Protecting America s Heritage. Campaign For the National Conservation

Transcription

1 Protecting America s Heritage Campaign For the National Conservation Lands

2 What if you had the chance to shape the future for tens of millions of acres of beautiful public land in the West? To determine how rivers, desert canyons, entire mountain ranges, Native American historic sites, dinosaur fossils and critical wildlife habitat can be safeguarded for future generations? You do. That very opportunity is before us today. But it won't be for long. That s why we invite you to join us in this century s greatest conservation opportunity. The opportunity to protect, restore and expand our National Conservation Lands, some of the most spectacular natural, cultural and historic lands in our country.

3 Lands of discovery The National Conservation Lands are our nation s newest collection of protected lands and waterways standing proudly alongside our National Parks, National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges as treasured places belonging to every American. From the rivers first charted by Lewis and Clark to ancient Native American settlements, from slot canyons to remote mountains, from redwood forests to endless deserts, the National Conservation Lands are living links to the past and our promise to coming generations. The Conservation Lands Foundation was founded in 2007 on the belief that our public lands are best protected when there is a national network of local advocates working to advance a common conservation vision. As the only non-profit in the country dedicated solely to safeguarding the National Conservation Lands, our mission is to protect, restore and expand these lands through education, advocacy and partnerships. An extraordinary story about these lands is just beginning to unfold. We invite you to help write that story and tell it for years to come. I was inspired by the revelation that there was something so significant that I had never heard of. This treasure chest of public lands needs to be known by everyone. Edward Norton, Actor, Filmmaker and Conservation Lands Foundation Board Member Headwaters Forest Reserve, California 3

4 National conservation lands The National Conservation Lands, established by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in 2000, comprise 28 million acres of the most ecologically rich and culturally significant of lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. They are found throughout the West, Alaska and even extend to the East Coast. Composed of National Monuments and National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Scenic and Historic Trails and more, these places reflect our understanding that truly conserving natural and cultural resources means protecting large areas entire ecosystems and archaeological communities. The National Conservation Lands also give people from all walks of life the chance to experience the West as it once was, on their own terms. From fishing the Gold Medal trout waters of Colorado s Gunnison River to world-class rock climbing in Red Rock Canyon, from hiking the rugged coastline of California s Lost Coast in the King Range National Conservation Area to whitewater rafting on Oregon s John Day River. Solitude, adventure, thrill and renewal all this and more can be experienced on the National Conservation Lands. Put down whatever you re doing and go visit these lands. It might be a bit of work on your part there won t be an entrance gate or a ranger to guide you but these are fabulous places. Bruce Babbitt, Founder of the National Conservation Lands and Conservation Lands Foundation Board Member 4

5 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

6 P ac SEATTLE STEESE NCA 1,200,000 acres rthwest T r a il ifi c No W A S H I N G T O N ALASKA I d ita ro L ewi s PORTLAND ANCHORAGE d an d C l ark Tr ail ia T r ail eg Pa ci C a l if I NELSON D A H O MORLEY SNAKE RIVER BIRDS OF PREY NCA 484,873 acres Tra i l f ic on o rn Or C r est T rail JUNEAU O R E G O N CASCADESISKIYOU NM 52,000 acres STEENS MOUNTAIN CMPA 428,156 acres HEADWATERS FOREST RESERVE 7,472 acres KING RANGE NCA 68,000 acres Ca BLACK ROCK DESERT HIGH ROCK CANYON EMIGRANT TRAILS NCA 800,000 acres Po CARSON CITY CALIFORNIA COASTAL NM 1,100 miles ny E ci Pa rail st T Cre fic Old Spanis BEAVER DAM WASH NCA 68,083 acres ona Outstanding Natural Area National Historic Trail National Scenic Trail Wild and Scenic River BLM Wilderness BLM Wilderness Study Area BLM Administered Land 6 an Ba u tis t a RED ROCK CANYON NCA 195,610 acres Ju National Monument National Conservation Area cmpa Cooperative Management and Protection Area Nm NCA l x press C A L I F O R N I A ai SAN FRANCISCO SAN JOSE r Tr N E V A D A SACRAMENTO FORT ORD NM 14,650 acres Map Key: lifo a ni de CARRIZO PLAIN NM 200,000 acres An za Tr ai l LAS VEGAS SANTA ROSA-SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS NM 272,000 acres LOS ANGELES SLOAN CANYON NCA 48,438 acres GRAND CANYON PARASHANT NM 1,000,000 acres A R I Z SAN DIEGO SONORAN DESERT NM 487,000 acres

