Public Lands Foundation

The Public Lands Foundation (PLF) is a national  membership organization that advocates and works to keep public lands in public hands. The public lands that we focus on are those that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

PLF was founded in 1987 and is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. PLF endorses and embraces the multiple use mission of the BLM.

Most of our members spent their careers managing these public lands located throughout the West. Collectively, we have extensive years of personal knowledge of these lands and unparalleled expertise in their management.

PLF is an independent organization and is not  part of the BLM. Membership is open to current, former and retired BLM employees and all who have an interest in how public lands are used and managed.

Activities

The PLF:

• Works closely with the BLM on issues and opportunities.
• Publishes our quarterly newsletter, the Public Lands Monitor and maintains a presence on social media to keep members and the public informed on newsworthy matters and PLF activities.
• Holds its Annual Meeting in September in a Western State. Registration is open to the public.
• Supports and participates in National Public Lands Day events held annually in September.
• Holds a biennial Student Congress on Public Policy for Land Management.
• Awards scholarships to deserving college students.
• Communicates our positions and recommendations on public lands issues through meetings, letters, testimony, and position statements.
• Collaborates with partnering organizations on policy matters and issues.
• Recognizes outstanding BLM employees, organizations and PLF member achievements through awards.
• Publishes a register of BLM retirees.
• Maintains the PLF archives, a collection of BLM and personally donated memorabilia.
• Honors BLM employees who have passed away on our Memorial Wall.
• Conducts and participates periodically in special events.

Mission

The PLF’s mission is to advocate and work for the retention of America’s Public Lands in public hands, professionally and sustainably managed for responsible common use and enjoyment.

Goals

We aim to…

• Keep the public lands in public ownership and open to responsible use.
• Support multiple use management of these lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
• Support the long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of units of the National Landscape Conservation System, as distinctly unique among the public lands managed by the BLM.
• Inform the BLM of concerns about the way that BLM lands are being managed and recommend changes.
• Encourage professionalism by BLM employees and recognize achievements of professionals and stakeholders.
• Increase the public’s understanding of, and support for, the proper management of the public lands.
• Encourage contact, communication and coordination among users of BLM-managed lands and interest groups.
• Facilitate contact and communication among BLM retirees.
• Retain records of BLM’s history and its employees.