Take Action for Public Lands

Put the pen down in despair, and recall your memory. Teleport your clean boots to a dustier time when the mud stuck between not only the rubber in your shoes, but the creases between your palms. How vivid are those thoughts? Are they running rampant through your mind like wild horses?

Chances are, these adventurous times took place on public land. They have served as a guide for your inspiration, relaxation, and adventure. You had the opportunity to connect with yourself, your family, and nature through the rustles of the woodsy world encompassing you.

How does one even begin talking about public lands? There are at least a million, maybe a million and one, diverse ways we can boast about the effect public lands have had on all of our lives. You can begin with John Muir, dish out a line about old man Teddy Roosevelt, quill your favorite points about the Antiquities Act, and bring out the phone for some classic pictures of your tent set-up.

There’s no one clear path to discussing our greatest values within the system that keeps Public Lands, public.

What we can dish out, is the urgency needed to take action for PROTECTING Public Lands. A call to action is needed, immediately.

Public Lands are a sacred common ground for all of us to connect. It’s totally non-biased, and is always a friend in need. It is our duty, as Americans, to help protect and ensure the thriving of our land for future generations. Isn’t that what you do for family?

Unfortunately, not all our Representatives in Congress agree. Some have negated and narrow views of what public land should be intended for. Do they forget that the land belongs to us? Shouldn’t we be consulted prior to recommending downsizing, or cost increases? Not plan a systematic attack at the State and Federal level.

Representatives (Rob Bishop- R-Utah) who choose to harp about the over breach deserve to be contacted to the point of annoyance. They’ll want to listen to us, just so we can simply hush up. News alert. Advocates will never hush up. That would mean the job is done (it never is.)

In the interim, there are ways to get involved to help take action immediately.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES:

Call them, email them, heck- write them a personal letter. Take ten minutes to craft your response. Explain why you care about Public Lands and believe they should be kept public. Express your concerns about pressing issues, and why it matter to your local district.

You can address your local senators, your member of Congress, another leader who has influence on decisions made for public lands, or directly to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.

For inspiration on crafting a letter click HERE:

For contacting your local representative click HERE:

JOIN A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION:

Becoming actively involved is a wonderful way to give back to the community while expressing your concerns and views. Join the coalition of organizations actively fighting to keep land in public hands. Become an active steward, donate money, volunteer for events with the organization.

BECOME A PUBLIC LANDS LEADER:

This one is the most fun option, because you are EMPOWERED to lead the discussions. Connect with your local organizations to see what programs they offer to their stewards to develop casual conversations about prevalent issues/threats. Become a leader within your community to convey what messages are imperative for your Representatives to listen to.

Sidebar: the Oregon Natural Desert Association does a fantastic job of encouraging locals to talk about Public Lands by creating a simple handbook to casually share your love of the outdoors with your community.

In this new age of social media, and wide spread of information, its genuinely simplistic to teleport others to your imaginative world of what Public Land means to you. Never forgetting those days of dusty boots is the most intrinsic way to hold true to the foundation of what Public Lands is. It is our coherent duty to continue to empower those within our realms to fight like John Muir so future generations don’t have to fight the backlog of government corruption we have had to delve into.

Keep Public Land, Public.