7 Trail CRATERS OF THE MOON NM 750,000 acres h Trail RED CLIFFS NCA 44,725 acres O N A PHOENIX U T A H Arizona Trail AGUA FRIA NM 70,900 acres Continental Divide Trail SALT LAKE CITY VERMILION CLIFFS NM 294,000 acres HELENA GRAND STAIRCASE- ESCALANTE NM 1,900,000 acres IRONWOOD FOREST NM 129,000 acres M O N T A N A Mormon Pi oneer Trail Old Sp a nish Trail LAS CIENEGAS NCA 23,000 acres MCINNIS CANYONS NCA 122,300 acres Continental Divide Trail GILA BOX RIPARIAN NCA 21,767 acres SAN PEDRO RIPARIAN NCA 57,000 acres UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS NM 375,000 acres N ez Perce T r ail POMPEYS PILLAR NM 2 acres CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NM 171,000 acres EL MALPAIS NCA 262,100 acres W Y O M I N G DOMINGUEZ- ESCALANTE NCA 209,610 acres PREHISTORIC TRACKWAYS NM 5,280 acres California & Oregon Trails Continental Divide GUNNISON GORGE NCA 57,727 acres DENVER C O L O R A D O N E W M E X I C O EL PASO T rail SANTA FE KASHA-KATUWE TENT ROCKS NM 4,645 acres El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail Le w is and Clark Trail FORT STANTON- SNOWY RIVER CAVE NCA 24,950 acres CHEYENNE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS Our heritage The National Conservation Lands currently encompass 28 million acres of public land, over 2,400 river miles and approximately 6,000 miles of trails throughout the West. Some highlights include: Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument More than 200 years have passed since Lewis and Clark charted this river in central Montana, yet it remains nearly unchanged. Today, visitors can follow this iconic story of exploration by canoe on a Wild and Scenic River through the famous White Cliffs, described by Meriweather Lewis as "seens of visionary enchantment. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Nevada's first National Conservation Area, Red Rock Canyon just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip is visited by more than one million people each year. Its nearly 200,000 acres provide a multitude of recreational opportunities such as world-class rock climbing, mountain biking and horseback riding in a spectacular backdrop of sandstone cliffs, limestone mountains and open desert. Headwaters Forest Reserve This northern California forest contains redwoods over 300 feet tall and more than 2,200 years old. The redwoods also provide habitat for the threatened seabird Marbled Murrelet and protect the headwaters of several major stream systems that provide important habitat for species, including the threatened Coho Salmon. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Located in southwest Colorado, Canyons of the Ancients is home to many of the most prized archaeological sites in the nation, rivaling Mesa Verde National Park because of its ancient Puebloan history. The Monument's alcoves, petroglyphs and pictographs help tell the story of these ancestral people. Settlers in the 1800s called these remote places "the lands no one wanted." By the mid-1900s, historian Wallace Stegner came closer to the truth, calling them "the geography of hope." In this new century, we can make that hope real. 7

8 Vandalism and attempted looting of ancient petroglyph at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah The Urgency of NOW The lands, rivers and trails within the National Conservation Lands have been designated for protection, but they are also incredibly vulnerable. They face abuse from reckless oil and gas drilling and irresponsible off-road vehicle use. They are subject to looting, senseless vandalism and more. Why is this? In part, they are grossly underfunded. These lands receive only $65 million a year for their protection and management a paltry $2.40 per acre, compared to $30.56 per acre spent on National Parks. And for many years, the Bureau of Land Management had a reputation as a commodity-driven agency. Some even called it, disparagingly, the Bureau of Leasing and Mining. To change this, the Conservation Lands Foundation is pushing for a culture shift within the agency to better balance habitat conservation with resource extraction. Threats to these lands also come from some members of Congress, who make repeated attempts to repeal the Antiquities Act an essential conservation tool if we are to expand our National Conservation Lands. Illegal recreational shooters destroy saguaros, used for target practice, in Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona The average lifespan of a saguaro is between 150 and 175 years Photo by BLM By making more people aware of these special places as stunning as any National Park and as ecologically important as any National Wildlife Refuge we can assure their long-term protection. These cultural and natural treasures are an important part of our national heritage, and they are increasingly at risk. We must have the will and the means to preserve them. Richard Moe, President Emeritus, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Conservation Lands Foundation Board Member 8 Vandals spray-paint graffiti on cliff faces and boulders at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada Photo by John R. Howard

