends across the country and provides interactive maps.

2021 Western States Legislative Summary

Building on previous analysis in 2019 of Western states’ legislative challenges and accomplishments related to public lands conservation, climate change, and responsible energy development, the Center for Western Priorities spoke with state-based conservation organizations to develop a legislative summary of the highlights and challenges for conservation from the 2021 legislative session.

The Western Road to 30

The Center for Western Priorities’ Western Road to 30 report (website) examines how Western states are contributing to the bold goal to protect 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030.

The oil industry’s forfeited public lands stockpile

The oil and gas industry has spent recent months fear mongering about the Biden administration’s temporary pause on new federal oil and gas leases; however, new analysis finds that the industry has been forfeiting drilling leases and permits for years.

Western Oil and Gas Spills Tracker

Each year, the Center for Western Priorities tracks oil and gas-related spills in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, assessing what spilled, where spills occur, and what companies are responsible, among other factors. Check out the latest data, or explore reports from past years.

The oil industry’s public lands stockpile

The Center for Western Priorities’ digital interactive report on the oil industry’s public lands stockpile examines the millions of acres of idle leases stockpiled by the oil and gas industry. The report maps out oil and gas leases and finds that the oil industry is currently sitting on 9.9 million acres of idle leases across ten Western states—47.4 percent of all leases in the region.

The dismal legacy of Trump’s ‘Energy Dominance’ agenda

The Center for Western Priorities‘ report on The Dismal Legacy of Trump’s ‘Energy Dominance’ Agenda shows how the Trump administration magnified pre-existing problems in the oil and gas system. Led by former oil lobbyist Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, the Trump administration took full advantage of an outdated legal system that benefits companies over taxpayers. The report offers suggestions for comprensively reforming the leasing system.

Winning the West: Election 2020

The Center for Western Priorities Winning the West: Election 2020 report reveals the growing trend of winning candidates highlighting their support for public lands and outdoor issues in order to connect with Mountain West voters in this year’s elections. Check out this report PDF to learn how public lands—how they are used, their importance to local economies, and the way they define life in the West—were a key component of winning campaigns in 2020.

The Road to 30

The Center for Western Priorities’ Road to 30 interactive digital report explores some — but certainly not all — of the methods of land conservation that will be integral to achieving the goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030. Along the way we explore some of the places that have already been protected, celebrating past conservation efforts and considering how to move forward to protect our lands, waters, wildlife, and the communities that rely on them.

Empty Enforcement

States play a critical role in protecting public health and the environment by inspecting oil and gas facilities, identifying violations, and, when appropriate, issuing financial penalties. However, the structure and success of oil and gas enforcement programs varies widely from state to state. CWP’s examination of Western state oil and gas enforcement finds that while some states have successful programs worth emulating, many have room to improve in order to adequately protect the health and safety of local communities and hold companies accountable.

America’s Public Lands Giveaway

The Wilderness Society and the Center for Western Priorities conducted a first-of-its-kind geospatial analysis to shine a light on the outdated leasing process. Using a newly developed tool, the analysis mapped all federal oil and gas leases, identifying instances where public lands leases were sold for bargain prices. Check out the interactive digital report.

Mapping the legacy of drilling in a protected monument

According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument contains 193 oil and gas wells and drilling sites. Many of these wells have been “abandoned” or “shut-in” and not properly reclaimed. As a result, the monument is littered with decaying oil and gas equipment that companies have failed to clean up.