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.
Resources:
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