‘Conservation’ questioned as a legitimate use in ongoing public lands debate – Deseret News

Report on the Proposed Rescission of the Public Lands Rule

Executive Summary

This report details the proposed action by the U.S. Department of the Interior to rescind the 2024 “Public Lands Rule,” also known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. The rule establishes conservation as a primary use of public lands, aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The proposed rescission has generated significant public and legal debate, highlighting a fundamental conflict between conservation-focused land management and traditional extractive uses. Analysis of the public comment period reveals that 98% of submissions oppose the rescission, indicating strong public support for policies that advance SDG 15 (Life on Land). The final decision by the Department of the Interior will have profound implications for the nation’s commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable economic development, and institutional governance as outlined in the SDGs.

The Public Lands Rule and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Rule Overview

The Public Lands Rule, finalized in 2024, formally recognizes “conservation” as an essential component of public land management, placing it on equal footing with established uses such as recreation, mining, and grazing. This policy shift was designed to ensure the long-term health and productivity of public lands, directly contributing to the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals.

Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 15: Life on Land: The rule is a direct implementation of SDG 15 targets, which call for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. By prioritizing the health of landscapes, the rule aims to protect biodiversity and halt land degradation.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Healthy, conserved landscapes are critical for climate resilience and carbon sequestration. The rule supports climate action by preserving natural ecosystems that act as carbon sinks.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The rule supports the sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation sectors, which generate approximately $1.2 trillion in annual revenue. This promotes diversified and resilient local economies in line with sustainable economic growth models.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: By balancing extractive activities with conservation, the rule encourages the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, a core principle of SDG 12.

Stakeholder Analysis and Competing Interests

Support for the Public Lands Rule

A broad coalition of stakeholders supports maintaining the rule, citing its alignment with modern conservation science and sustainable development principles.

1. Conservation and Community Groups: Organizations like The Mountain Pact, representing 180 local government officials, argue that well-managed public lands are essential for their economies and way of life. They view the rule as a critical tool for ensuring that conservation is given equal consideration in management decisions, thereby protecting resources for future generations (SDG 15).
2. The Public: Public opinion polls and the official comment period demonstrate overwhelming support for conservation. A Deseret News poll found 87% of Western residents believe conservation should be a priority. The public comment analysis revealed 97.9% of submissions opposed rescinding the rule, reflecting a strong public mandate for environmental protection.

Opposition to the Public Lands Rule

Opposition is primarily led by industry groups and legal foundations who argue the rule oversteps executive authority and harms economic interests tied to resource extraction.

1. Industry and Legal Foundations: The Mountain States Legal Foundation, representing energy trade organizations, contends the rule is an “unlawful departure” from the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). They argue that “conservation” is a form of “no use” that illegally restricts access to land for energy production, mining, and timber management.
2. Government Officials: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated the rule could block access to land for multiple uses, thereby hindering economic production. This perspective prioritizes economic returns from extractive industries over the conservation and ecosystem service benefits championed by the SDGs.

Institutional Processes and Governance

Public Consultation and Legal Framework

The process for rescinding the rule is governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires a public comment period. The Department of the Interior received extensive feedback, which it is now legally obligated to review before making a final decision. This process is central to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which emphasizes accountable, transparent, and participatory decision-making.

The FLPMA Debate

The core of the legal conflict revolves around the interpretation of the FLPMA’s mandate for “multiple use and sustained yields.”

• Pro-Rule Argument: Supporters argue that conservation is implicitly included in FLPMA’s broad definition of uses and is essential for ensuring the “long-term needs of future generations” and preventing “permanent impairment of the productivity of the land.”
• Anti-Rule Argument: Opponents claim that an unelected federal agency cannot fundamentally alter a law passed by Congress and that “sustained yield” requires tangible output, which they argue conservation does not provide.

Conclusion and Outlook

The Department of the Interior is currently reviewing all public comments and legal arguments before issuing a final decision on the Public Lands Rule. The outcome will be a significant indicator of the administration’s approach to balancing economic development with environmental protection. A decision to rescind the rule would be contrary to overwhelming public opinion and would represent a setback for the United States’ progress toward achieving SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and the promotion of a sustainable, conservation-based economy under SDG 8.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most central SDG, as the article’s entire focus is on the management and conservation of public lands. The debate over the “Public Lands Rule” directly concerns the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article discusses the economic implications of land use policies, contrasting extractive industries (oil, gas, minerals, timber) with the economic benefits of conservation, particularly through the outdoor recreation industry. This connects to sustainable economic growth and tourism.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The conflict between extractive uses (oil, gas, mineral production) and conservation relates to the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The “Public Lands Rule” is a mechanism that influences how these resources are managed and consumed.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article details the legal and procedural aspects of governance, including the role of federal law (Federal Land Policy and Management Act), the actions of government agencies (Department of the Interior), the rule-making process (Administrative Procedure Act), and the importance of public participation through comment periods. This highlights the theme of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. The article’s core debate is about making “conservation” an equal use of public lands, which directly supports this target by aiming to protect these ecosystems for future generations.
  • Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts. The “Public Lands Rule” is an example of attempting to integrate conservation values into national land management planning, putting it on “equal footing with other multiple uses.”
• Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
  • Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The conflict between extractive industries and conservation highlights the challenge of balancing economic activities with environmental protection. The rule promotes a form of economic activity (recreation) that is less environmentally degrading than extraction.
  • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article explicitly mentions that “Western communities depend on well-managed public lands to support our economies and our outdoor way of life” and cites the significant revenue of the outdoor recreation industry, which is a key component of sustainable tourism.
• Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
  • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The debate over rescinding the rule is a debate over how to manage natural resources on public lands—whether to prioritize extraction (consumption) or conservation (sustainable management).
• Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
  • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article discusses the actions of the Department of the Interior and the legal arguments about whether it is acting within the scope of the law (FLPMA), which relates to the accountability of institutions.
  • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The public comment period is a direct example of a participatory decision-making process. The article highlights the results of this process, showing overwhelming public support for the rule.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  • An implied indicator is the total area of public land designated for conservation. The article states that “no conservation leases had yet been issued,” but the existence and application of the rule would directly impact the amount of land managed primarily for conservation, which is a measurable outcome.
• For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
  • A direct indicator is mentioned for Target 8.9. The article states, “The outdoor recreation industry in the United States generates around $1.2 trillion in annual revenue.” This figure can be used to measure the economic contribution of sustainable tourism, aligning with Indicator 8.9.1 (Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP).
• For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
  • The article provides clear data that can serve as an indicator for Target 16.7. It mentions that a review found “98% of all comments oppose eliminating the rule” and that “The remaining 97.9% opposed the rule being rescinded.” These percentages measure the level of public participation and support in the decision-making process. Public opinion polls cited (“87% of respondents in Western states thought that conservation should be a medium to high priority”) also serve as indicators of public sentiment regarding policy decisions.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: deseret.com