The Conservation System Alliance

Thank you!

Ann Morgan — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:27:12 -0500

I know a lot has already been said about the great victory in Congress this week – our elected officials stepping up and doing the right thing by passing the omnibus public lands legislation that unites the 26-million-acre National Landscape Conservation System. But I wanted to add one thing for those of us who hold BLM lands dear to our hearts.

Big victory for System in U.S. House on Wednesday?

John Garder — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:21:43 -0500

Last week, the Senate passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act with the overwhelming support of 77 senators; it’s a tremendous victory for our public lands. The House will consider the bill on Wednesday. The bill, now attached to H.R. 147, a proposal to protect Revolutionary War battlefields, makes permanent the National Landscape Conservation System.

Faith and the National Landscape Conservation System

Jordan Blevins — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:36:59 -0500

Sonoran Desert provides oasis for conservation

John Garder — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:35:39 -0500

I was reading some news yesterday and was pleased to run into an article by Jon Shumaker about the Sonoran Desert. It’s an informative and well-written article that summarizes the spectacular beauty of our protected public lands in southern Arizona, and the significant threats to those lands. The National Landscape Conservation System includes amazing areas in that desert, protected by the Sonoran Desert National Monument and Ironwood Forest National Monument; there are a bunch of other outstanding Conservation System units in that part of the country as well.

Alone in an 800-year-old ruin

Heath Nero — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:39:48 -0600

My recent trip to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado highlighted the unique differences between the National Landscape Conservation System and the National Park Service. Both of these areas are truly national treasures, but if I could get my two days back, I’d spend them both at Canyons of the Ancients.

The true size of the Rio Grande

Denise Ryan — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:42:31 -0600

Just about an hour north of Taos, New Mexico, and nearly on the Colorado border, is the wild heart of the Wild and Scenic Rio Grande. I was working for The National Wildlife Federation at the time and we took a trip out there to check out the wildlife and recreation opportunities along the river and the adjacent lands of the BLM’s Ute Mountain. We drove up from Taos, and just off the highway, we turned on a deeply rutted dirt road running south of Ute Mountain.

TWS releases funding guide for Conservation System

Christopher Lancette — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:12:39 -0600

The Wilderness Society has released a new guide aimed at helping conservation organizations capitalize on opportunities to improve the National Landscape Conservation System. The step-by-step instructions walk readers through the challenges of adding spectacular new lands to the System, providing for better management, and helping the System obtain the funding it needs.

How to go to bat for the Conservation System

Christopher Lancette — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:47:47 -0600

When Congress approves The National Landscape Conservation Act and sends it to President Obama for his signature, we will have the opportunity to spend more time thinking about what how we can all make the Conservation System better. This includes adding spectacular new landscapes to the System, providing for better management of the System and getting an appropriate budget that meets the System’s needs. All this involves Congress to some extent or other.

Figure out how to get requests through Congress can be a daunting task.

Help has arrived.

Omnibus Public Land Management Act-Additions to the Conservation System

riverbat88 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:05:37 -0600

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act, passed overhwhelmingly by the US Senate on January 15, is one of the most significant pieces of conservation legislation passed in over a decade.

Among the many provisions in the legislation is the National Landscape Conservation System Act which creates America's newest conservation system by permanently recognized a system of conservation lands managed by the BLM.

The Omnibus however also designates new areas that will be part of this new conservation system.

SF Chronicle: System a good start for Obama

Christopher Lancette — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:23:45 -0600

What would be a great way for the Barack Obama Administration to get off to a great green start? According to The San Francisco Chronicle in a Jan. 2 editorial, the answer rests with signing legislation that would provide permanent recognition for the National Landscape Conservation System.