But I do not agree with the idea that the solution is to sell off wide swathes of public land.<\/p>\n
Selling public lands en masse would cut off future generations from the beautiful lands we\u2019ve grown up with. It would take critical economic drivers away from rural communities. And it would break the promise that these lands belong to the American people, not just anyone with the money or connections to buy them.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not completely black and white, thankfully. In some cases, strategic land transfers make sense, and I support them when they serve the public well. The difference is intent. Strategic actions solve specific problems. Selling off public lands as a catchall response to mismanagement abandons the very values we\u2019re trying to protect.<\/p>\n
A good example is last year\u2019s transfer of 30 acres from the Bureau of Land Management to Mesa County to support economic development. That action, under legislation known as the CONVEY Act, was thoughtful and community driven. It\u2019s the kind of limited, locally supported land exchange I would be proud to support \u2013 not a blanket policy to off-load millions of acres to anyone who can pay for it.<\/p>\n
We also need to recognize the West is changing, and fast. Wildfires are more intense, droughts are longer and invasive species are harder to contain. Our land management practices need to evolve to meet the challenges that face our constituents. That includes empowering agencies to use modern tools, hiring more front line personnel and making smarter use of technology, all with accountability to the public.<\/p>\n
This is not a binary choice between keeping everything exactly as it is or selling everything off. We can protect access, improve stewardship and respect local voices, simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Instead of giving up on public lands, we should be focusing on how they\u2019re being managed \u2013 or mismanaged. We need to modernize the outdated systems, improve transparency on actions being taken and bring decision-making closer to the communities most affected. We need stronger collaboration with counties, ranchers and conservationists, not one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington, D.C. Simply put, the decisions for the public lands out West should be made out West.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m committed to working with anyone, from either party, who is serious about getting this right. Westerners understand what it really means to care for the land they live on and around. We live it every day. That\u2019s why the right path forward isn\u2019t to give up on public lands \u2013 it\u2019s to fight for smarter policies that keep them working for the people they serve.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s protect what makes the West special, fix what\u2019s not working and ensure our public lands stay in public hands. The American people share this land together, and it\u2019s imperative that as a governing body we work to maintain it together.<\/p>\n