9 It s OUR Turn The chance to shape the size, management and understanding of the National Conservation Lands is now and the challenge to protect these lands is immense and urgent. With your support, the Conservation Lands Foundation will define and lead this challenge. The Conservation Lands Foundation seeks to secure nearly $20 million over the next four years to: Expand the National Conservation Lands by 4 million acres by leveraging the Antiquities Act to create new national monument designations. Build and invest in a dedicated, local constituency to be good stewards of and strong advocates for these places. Make conservation management a prime objective of the Bureau of Land Management for decades to come. Inventory and prioritize restoration needs on the National Conservation Lands and form new partnerships to restore wildlife habitat, improve trails and protect our cultural sites. Inform and inspire the public to be aware of these national treasures and act to safeguard them. King Range National Conservation Area, California

10 Protect & Expand To grow the National Conservation Lands significantly by 2016, we must urge President Obama to use the Antiquities Act, as well as defend the Act when it comes under attack. The Conservation Lands Foundation is leading a campaign to embolden the President to use the Antiquities Act to create new national monuments. In order to accomplish this goal, we are establishing and guiding place-based coalitions for national monuments that demonstrate organized local support the kind of support needed to gain the Administration s attention and action. There are many spectacular places and local people advocating for them crying out to be part of the National Conservation Lands. Gold Butte in southeastern Nevada, Teshekpuk Lake in Alaska s western Arctic and the Bodie Hills in California s eastern Sierra are just a few examples. The Conservation Lands Foundation will also strengthen our partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and our local partners on the ground in order to advance the agency s conservation mission. This will ensure that the National Conservation Lands are well managed and well funded long into the future. We face a crucial moment for this newest collection of protected lands. Still in its infancy, it can move forward with confidence, or it can stumble and fall backwards. Together we can shape the future of public lands in our country. Brian O Donnell, Executive Director, Conservation Lands Foundation 10

11 Patos Island Lighthouse, San Juan Islands, Washington Photo by Tom Reeve Snowy owl, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Photo by Florian Schulz, from To The Arctic Bodie Hills, California ANTIQUITIES ACT OF 1906 The conservation tool The Antiquities Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906, giving the President of the United States authority to sign executive orders setting aside significant cultural, scientific and natural resources on publicly owned lands as national monuments. This is the presidential tool that Theodore Roosevelt used to save the Grand Canyon, Franklin Roosevelt used to protect the Grand Tetons, and George W. Bush used to establish the largest marine sanctuary in the world. Bill Clinton notably designated 18 national monuments, including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument pillars of our National Conservation Lands. Cedar Mesa, Utah And yet, Congressional opponents of public lands have recently come within a handful of votes of eliminating the Antiquities Act. This would set back a century of conservation. The Conservation Lands Foundation is fully prepared to rapidly respond to continued attacks on the Antiquities Act and defend what is perhaps America s most important land conservation tool.

12 Working together to expand the National conservation lands In 2011, the Conservation Lands Foundation began working with local groups to help protect the public lands at Fort Ord, a former U.S. Army base in Monterey County, California. Kids exploring Fort Ord National Monument, California We developed direct lines of communication with the Department of Interior and the White House, organized meetings with government officials and secured letters of support from surrounding cities, the state and the Congressional delegation. We convened diverse groups of stakeholders elected officials, veterans, mountain bikers and other community groups to represent a unified voice for the protection of Fort Ord. On April 20, 2012, the President designated Fort Ord National Monument to honor the contributions and sacrifices of our military, while safeguarding some of our country s rarest wildlife and plants and providing world-class opportunities for recreation. The designation marked the first expansion of the National Conservation Lands since Congress made the system permanent in The Conservation Lands Foundation played an essential role in the victory at Fort Ord and their assistance is equally important to communities all over the West seeking similar goals." Henrietta Stern, President, FORT Friends 12 Fort Ord National Monument, California

