National Public Lands Day is September 30, 2017
America’s public lands and waters are treasures that move our hearts and spirits. They create a setting for recreation, inspiration, education, challenge, contemplation, and renewal.
These lands and waters are precious to us as Americans and are often described as: the best of the best, our magnificent heritage, the heart and soul of our nation, an amazing gift, and places where we can feel and see that the world is bigger than ourselves.
They encompass pristine forests, stunning mountains, endless vistas, clear blue sky, ocean reefs, islands, amazing estuaries, gorgeous coastline, tundra, wilderness, waterfalls, clear streams, grasslands, wildlife and plants, and historic sites that tell our American stories. In many communities, parks, forests, and wildlife refuges have become sustainable economic engines because of growing tourism.
As Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th president, stated so eloquently and wisely:
“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.”
Public lands and marine sanctuaries are facing unprecedented challenges today: declining budgets, climate change, and overcrowding to name a few. Our public land managers are also facing an Administration that has indicated that it wants to roll back long established protections ensuring preservation of our treasured landscapes. For example, the Secretary of the Interior Zinke wants to increase oil and gas leases on public lands. Also, Secretary Zinke’s assault to reduce protections and size of ten current national monuments is discouraging.
As President Roosevelt knew each one us must do our part to protect and preserve public lands. This year on National Public Lands Day join the team. Do your part by pledging to do something for our natural and cultural heritage. This might include volunteering, contacting your public representatives, speaking out at a public meeting, donating to a specific cause, and thanking public servants that are working to protect our sacred landscapes.
Help us protect the “good fortune” Roosevelt described. We have been given an enormous gift. All of us must step up. The time to start is today.
Don’t hesitate. The future is in your hands.
Don Neubacher, Public Lands Conservancy