The Nevada Wilderness Project, at the request of the Bureau of Land Management, recently pulled together a public forum on conservation planning in Nevada.

The June 30 meeting was a veritable “Who’s Who” of conservation organizations, and included local groups like the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife and the national Mule Deer Foundation and Trout Unlimited. The BLM, which administers over 60 percent of Nevada’s land surface, was looking for input from hunting, fishing, conservation, wilderness and other outdoor advocacy organizations.

Deputy Director for Resources Raúl Morales led the Forum with assistance by BLM staff Joe Tague and Sandra Brewer, each providing very informative presentations to the assembled group.

Public lands comprise a large portion of Nevada’s surface area.  These are managed under the ‘multiple-use concept’ set forth under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). This act guides federal land management agencies in the appropriate utilization of the public resources contained within those lands.  In Nevada, specific uses most commonly identified with our federal lands include minerals exploration & extraction, livestock grazing, recreation, energy production and transmission, cultural resource protection and wildlife conservation.

Nevada’s diverse wildlife and vegetation occupy two major ecological zones – the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert. Many of the species that comprise these zones require special management emphasis, perhaps because of their rarity or possibly because of threats that could impact their population status.  Other species are common and are of great interest to sportsmen, wildlife viewers and the scientific community.  The fate of all of these plants and animals relies upon wise use of America’s public lands.  The BLM strives to assure that these are appropriately addressed within its planning processes.  The Forum’s intent was to assemble persons or groups with similar interests and concerns to help guide BLM in this endeavor.

NWP will compile notes in preparation of an informal ‘proceedings’ document to share within the conservation community.  Readers are encouraged to contact us if they wish to receive a copy.