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Western Resource Advocates: Biden’s Executive Order to Protect 30% of Federal Lands and Waters by 2030 Will Help Empower States to Act

Western Resource Advocates today celebrated President Joe Biden’s executive order to conserve 30% of federal lands and waters by 2030 and noted the national directive will help empower states to take further action. Scientists have shown that this goal is a crucial step to help avoid massive losses in biodiversity and address the climate crisis.

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Western Resource Advocates today celebrated President Joe Biden’s executive order to conserve 30% of federal lands and waters by 2030 and noted the national directive will help empower states to take further action.

Scientists have shown that this goal is a crucial step to help avoid massive losses in biodiversity and address the climate crisis. Known as the “Global Nature Deal” and championed by elected leaders, ecologists, and conservation organizations across the West, this is an initial step toward the objective of protecting half and lands, waters, and oceans by 2050.

“President Biden’s executive order to conserve 30% of national public lands is a huge step that will help preserve biodiversity and avoid the worst effects of climate change,” said Jon Goldin-Dubois, president of Western Resource Advocates. “Landscapes and wildlife habitat don’t stop at our state lines, and this executive order will empower states and enable greater coordination to create the truly regional protections we need. By setting important management agencies on an official path to protect 30% of national public lands and waters by 2030, this order will help increase federal and state collaboration and spur creative solutions that will be essential to reaching these targets. Conserving land also helps to continue to build the outdoor economy so important to Western states, ensure better wildfire management, and protect the outdoor way of life for diverse cultures in the West.”

Earlier this year, Western Resource Advocates and Conservation Colorado published a report showing how Colorado specifically can achieve the goal of protecting and connecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. While Western states are well positioned to lead the nation in this effort, there is still a long way to go. Levels of land and water protection in Western states range from as much as 15% in Nevada to as low as 6% in New Mexico.

To learn more about how WRA is working with states across the Intermountain West to make this goal a reality, visit our website: https://westernresourceadvocates.org/lands/30×30/

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