LAS VEGAS, NV — The Department of the Interior has issued a new Secretarial Order (3442) that undermines the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), jeopardizing the nation’s investments in conservation and access to outdoor recreation on Thursday, Sept. 4.
For decades, LWCF has delivered more than $175 million into acquiring and improving Nevada’s most cherished places, from Red Rock Canyon and Lake Tahoe to local community parks. Protecting these lands fuels the state’s outdoor recreation economy and improves the quality of life for residents. But this new order would both restrict the ability to make new investments while also opening the door to privatizing public lands in direct contradiction of the program’s goals.
“The LWCF is a bipartisan commitment to protect our landscapes, expand access to the outdoors, and invest in communities that depend on recreation and conservation,” said Kristee Watson, Executive Director of the Nevada Conservation League. “This order undermines the program by adding red tape to block or stall conservation projects, while advancing the extreme agenda of Trump and Secretary Burgum to sell off America’s public lands. Nevadans overwhelmingly support protecting these places, and we cannot afford to roll back decades of progress in opening and protecting access to the great outdoors.”
The Nevada Conservation League urges the administration to reverse course and immediately rescind Secretarial Order 3442 and protect the integrity of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition put out this statement.
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The Nevada Conservation League is the independent voice of Nevada’s conservation community. NCL works to maintain and enhance the natural character of Nevada and the quality of life for Nevadans through effective advocacy, the election of pro-conservation candidates, and building collaboration.