13 J NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE-ALASKA 23 million acres ALASKA ANCHORAGE Alaska s Western arctic At 23 million acres, the National Petroleum Reserve -Alaska is the largest single block of publicly owned land in the United States. Located along Alaska s North Slope, this land is like nothing else on Earth; it contains extraordinary scenic diversity, vital fish and wildlife habitats and provides subsistence hunting and fishing grounds to indigenous peoples who call it home. It supports caribou, grizzly bears, wolves, arctic fox and wolverine. Millions of migratory birds rely on it, and an amazing array of rare plants thrive there. While much of the land is slated for oil and gas drilling, it must be balanced by permanent protections for its most important wildlife habitat. This is why the Conservation Lands Foundation has initiated a new program in Alaska s western Arctic. We have the leadership and expertise to shape the future of these lands and rivers, and we will focus on conservation gains that will stay with us generation after generation. Caribou and calf, Utukok Uplands, Alaska Photo by Florian Schulz, from To The Arctic

14 GOOD STEWARDS & STRONG ADVOCATES Build & EMPOWER Local Advocates The history of conservation in America has shown that long-term protection of our natural and cultural heritage hinges on the involvement of local citizens and communities. But while local advocates have incredible knowledge, ambition and credibility, they often lack financial resources and the ability to influence federal decisions about the places they cherish. The Conservation Lands Foundation builds and nurtures active, place-based groups and local leaders. By providing customized trainings and assistance in fundraising, media outreach, leadership development and more, we work hand in hand with our local partners and communities. In fact, many Conservation Lands Foundation staff began their own careers as passionate advocates for a scenic place. Over the next four years, the Conservation Lands Foundation will expand our reach among these groups from 45 to more than 60 active and effective local organizations. Not only will they advocate for their local lands, they will also work collectively to defend our larger national conservation accomplishments and heritage. Every one of our successes can be chalked up to the Conservation Lands Foundation s support from our improvements in our infrastructure, to building our volunteer program with the Bureau of Land Management, to building our membership and fundraising. The advice, strategies and tools provided by the Conservation Lands Foundation have been invaluable. Beth Kampschror, Executive Director, Friends of the Missouri Breaks National Monument 14 Arizona Cienega Watershed Partnership Empire Ranch Foundation Friends of Ironwood Forest Friends of Saddle Mountain Friends of the Agua Fria National Monument Friends of The Cliffs Friends of the Joshua Tree Forest Friends of the San Pedro River Friends of the Sonoran Desert National Monument Research Ranch Foundation California Amargosa Conservancy California Wilderness Coalition/ Wild Rivers Project Fort Ord Recreation Trails (FORT) Friends Friends of Carrizo Plain Friends of the Desert Mountains Friends of the Inyo Lost Coast Interpretive Association Mattole Restoration Council Mattole Salmon Group Mendocino Land Trust Sanctuary Forest Tuleyome Colorado Friends of Browns Canyon Colorado Canyons Association Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Dolores River Boating Advocates NFRIA-WSERC Conservation Center Florida Loxahatchee River Historical Society Montana Friends of the Missouri Breaks National Monument Pompeys Pillar Historical Association Nevada Friends of Black Rock/High Rock Friends of Gold Butte Friends of Nevada Wilderness Friends of Red Rock Canyon Friends of Sloan Canyon New Mexico Fort Stanton Cave Study Project Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Paleozoic Trackways Foundation Oregon Friends and Neighbors of Deschutes Canyon Area Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou Friends of John Day Basin Friends of Oregon Badlands Wilderness Soda Mountain Wilderness Council Utah Citizens for Dixie s Future Friends of Cedar Mesa Grand Staircase Escalante Partners Utah Diné Bikéyah Washington Islanders for the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area and growing...

