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Across the West, ranchers and farmers are increasingly turning to agreements with private land trusts and government agencies to protect their land from encroaching development. The Washington Post looks at the growing waiting lists of applications in states from New Mexico to Montana.
Conservation easements protect around five million acres in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado today. Research out of Colorado State University found every dollar spent in state conservation tax credits leads to a $12 return.
As scientists and policy leaders push for protecting at least 30 percent of American land and water by 2030, conservation partnerships like these will be an essential tool, but one that will require more funding. Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has enough money for just 30 percent of the applications it receives for its conservation easement program.
Coronavirus spreads at Interior
While the Interior Department refuses to publicly confirm the number of COVID-19 cases in employees across the country, internal data reviewed by Miranda Green at HuffPost show at least 40 DOI employees have tested positive and are considered contagious. The largest number came from the National Park Service, after Interior Secretary David Bernhardt resisted calls to close parks like Grand Canyon despite crowds of visitors not practicing social distancing. The actual number of infected employees may be higher—the internal tally showed 10 cases at NPS as of April 7, then 8 as of April 10. It's not clear whether those two employees recovered or died.
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The Secretary of Interior has outright refused and ignored the Park Service’s request in certain areas to close parks. He’s exposed all of these officers. Quite frankly, the Secretary of Interior has been sending a horrible message and going against what the administration is pushing [on social distancing]. It’s very counterproductive and frustrating that people aren’t on the same page.”
