Healthy Public Lands Conference

The Healthy Public Lands Conference will take place May 28–30, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. This year’s theme, “Together for Tomorrow: Resisting Exploitation, Restoring the Landscape,” emphasizes the urgent need to address the exploitation of public lands while fostering collaborative efforts to restore and protect these vital ecosystems.

The conference provides an invaluable opportunity to explore the current state of public lands in the American West, delve into the laws, regulations, and policies shaping public lands management, and help craft a collective vision for stewardship that prioritizes healthy watersheds and ecosystems over livestock production.

The agenda features an engaging lineup of panels over the first two days, with topics including:

• Underrepresented Biota Affected by Grazing: Exploring the effects of grazing on underrepresented species and fostering connections to advocate for their protection.
• Vegetation Treatment and Native Plants: Challenging misconceptions about pinyon-juniper management and highlighting the legal and ecological importance of native vegetation.
• History of Grazing Management and Changing Agency Culture: Examining the history of grazing policies, the challenges of agency reform, and the need for grassroots action to create lasting impact.
• Misinformation and False Solutions in Range Management and Native Grassland Restoration: How to Find the Flaws and Work Towards Rewilding: Challenging false solutions, shifting baselines, and myths in range management while exploring science-based paths to restoration.
• Wild Horses, Livestock, and Rangeland Health Issues: Analyzing BLM data and messaging to compare the ecological roles of wild horses, cattle, and sheep, and recommending strategies for healthier rangelands.
• Who owns the federal public lands?: Exploring Native American claims as a tool to counter state takeovers, the history of Utah’s efforts, and strategies to challenge current overreach.

On the third day, attendees can participate in a hands-on field trip to a public lands grazing allotment. This experiential learning opportunity will cover:

• Techniques for assessing the health of public lands under active grazing.
• Methods for reporting findings to the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service.
• Strategies for meaningful participation in federal land management decision-making.

A virtual attendance option will also be provided, ensuring accessibility for those unable to attend in person.

Registration is now open! Conference sponsors want this event to be available to everyone and are offering sliding scale registration rates.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, 383 South South University Street, Salt Lake City, United States