Trump Administration to Scrap Rule Encouraging Conservation
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration announced it will repeal a Biden-era Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule that prioritized leasing public lands for conservation, recreation, and renewable energy development.
- The repealed rule applied to about 245 million acres of public lands, roughly one-tenth of the U.S., but excluded national parks.
- The Biden-era regulation, finalized in April 2024, aimed to balance conservation efforts with industrial development and introduced new lease types for ecosystem restoration and environmental damage offsetting, though none were issued before the repeal.
- The Trump administration favors using public lands for oil and gas drilling, coal mining, logging, and livestock grazing, reversing the previous conservation focus.
- The BLM has historically leased public lands for resource development, but such activities have contributed to habitat fragmentation and environmental degradation amid increasing climate-related challenges like wildfires and droughts.