Land

The Outback—the cathedral of Australia—is crumbling. So says pastoralist Michael Clinch, a veteran stockman whose family has been living and working on the land for four generations. A century of neglect has left much of the Outback, which covers more than 70 percent of the continent, wilting under stresses that include invasive species and wildfires. Hope for the area’s... Read More

In 1965, many counties in Alabama still used literacy tests, intimidation, and other techniques to prevent African-Americans from registering to vote. In Dallas County, only 2 percent of African-Americans were on voter rolls, and in the county next to it—Lowndes—none were registered. Civil rights activists, seeking to call attention to this injustice, initiated nonviolent protests in... Read More

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the federal program that helps residents, business owners, and communities recover from flooding, may be getting some help from Congress. After months of discussion, the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee on Wednesday passed legislation to reauthorize and improve the NFIP, which is $25 billion in debt. And, while those deliberations... Read More

Advocates led by small-business owners seeking to preserve an economic juggernaut brought the fight to save America’s national monuments to the front lines June 7. Some three dozen people from 15 states traveled to Washington to tell their elected representatives that the country’s monuments do much more than provide space for those seeking outdoor recreation and solitude: They also... Read More

Southern Nevada is known as a mecca for those seeking bright lights and big-city entertainment. Nowhere does “big” quite like Las Vegas. But drive an hour or two north, and “big” takes on a completely different meaning. With the designation of two nearby national monuments, the region is increasingly being seen as a top destination for visitors seeking outdoor recreation,... Read More

The Outback—the cathedral of Australia—is crumbling. So says pastoralist Michael Clinch, a veteran stockman whose family has been living and working on the land for four generations. A century of neglect has left much of the Outback, which covers more than 70 percent of the continent, wilting under stresses that include invasive species and wildfires. Hope for the area’s... Read More

In 1965, many counties in Alabama still used literacy tests, intimidation, and other techniques to prevent African-Americans from registering to vote. In Dallas County, only 2 percent of African-Americans were on voter rolls, and in the county next to it—Lowndes—none were registered. Civil rights activists, seeking to call attention to this injustice, initiated nonviolent protests in... Read More

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the federal program that helps residents, business owners, and communities recover from flooding, may be getting some help from Congress. After months of discussion, the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee on Wednesday passed legislation to reauthorize and improve the NFIP, which is $25 billion in debt. And, while those deliberations... Read More

Advocates led by small-business owners seeking to preserve an economic juggernaut brought the fight to save America’s national monuments to the front lines June 7. Some three dozen people from 15 states traveled to Washington to tell their elected representatives that the country’s monuments do much more than provide space for those seeking outdoor recreation and solitude: They also... Read More

Southern Nevada is known as a mecca for those seeking bright lights and big-city entertainment. Nowhere does “big” quite like Las Vegas. But drive an hour or two north, and “big” takes on a completely different meaning. With the designation of two nearby national monuments, the region is increasingly being seen as a top destination for visitors seeking outdoor recreation,... Read More

The Pew Charitable Trusts hosted a May 23 discussion on the challenges facing our country’s infrastructure and approaches to safeguarding it from the effects of severe weather. It centered on ways the Trump administration and Congress can help the United States withstand natural disasters by modernizing infrastructure through smart policy, solid funding, and incorporation of nature-based... Read More

The Pew Charitable Trusts called for "an open and transparent process" as President Donald Trump signed an executive order today directing the Department of the Interior to review national monuments designated since 1996 and to suggest changes or modifications to the monument proclamations. Read More

The Pew Charitable Trusts commended U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) for introducing  legislation today that would dedicate annual funding to address deferred maintenance at more than 400 National Park sites. Read More

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today released its final four Records of Decision for management of public land in Alaska’s Eastern Interior. These plans and a final Environmental Impact Statement will guide the agency’s management of some of Alaska’s most remote and pristine public land for the next two decades. Significantly, this marks the first time that the Eastern... Read More

As a new president and Congress prepare to assume leadership in Washington, they should start their work with a unifying issue: fixing America's national parks. Read More

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston, South Carolina. The natural disaster claimed a dozen lives and caused more than $10 billion in recovery costs. At the time, it was the most destructive and expensive hurricane on record. The city was devastated, but then-Mayor Joseph Riley vowed not just to rebuild, but to rebuild better. His plan included a storm water management plan using underground... Read More

America’s National Park System spans more than 400 sites and received more than 331 million visits in 2016. Supported by a complex infrastructure—including roads, sewer systems, buildings, restrooms, and trails—the park system is beginning its second century in need of rejuvenation. Read More

America’s national parks are more popular than ever, but they’re facing serious challenges. Aging infrastructure and decades of underfunding have resulted in a backlog of maintenance repairs that is estimated at nearly $12 billion. Read More

The Mojave Trails area—one of several proposed California desert national monuments—is perfectly positioned to serve as a wildlife corridor between the local marine base, the Mojave Preserve area, and Joshua Tree National Park. Read More

For hundreds of years, Valentine’s Day has been a time to show people you care about how much you love them.  Read More