The Biden administration has introduced a new rule to prioritize conservation alongside other uses such as grazing, energy development, and mining on the nation’s public lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This rule aims to restore degraded lands and counterbalance environmental damage, which has been exacerbated by climate change effects like wildfires and drought. It specifies that new leases will be granted only to qualified groups and excludes foreign entities to address national security concerns. Critics, including industry groups and political opponents, argue that the rule could hinder economic activities and are likely to challenge it legally. Conservation groups, however, have welcomed the rule, seeing it as a crucial step toward sustainable management and protection of public lands for future generations.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/climate/blm-public-lands-conservation.html