Dear friend, did you know that almost one-third of the United States is public land? It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Park Service (NPS), and the United States Forest Service (USFS) – but it provides benefits to every American.

This Earth Month, we need to talk about the urgent threats to national monuments and federally managed lands, whether they're across the country or in your own backyard. The Trump administration is pushing to open up more public lands to dangerous oil and gas drilling, which could destroy vital habitats and cultural sites. Iconic places like Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah are already at risk of losing their protections—and that's just the beginning.

But it's not just the largest, best-known wildlands under threat. Urban parks that you and your community rely on are also in danger: places like Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Stonewall National Monument in New York could have funding slashed and protections stripped. The administration's efforts will have lasting effects on the places we visit for recreation, education, and solace.

• Defend parks and monuments across the country from dangerous mining, oil and gas drilling that threatens their ecosystems and cultural significance.


• Protect unique habitats, such as the coastal wetlands of Biscayne National Park and the rugged landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park.


• Support park rangers who work tirelessly to preserve these spaces and offer educational and recreational opportunities to the public.

We're already taking action through legal challenges against harmful budget cuts, corporate-driven policies like offshore drilling, and NPS, USFS, and BLM layoffs. We can take them to court, but we need your support to continue this fight and win.

With a $100,000 matching fund in place, every dollar you donate today will be doubled. Your contribution will help ensure our local parks remain safe from exploitation, preserving their beauty for generations to come.

Thank you for standing with us to protect parks and public lands.

Dan Ritzman
Director, Conservation Campaign
Sierra Club