Public Lands Conservancy
Another voice for protecting our public lands
For all people, for all time
Public lands are the heart and soul of America; a fundamental part of our nation’s legacy. They are places where we find inspiration, recreation, happiness, joy, challenge, reflection, pride, and renewal. Places that tell and educate us about the stories of America.
We believe the “inalienable rights” of citizens to have access to public spaces for the “pursuit of happiness” is embedded in our Declaration of Independence. The Preamble to the Constitution also reinforces this idea by stating the Constitution’s fundamental purpose includes to “promote the general welfare.” This phrase has been interpreted to mean that the well-being of the citizens would be taken care of as well as possible.
Public lands that protect wetlands, grasslands, forests, mountains, waterfalls, wildlife, coastlines, lakes, cultural features, and streams belong to all of us. These lands are ours to protect, cherish, pursue, and enjoy. Our democracy gives us a right and a responsibility to participate in their protection.
Encompassing over 620 million acres, these public lands are composed of forest lands, recreational areas, national parks and monuments, local and state parks, range lands, wilderness areas, marine reserves, marine sanctuaries, wildlife refuges, historic sites, reserves, and cultural landscapes. They represent a phenomenal legacy preserved for future generations.
These lands, however, are always being threatened by special interests, including some members in Congress, that oppose public ownership of these sacred places.
These groups have and will continue promoting privatizing, commercialization, decreasing financial support, weakening of regulatory powers, dramatic agency policy changes, and transferring of lands and waters to state control for development. Over time, our natural and cultural heritage, piece by piece, could be lost forever.
Climate change and rising sea level are also threatening the health of these public lands and water supplies we depend on. We only have one planet and our delicate care and vigilance of its health is critical to our quality of life and survival.
The Public Lands Conservancy works to reduce these threats and ensure our heritage–public lands–continue to be for everyone, forever, for all time. A legacy worth protecting; join us helping to save local and national treasures.