15 The Conservation Lands Foundation provides technical and financial support to Utah Diné Bikéyah, an organization that represents Navajo interests in public land management Photo by John Wallin With training and resources from the Conservation Lands Foundation, the Dolores River Boating Advocates are working to secure protected status for the river and surrounding lands Photo by Kate Thompson Conservation Lands Foundation grantee After-School All-Stars Las Vegas spent a day exploring and enjoying the solitude of Gold Butte Photo by David Bobzien

16 Restore Our Heritage Along tributaries of the Colorado River, invasive plant species are choking native plants and degrading essential river habitat. Vandals spray paint prehistoric rock art in Red Rock Canyon. Even in the iconic Upper Missouri River Breaks, groves of fragile cottonwood trees face eradication. Volunteers plant native hedgehog cactus during a National Public Lands Day restoration project in Gold Butte, Nevada Photo by Kurt Kuznicki, Friends of Nevada Wilderness We can t let this happen. Over the next four years, we will create a comprehensive restoration program that: Identifies the most pressing restoration needs for the National Conservation Lands. Builds on valued partnerships with Veterans and Youth Conservation Corps to conduct 12 major restoration projects on National Conservation Lands in four states. Results in stronger partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management and hundreds more volunteers working to preserve these landscapes. Simply put, we will work to restore wetlands to improve water quality, fix trails, improve wildlife habitat, protect Native American and pioneer history, and more. Colorado River, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Colorado Restoration crew member removing barbed wire fencing, an impediment to pronghorn, sage grouse and other wildlife, Nevada Photo by Brian Beffort, Friends of Nevada Wilderness 16

17 Raise Awareness Virtually all Americans and countless people throughout the world have heard of, understand and celebrate our National Parks. We want the same to be said of our National Conservation Lands. But National Parks have been around for 100 years, while the National Conservation Lands were only created just over a decade ago. We have just begun to communicate the values and beauty of the National Conservation Lands to the American people and beyond. As the primary organization dedicated to growing awareness of the National Conservation Lands, we will work closely with the Bureau of Land Management to promote consistent agency-wide use of messaging, produce a series of Public Service Announcements, and generate local and national media stories about the National Conservation Lands and the people working to protect them. In the early years of the National Parks, John Muir learned a bitter lesson when Yosemite's beautiful Hetch Hetchy Valley was turned into a water reservoir. It was vulnerable to special-interest exploitation, he decided, because it was so little known. We can't let the new National Conservation Lands suffer the same fate. Dayton Duncan, Writer and Documentary Filmmaker and Conservation Lands Foundation Board Member Our outreach has resulted in articles featuring National Conservation Lands in Parade Magazine, National Geographic, Condé Naste Traveler, and more.

18 Invest in The future In order to ensure the Conservation Lands Foundation s long-term capacity, we must invest in our future. The Conservation Lands Foundation is building a one-year operating reserve to ensure our core programs, and the people who drive them, are well positioned to harness new and innovative conservation opportunities. When necessary, the budget reserve will also provide the resources needed to defend the conservation gains we worked so hard to attain. With the progress we have made in just five years, and the advances we will make over the next four, there has never been a more important time to ensure the Conservation Lands Foundation s fiscal health into the future. Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, Nevada Photo by Brian Beffort, Friends of Nevada Wilderness Campaign at a glance: $20 million Build & Empower Local Advocates 36% Protect & Expand 20% Invest in the Future 14% Fund Development 11% Restore our Heritage 11% Collared lizard Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, Colorado General & Admin 5% Raise Awareness 3% We are donors to the Conservation Lands Foundation because we know that our donation will have a magnifying effect, building the capability and capacity of organizations like ours around the country. Tom and Sally Reeve, Islanders for the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area 18 Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, New Mexico

19 Our Conservation Legacy Together we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of land conservation in the West. As our population expands, open and natural space becomes ever more rare. In this new century, with this new group of public lands still in its infancy, it is up to us to be its champions to conserve, protect and restore these ecologically significant and culturally rich lands. We have the chance to determine whether these lands will be protected and expanded for all Americans to experience the wild beauty, landmarks and legacies that have endured for generations. Help us seize the opportunity. This campaign represents our chance to shape a brand-new system of conservation, based on 21st century values and ideas. This opportunity will not be here for long and it is up to us to conserve these lands of extraordinary significance. Ed Norton, Conservation Lands Foundation Chairman and Campaign Chair

20 The mission of the Conservation Lands Foundation is to protect, restore and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy and partnerships. There is an extraordinary story just unfolding about these lands, and we invite you to help write that story and tell it for years to come. PO Box 618 Durango, CO T conservationlands.org FRONT COVER: Hole in the Wall, Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, Montana Design provided in-kind by L Studio, Sausalito, California BACK COVER: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada Photo by Ray Mathis