Greater Yellowstone Coalition: Our National Public Lands Are Not for Sale
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition today is calling on Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming U.S. Senators to stand up for treasured national public lands amid newly proposed legislation that mandates the sell-off of up to 3-million-acres across 11 western states.
“Public lands belong to all Americans and are vitally important to the communities of Greater Yellowstone and other iconic western landscapes,” said Greater Yellowstone Coalition Executive Director Scott Christensen. “Our national public lands are not a luxury, they’re our legacy. These are outdoor spaces that connect us to each other, fuel the economies of western states, and provide clean drinking water to millions of Americans downstream. Once these lands are sold off, they’re gone forever.”
Wednesday, Utah Senator and Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Mike Lee rolled out legislation that requires 2.2-3.3 million acres of public land across 11 western states to be sold off over the next five years. That’s larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. While Montana is not currently included in the proposal, Wyoming, Idaho, and nine other western states would see large swaths of forests and prized open space next to communities privatized and turned into subdivisions.
Montana’s Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy have repeatedly said they won’t support a public land sell-off. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition strongly encourages them to work with their colleagues to strip this unpopular and misguided provision from the budget bill. Senators representing Montana, Idaho and Wyoming must come together to protect and preserve the future of America’s public lands.
We encourage concerned citizens to call or email your Senators today and ask them to vote against this harmful proposal to sell public lands and instead stand up to protect our outdoor heritage and freedom to access America’s public lands.
BACKGROUND:
In Montana, public lands:
Sustain local communities through Montana's $3.4 billion outdoor recreation economy.
Provide nearly 31,000 jobs in the outdoor recreation economy.
Support the $500 million outfitter and guide industry.
Sustain a $4.6 billion agriculture economy, allowing Montana ranchers to graze their herds on public land.
Protect iconic wildlife species like elk, bison, bears and wolves that draw visitors to Montana and are part of what makes our state unique.
In Idaho, public lands:
Sustain local communities through Idaho’s $4 billion outdoor recreation economy.
Provide clean drinking water to Idahoans and millions of Americans downstream.
Sustain a $20 billion agriculture economy, allowing Idaho ranchers to graze their herds on public land.
In Wyoming, public lands:
Sustain local communities through Wyoming’s $2.2 billion outdoor recreation economy.
Provide clean drinking water to Wyomingites and millions of Americans downstream. Wyoming is home to the headwaters of the Missouri, Colorado, and Columbia systems.
Offer one-of-a-kind wildlife viewing opportunities along famed North American migration routes.
Sustain a $1.4 billion agriculture economy, allowing Wyoming ranchers to graze their herds on public land.
Are central to the state being one of the top energy-producing states in the country, with much of that below-ground and above-ground energy development relies on national public lands.