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National Landscape Conservation System
The National Landscape Conservation System
In 2000 Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt created the National Landscape Conservation System placing the crown jewels of the Bureau of Land Management into a new conservation system whose mission is to:
"...conserve, protect, and restore these nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations."
What is the National Landscape Conservation System?
The National Landscape Conservation System is a 26 million acre network of special places that includes National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, National Scenic and Historic Trails, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Conservation Areas.
The System encompasses only 10% of BLM lands but includes many important biological, cultural, archaeological, historic, paleontological, and geological resources. Collectively, the 866 individual units within the NLCS accommodate a third of BLM's recreation use.
The Need for Congressional Recognition
The National Landscape Conservation System currently lacks congressional recognition. Established administratively by the Secretary of the Interior, the System is vulnerable to elimination by future administrations. We are working closely with our partners in the Conservation System Alliance to secure permanent protection of the System. Such recognition will:
- Ensure the System's permanency
- Sustain the special management of units within the System that were set aside for their remarkable natural, historical, recreation, and/or cultural attributes
- Facilitate a maturation of a national appreciation for the System that will lead to improved management
- Encourage recognition within the BLM of the System as an important and cherished responsibility
- Increase attention paid to the lands by research institutions, researchers, policy-makers and the public
- Encourage scientists to undertake fundamental and applied research on System lands
The National Landscape Conservation Act
Bills to create a permanent system have been introduced in both the House and Senate. The House Bill, H.R. 2016 introduced by Congressman Raul Grijalva, passed on April 9, 2008. Currently, the Senate version (S. 1139) is part of a larger package, The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2008. This bi-partisan package is well supported. The only thing standing in the way of passing this important legislation is time. The best hope for the bill is that Congress returns after the November election for a lame duck session and takes action on the bill.
Our Work in the Permanence Campaign
We are working with the Conservation System Alliance to secure passage of the National Landscape Conservation Act and assure permanent protection for our nation's newest conservation system.
Cindy Deacon Williams, the National Center's Director of Aquatic Science and Education Programs, testified before the June 7, 2007 hearing of House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in support of H.R. 2016.
Early this year, the National Center organized a letter from prominent scientists in support of the National Landscape Conservation Act.
Scientist's Letter Press Release
Science in the System
The National Landscape Conservation System is known for its scientific resources and conservation values. Recently discoveries include a "Dinosaur Dance Floor", an area 3/4 the size of a football field covered with over 1,000 dinosaur footprints and rare tail drag marks, in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. The 190 million year old tracks are in an area that was likely a small watering hole surrounded by massive wind swept sand dunes. To read more about this discovery see:
Dinosaur Dance Floor - Numerous Tracks at Jurassic Oasis on Arizona Utah Border
Learn More about the National Landscape Conservation System
The Wilderness Society has produced a series of videos about the System that are available on YouTube.
Hidden Treasures of the American West - Part 1
Hidden Treasures of the American West - Part 2
