The Landscape

Betsy Gaines Quammen, an author specializing in extremism in the West, joins the discussion to share insights from her two books. She delves into the intersection of public lands and extremist ideologies, notably through the lens of the Bundy family's influence. The conversation includes the complex history of Native American injustices and ongoing battles over land use. Betsy also addresses the rise of extremism in small communities and the social ramifications of affluence in these regions, emphasizing the need for dialogue and resilience.

A team of reporters investigates the impact of lithium mining on Western water supply, highlighting Nevada's water sourcing challenges. They uncover misleading water use measurements by mining firms and advocate for federal guidelines to protect communities and ecosystems. The podcast also discusses the significance of investigative journalism and positive water conservation news in Arizona.

Kate and Aaron are joined by pollsters Lori Weigel and Dave Metz to discuss the 14th Annual Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West poll. The poll surveys voters in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado on their environmental views. This year, it found support for conservation […] The post What Western voters want in 2024 appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron are joined by Justin Meuse, Director of Government Relations for Climate and Energy at the Wilderness Society, to talk about a proposal from the Bureau of Land Management to prioritize around 22 million acres of public land for utility scale solar development across the West. They discuss why planning matters, how much […] The post More solar on public lands? Digging into BLM’s plan appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Uranium mining has resumed in the U.S. after 8 years, impacting the Grand Canyon. Topics discussed include uranium mining operations, government subsidies, legal battles near the Grand Canyon, risks to the environment and tribal communities, and the complexities of the uranium boom on the Colorado Plateau.

Kate and Aaron are joined by I Ling Thompson, CEO of The Foundation for America’s Public Lands. The Foundation is the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management. Its job is to engage with local communities and the public on behalf of the agency. Thompson discusses the challenges the BLM faces and how […] The post Inside the Foundation for America’s Public Lands appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Exploring private land conservation through conservation easements with Colorado Open Lands. Topics include uranium mining, Natural Asset Companies as opponents, and Native tribes reclaiming their land. Discussing the importance of private lands in the national conservation effort of protecting 30% of land and water by 2030.

Jennifer Rokala, the Executive Director of the Center for Western Priorities, joins the hosts to recap significant conservation efforts in 2023. They discuss the ban on logging in the Tongass National Forest and the Biden administration's protective measures for Bristol Bay and Minnesota's Wilderness. Community advocacy shines through with a public meeting for the proposed Bajnaav Show Ita Kukveni monument. They also tackle the urgency of finalizing public land rules for 2024 and the growing momentum for new national monument campaigns.

Kate and Aaron are joined by Dr. Dominick DellaSala, Chief Scientist at Wild Heritage, a project of the Earth Island Institute. We had Dr. DellaSala on the Landscape back in June to talk about the Biden administration’s efforts to protect old growth forests. At the time, the U.S. Forest Service had just released data that […] The post Behind the headlines: old growth logging ban appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.

Kate and Aaron are joined by Rachel Morgan, author of Sins of the Shovel: Looting, Murder, and the Evolution of American Archaeology. Rachel is an archaeologist based near Washington, DC, and her book, which was published last month, is largely focused on the Southwest. She gives a detailed account of the Wetherill family, which settled […] The post Sins of the shovel: How archaeology evolved from pot hunting to science appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.