Feb 2, 2020
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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.
Learn MoreThe Biden administration has established a goal to conserve 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030 for the benefit of all Americans. This goal, known as “30×30,” has been recommended by scientists in order to prevent the collapse of the planet’s natural systems while supporting communities across the country. Although the 30×30 initiative has widespread support from elected leaders, scientists, and the public, a number of bad actors have worked to spread misinformation on the topic. It’s time to set the record straight. Let’s take a look at the established facts.
Learn MoreWildfire is an ever-present reality for many communities in the Western United States. Now, a first-of-its-kind analysis of wildfire data compares the risk of wildfire on U.S. public lands versus state-owned lands. Data show that the percent of U.S. public lands and state-owned lands at a high risk of wildfire are approximately equal, a finding in keeping with consensus among forestry experts that Western wildfires are driven primarily by natural factors and exacerbated by a warming climate.
Learn MoreUniversity of Colorado law professor Mark Squillace gives a succinct but comprehensive smackdown to a string of arguments that public lands extremists have espoused for years.
Learn MoreAt the beginning of 2017 as state legislative sessions got underway, the Center for Western Priorities published a set of policy proposals concerning public lands and our region’s growing outdoor economy.
Learn MoreThe Bundys have continued spouting nonsensical theories about American public lands, reminding us just how out of step they are from the millions upon millions of Westerners who support parks and public lands, and the public servants who are committed to managing lands for the American people. As you read news coverage of the Bundy family and their small cohort of vocal followers, it is important to keep in mind that they reflect neither a mainstream or majority opinion among Americans who make their homes in Western states.
Learn MorePolling in 2016 found that, regardless of political party, voters across the West care deeply about access to the outdoors and public lands. Western state voters believe public lands are essential to their quality of life and are pivotal to their state’s economy.
Learn MoreConservative politicians in Western states continue to promote efforts to dispose of U.S. public lands into state and private hands. But ever since this modern day version of the Sagebrush Rebellion appeared in the early 2010s, proponents of “transferring” public lands have failed to answer even the most basic question about their proposal: how will states afford to protect communities from wildfire that occurs naturally across the West? The Center for Western Priorities first analyzed this issue in 2014. This is an update to the original report, which finds that between 2009 and 2015 the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) alone has spent over $6 billion suppressing wildfire in Western states.
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