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

Backyard Problems

Extractive industries keep leaving toxic messes across the West. Will history continue to repeat itself? The Western United States has a long history of extractive industrial activity. Since the 1800s, westward colonization has both driven and relied upon the extraction of the West’s resources, from furs to timber to gold and other minerals. Extractive activity […]

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.

Greater Hart-Sheldon

The Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon and the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada help protect a critical sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. Watch the short film to hear what makes this region so special and unique, and the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem between the two refuges for the survival of pronghorn and other wildlife.

Chumash Heritage Marine Sanctuary

The Northern Chumash people have been protecting and caring for California’s Central Coast since before the United States became a country. Now, they’re asking the federal government to protect California’s Central Coast as a marine heritage sanctuary. Hear from the chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribe and a public interest attorney about how the proposed sanctuary would benefit marine life, the environment, the local economy, and the Chumash people.

Avi Kwa Ame

Avi Kwa Ame means “Spirit Mountain” in the Mojave language. It is located in Southern Nevada and is the place where the tribe’s first members are said to have emerged. Their stories are recorded in petroglyphs near the mountain’s southern edge, while one of the country’s largest concentrations of Joshua trees sits just west of the mountain. Hear from two Fort Mojave tribal members about why the area is special to their community and why it needs protection.

Road to 30: Postcards

To reach the 30×30 goal, we must support the people and communities who are working tirelessly to protect places that matter.

That’s why the Center for Western Priorities created Road to 30: Postcards—a multimedia series telling the stories of everyday Americans and the places they want to conserve for future generations.

Enjoy stories of iconic places that deserve to be conserved, told in documentary style short films, podcast episodes, digital interactives, blogs, virtual panel discussions, and more.

Bears Ears National Monument

Named for two iconic buttes that are visible from miles around in Southeast Utah, Bears Ears National Monument boasts one of the highest concentrations of archaeological sites in North America. It also happens to be one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world. Hear from two people who have been working for decades to ensure this awe-inspiring landscape is treated with the respect and reverence it deserves.