DOI Finalized Rule to Guide BLM’s Management of Public Lands

DOI finalized its Public Lands Rule to guide the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) management of public lands and prioritize protecting intact landscapes, restoring degraded habitat, and making science-informed decisions. The rule also revised existing regulations to better designate and protect Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and requires meaningful consultation with Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations on relevant issues, including the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge. The rule also directs BLM to “identify opportunities for co-stewardship” as an “overarching objective” especially when managing intact landscapes, restoring public lands, or managing for ecosystem resilience.