Page 1 - SDWF Out of Doors

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Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation VOLUME 63, NUMBER 2
PUBLIC LANDS RULE WOULD BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND SPORTING TRADITIONS
Inside this issue:
Page 2 Noem taking wrong position on Bureau of Land Management - By Brad Johnson

As a sportsman who enjoys that future generations
President Column Habitat & aCCess getting out on public lands could continue to work and
Page 3 and waters, I was heartened recreate on these lands
exeCutive direCtor Column when the U.S. Bureau of Land indefinitely.
Management recently released a
save tHe date sdWF Convention The new rule directs the
Page 4-5 proposed Public Lands Rule that agency to identify and
dangerous animals enCroaCHing elevates conservation as one of prioritize landscapes in
the multiple uses on federal land.
on sd neigHborHoods need of restoration by
Page 6-7 Not surprising, however, was working with tribal partners,
CrP dWindling Congress seeks South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s state and local agencies,
reForms decision to fly off to Washington, conservation groups and
Page 8 D.C., to testify Thursday against other stakeholders. It

29-90 sPortsman Club donation the proposal, followed quickly by requires management
an East Coast fundraiser.
practices to ensure that
FisH PoPulation - severe Winterkill the restoration work is
Page 9 Our state is a small player in Bear Butte, as seen in 2020 from a vantage point within the U.S. Bureau improving the health of
this issue, which has greater
suPreme Court Wetlands deCision importance in other western of Land Management’s Fort Meade Recreation Area near Sturgis. public lands and waters.
(Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)
Page 10 states. BLM manages 274,000 The bureau’s Public Lands
surface acres in South Dakota, about a half percent of the Rule is a common-sense, long-overdue proposal that all of us
59tH YoutH Conservation CamP
state’s 49.5 million acres. who love public lands should embrace.
Page 11 Noem’s testimony before the Committee on Natural Resources The rule is not intended to stop development on public lands. It
national WildliFe will be in support of a House resolution requiring BLM to simply more broadly applies to the land health standards and
Federation Farm bill FlY-in abandon the “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule. objectives the grazing community has had to follow.
Page 12 In a press release, Noem said the “proposed rule will result The rule proposes an innovative plan to offer conservation

sdWF raFFle 2023 in poorly managed federal lands, which will devastate leases that leverages private investment in restoring public
conservation and management efforts, harm our wildlife, lands. This allows the BLM to partner with Indigenous leaders,
slow economic growth and endanger public safety.” conservation groups, energy developers and others to improve
Nothing could be further from the truth. the health of wildlife habitat.
What the proposed rule actually does is manage the land in a Conservation leasing could also be used as an important
balanced way, so we all benefit. BLM’s mission has been to tool for compensatory mitigation. For example, if an energy
“sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands company wanted to compensate for development in one area,
for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.” it could buy conservation leases in a separate area in need of
Unfortunately, for far too long, the BLM’s emphasis has been restoration.
on “productivity” instead of “health.” The bureau’s Public Lands Rule is a common-sense, long-
Over the past few years, cheatgrass increasingly has choked overdue proposal that all of us who love public lands should
embrace. This doesn’t alter the BLM’s “multiple use” mission
out native species, development has fragmented wildlife and won’t stop energy development, mining, grazing or timber
migration corridors, and our lands and communities are put harvests.
at risk by wildfires.
All of this threatens the health of our state’s fish and wildlife It encourages more responsible development so the land can
thrive well into the future. It also provides more opportunity for
populations — as well as our economic health. Last year, tribal and local communities to have more input into the way
hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife-viewing contributed their public lands are managed.
Barcoded Flats The newly-proposed BLM rule makes conservation an equal The benefits of such a policy are numerous, and unfortunately
$1.3 billion to South Dakota’s economy. If our wildlife
populations dwindle, that has a direct negative impact on our
Gov. Noem is making it a partisan, political soundbite.
economic fortunes.
Not only will wildlife habitat be restored, but it will also reduce
wildfire risks, help control the spread of invasive species,
use on public lands — on par with energy development,
grazing, timber harvests or recreation. Its aim is to improve
hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation.
and maintain the health of the lands and ecosystems so they improve livestock forage and enhance opportunities for
can adapt and thrive. South Dakotans love our wildlife and sporting heritage. We
It is what Congress envisioned when it passed the Federal believe in restoring and safeguarding the lands and waters
Lands Planning and Management Act that directed the agency that are critical for future generations to enjoy hunting, fishing,
to develop lands in a thoughtful, responsible way to ensure camping and hiking.