Public Lands

Thunder Mountain in Sedona by John Sheffield, Ranger Trail, Kanab Creek Wilderness by Cindy Stafford, Havasu Creek by Taylor McKinnon, Saguaro National Park by Ricardo Small

(Top left to right) Thunder Mountain in Sedona by John Sheffield, Ranger Trail, Kanab Creek Wilderness by Cindy Stafford, Havasu Creek by Taylor McKinnon, (Bottom left) Saguaro National Park by Ricardo Small.

When people think about their favorite places in Arizona, some of our public lands are sure to be at the top of their lists. Arizona is blessed with approximately 30.5 million acres of federal public lands, from Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in the north to Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in the south, from the Blue Range Primitive Area in the east to the Trigo Mountains Wilderness in the west. These special areas include a variety of landscapes, plants, geology, archaeology, and history, as well as unique wildlife habitat and outstanding recreational opportunities.

Our Goals

  • Protect our public lands from increasing demands, including development, recreational pressures, and extractive uses
  • Ensure that forests are properly managed to protect remaining old growth habitat and to restore natural processes
  • Protect large areas of and connectivity between undeveloped public lands in order to ensure resilient habitat for native plants and wildlife
  • Limit impacts of mining, stop the most destructive mines, and reform outdated mining laws

Current News/Take Action!

BLM Again Greenlights Harmful Grazing in SPRNCA

December 21, 2022
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, the BLM once again quietly released its decision to authorize harmful livestock grazing in the protected San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA). Conservation groups see this...as contrary to the BLM’s mandate...

New BLM Guidance to Protect Wildlife in AZ

November 16, 2022
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued new guidance to land managers today prioritizing wildlife conservation and connectivity on the agency’s 245 million acres across the west... [click thru for 2-page PDF]

Grand Canyon Protection Act Considered in Senate

July 21, 2022
Senate Committee Marks Up Grand Canyon Protection Act -- Arizonans Support Protecting 1 Million Acres Near Canyon from Mining -- Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered and offered amendments on the Grand Canyon...

Senate Committee Considers Grand Canyon Protection Act

June 7, 2022
Arizonans Urge Senate to Protect 1 Million Acres Near Canyon from Mining -- A Senate subcommittee held a hearing today on the Grand Canyon Protection Act -- an important step toward passage of legislation that will protect about 1 million acres of...