Stand Up For What You Stand On
From the towering peaks of the Rockies to the winding rivers of the Grand Canyon, America’s public lands have inspired millions. These landscapes have shaped the identity of the nation, offering a place for adventure, solace, and connection to the natural world. They are where generations have stood in awe, where families have created lifelong memories, and where wildlife has thrived in protected habitats. Our national parks, forests, and public lands are more than scenic backdrops—they are our home as a human race, and the very soul of our nation.
A history of resilience
But these lands have always been under attack. Since their creation, public lands have faced threats from development, exploitation, and those who see them only as commodities to be extracted. Yet time and time again, the American people have fought to protect them. The conservation movement has stood against logging interests, halted dam projects that would have flooded national parks, and stopped the privatization of lands meant for all. Despite relentless pressures, these lands have endured—because people cared enough to fight for them.
An Orchestrated Attack: The Trump Administration’s Assault on Public Lands
Today, the fight is more urgent than ever. The Trump administration has launched one of the most aggressive attacks on public lands in modern history. Protections are being dismantled, budgets are slashed, and oversight is being gutted—all in favor of resource exploitation. Below is a breakdown of what’s happening to key agencies responsible for managing our public lands:
The Department of the Interior (DOI): Selling Off Our Natural Heritage
The Department of the Interior, which oversees the vast majority of public lands, has been systematically weakened. Underfunding and staff cuts have crippled the agency’s ability to protect lands and enforce regulations. The incoming leadership has made it clear: conservation is not a priority. Instead, they are working to fast-track oil and gas leases, strip away environmental protections, and roll back decades of progress in land management.
The National Park Service (NPS): Starving the Parks We Love
Our national parks are suffering. Despite record-breaking visitation numbers, the Trump administration has repeatedly proposed cutting NPS funding. Deferred maintenance has skyrocketed, and essential park staff have been laid off. Meanwhile, new policies allow for increased commercialization, from private development inside parks to proposals for expanded hunting and drilling near park boundaries. Parks were created to be protected, not exploited.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS): Logging Before Conservation
The U.S. Forest Service is being pushed to prioritize resource extraction over sustainable management. Logging projects are being fast-tracked with minimal environmental review, and restrictions on road-building in pristine areas are being lifted. Instead of protecting America’s forests for future generations, the administration is treating them as a business opportunity for the timber industry.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): Gutting the Endangered Species Act
The Trump administration has actively weakened protections for endangered species. The Endangered Species Act, one of the most powerful conservation tools in history, is being rewritten to favor developers and industrial interests. Critical habitats are losing protection, and decisions about which species deserve conservation are being influenced by politics rather than science.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Public Lands for Private Profit
Perhaps no agency has been more dramatically reshaped than the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM, which oversees more than 245 million acres of public land, is now being run by officials with deep ties to the oil and gas industry. Lease sales for drilling and mining operations are being rushed through, often at bargain prices. Areas once designated for conservation are being sacrificed for short-term profits.
The Fight Ahead: A Steeper Hill to Climb
The next several years will be a defining moment for public lands. The attacks we are seeing now are only the beginning. If these policies are not reversed, the damage could be irreversible. Wilderness will be lost to roads and drilling, national parks will fall into disrepair, and species already on the brink could disappear forever. The fight to protect these lands will be harder than ever, but we must rise to meet it.
Conservation is Not Their Priority—But It Is for Most Americans
Polls show that over 80% of Americans support the protection of public lands and national parks. The people want these places preserved—not handed over to industry. I don’t want to be part of a generation that “saw the last of” America’s wild places. I want to be part of a generation that stood up, fought back, and protected the most important natural treasures we have. Because once they’re gone, we can’t get them back.
Now is the time to act. Now is the time to defend the wild.
Below you can find a special, limited-time gallery with some of my favorite photos from our beautiful public lands. All profits will be donated to organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and the Wilderness Society to help fund education, outreach, and important legal battles to protect public lands.