173. Public Lands Under Attack: What’s Happening and What You Can Do

In this episode, we discuss the ongoing threats to our public lands and the attacks on US environmental protections under the current administration.

From the push for fossil fuel extraction to rollbacks of key policies like the Antiquities Act and NEPA, the Trump administration's agenda is having devastating impacts on public lands and the environment.

We hear from:

Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation

Louis Geltman, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations at Outdoor Alliance

Tania Lown-Hecht, the Vice President of Communications and Strategy at Outdoor Alliance

Do you have questions or potential guests for future episodes covering public lands policy? Submit any information to our Google Form: https://forms.gle/VQW5ZoVcr6nDEd9t8

or reach out via email on our website (theoutdoorminimalist.com)

Key Topics:

• The ongoing dismantling of protections for public lands, including national monuments and the Antiquities Act.
• The shift towards corporate-friendly policies under the Trump administration and the rise of fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
• The environmental consequences of rapid resource extraction and the increasing threat to ecosystems, wildlife, and local communities.
• The impact of staffing cuts within federal land management agencies, weakening both recreational management and wildfire response.
• How public advocacy is making a difference: Over 100,000 letters sent to Congress and restored positions within land management agencies.
• What you can do to make your voice heard and protect public lands through organizations like Outdoor Alliance and the Conservation Lands Foundation.

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Resources:

• Outdoor Alliance: Take Action
• Conservation Lands Foundation
• Sign up for updates and more at The Outdoor Minimalist Newsletter

Episode Sources:

PBS: https://youtu.be/-sDtdCzMIKA?si=VSw4NdskP7Lw1Wl1

PBS: https://youtu.be/vYtDOq-EhYU?si=_-JMWFnbLkZsrSLU

https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/2/25/press-release-threats-to-rural-recreation-economies-from-poorly-managed-oil-and-gas-developmentnbsp

https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/3/6/public-lands-staffing-crisis-worsens-as-more-layoffs-threatened

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/republican-plan-privatize-sell-federal-public-lands-west/

https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/map-illustrate-public-lands-reach-trump-energy-dominance

https://www.nrdc.org/media/executive-orders-direct-massive-expansion-logging-public-lands

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/13/nx-s1-5325959/federal-employees-court-firing

https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/3/13/press-release-outdoor-alliance-rallies-120-businesses-brands-organizations-to-correct-public-land-staffing-reductions

https://www.conservationlands.org/new_legislation_seeks_to_gut_public_process_on_federal_public_land_management_in_colorado_montana_oregon_and_wyoming