Name: Red Rock at Risk: Conservation Law and Protecting Utah’s Public Lands
Start: 2024-11-06T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-11-06T13:00:00-05:00
Location: University of Michigan

$Red Rock at Risk: Conservation Law and Protecting Utah\u2019s Public Lands$

Join us to see how the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act preserves Utah's red rock wilderness—ground zero in public land protection.
About this Event

***Room location to be determined***

Join us for an engaging presentation on the critical role of legislation in preserving public lands, focusing on the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA) and the ongoing efforts to protect Utah’s red rock wilderness—an area considered ground zero in the fight to safeguard public lands. From habitat destruction to climate change and resource extraction, the threats facing these lands are urgent and ever-growing.
This session will highlight how environmental issues know no borders. What happens in Utah, particularly concerning bad legislation, could easily set a precedent that impacts places like Michigan and beyond. We’ll discuss how laws like ARRWA aim to prevent harmful legislation and what role legal tools like travel management plans play in balancing recreation with conservation.
We are also joined by Laura Peterson, Staff Attorney at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), who will share her experience working on the frontlines of these conservation efforts. Laura will discuss her role in wilderness advocacy, what drives her passion for this work, and the challenges and rewards of protecting public lands.

Key Discussion Points:

The America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA): How this legislation seeks to protect over 8 million acres of Utah’s wilderness and its significance beyond state borders.
Environmental Challenges with National Impact: Why what happens in Utah matters for states like Michigan, and how bad legislation can spread.
Travel Management Plans: Legal frameworks used to regulate land use and protect vulnerable areas.
Laura Peterson’s Role at SUWA: Insights from a conservation lawyer on the complexities of protecting public lands.
How Law Students Can Engage: Opportunities to get involved in public lands law and help shape the future of environmental protection.

This presentation will provide valuable insights for law students eager to deepen their understanding of environmental law, public policy, and the far-reaching impact of conservation legislation on public lands nationwide.