A Stark Moment for Public Lands

The nomination of Steve Pearce for BLM Director and the urgent need for Congressional defense

An ongoing series, produced by CNPS Conservation and Public Affairs staff

Federal public lands—places like our national monuments, parks, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management areas—are under threat as never before. And by now, this probably isn’t news for our readers. Over the last year, the federal Administration and its Congressional allies have issued one attack after another aimed at weakening environmental protections and repurposing public lands for energy and natural resource extraction.  

In recent months, we’ve discussed the mass layoffs of federal workers, the attempted sell-off of public lands, and proposals to repeal or gut foundational environmental rules. Each of these are part of an ongoing, coordinated plan to privatize the public lands we cherish. The good news is that with your help–and in partnership with Tribes, elected officials, local businesses, and organizations across the state–we’ve successfully defended many of our hard-won protections. Yet the fight must continue as we face troubling, new developments. That’s why we’re asking for your help in the days and weeks ahead.

Please read on for the latest updates and why CNPS is prioritizing public lands protection in 2026. 

A time for action 

This week, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee conducted its confirmation hearing for President Trump’s nominee to lead the BLM, former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce. Pearce, a businessman who has made his living providing equipment for the oil and mining industry, has spoken publicly against the idea of public lands, and has a concerning track record on public lands: 

• In 2017, as Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Western Caucus, Pearce publicly backed an effort to revise or reduce monument designations under President Trump’s Executive Order 13792, characterizing California national monuments as “federal land grabs.”

• In the same package from the Western Caucus, Pearce and colleagues recommended shrinking one of California’s most remarkable wildflower habitats, Carrizo Plain National Monument.

• In 2016, Pearce co-sponsored the HEARD Act, authorizing the Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to dispose of national public lands through sale or exchange to local governments. 

CNPS is part of a diverse coalition calling attention to this week’s confirmation hearing. Public lands have broad, bipartisan support. Attempts to weaken or privatize public lands protection goes against the desires of most Americans, who overwhelmingly support the protection of public lands and have consistently rejected attempts to sell them off. Polling shows that at least 70% of people living in the Western United States want Washington to do more to protect public lands. Given the BLM’s jurisdiction over 245 million acres, the confirmation of someone with Steve Pearce’s history would appear to betray those sentiments. 

Steve Pearce’s hearing and potential confirmation creates an important opportunity to reach out to your Congressional representatives, both Republican and Democrat. 

As we await a Senate vote following Wednesday’s hearing, there’s still time to contact your senators and representatives. While House representatives won’t be voting on Pearce, they are key to the ongoing defense of public lands.  

• Tell them you are deeply concerned by Pearce’s nomination and are counting on their leadership to defend public lands. 
• Those calling Senator Padilla also may want to thank him for his comments and questions during the hearing.  

Why CNPS is fighting for public lands 

Public lands protection is one of the most impactful ways to protect native plants and habitats at scale. These lands make up a vast portion of California, especially federal lands which account for approximately 45% of the state. Of those, 15% (15,000,000 acres) of the state is managed by the BLM. This 15% of our state is home to roughly 40% of the 2,400 rare plant species tracked in the California Natural Diversity Database. These lands also represent areas that, for the most part, are open and available for the public to enjoy and study our state’s incredible biodiversity. Many of our iconic rare species have huge portions of their occurrences on BLM managed land, including: 

• Nearly 50% of the occurrences of the state and federally endangered California jewel flower (Caulanthus californicus), known from the eastern slopes of the Central Coast Ranges, including the Carrizo Plain. 

• Nearly 75% of the state endangered red mountain buckwheat (Eriogonum kelloggii) found in northern Mendocino County. 

• All 28 known occurrences of the Inyo Rock Daisy (Laphamia (Perityle) inyoensis) from Conglomerate Mesa in the Eastern Sierras of Inyo County. 

As a community of native plant advocates, we know just how much is at stake for California’s exceptional biodiversity and native flora when public lands are jeopardized. We also know that the fight is far from over, but we remain stubbornly hopeful.  When we use our collective voice, it makes a difference. That is why this is such a critical moment to stay informed and engaged. 

You really can make a difference 

Steve Pearce’s hearing and potential confirmation creates an important opportunity to reach out to your Congressional representatives, both Republican and Democrat. 

• Congressional margins are narrow, and leaders from both parties need to hear from their constituents. There are good people on both sides of the aisle that care about public lands in California.  

• It’s up to each of us to hold our Congressional delegation accountable. Take a few minutes to learn about your representatives’ recent voting records on public lands and let them know what you think. For example: How did they vote on House Resolution 141? The recent resolution, which nullified protections against mining near Minnesota’s famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, is an indicator of what could happen nationwide without better defense in Congress. So too is the alarming and unconventional use of the Congressional Review Act now underway to overturn a national monument management plan in Utah. 

• Tell your representatives about your personal connections to public lands in your Congressional district.  

• Emphasize the scientific, cultural, economic, and quality-of-life considerations tied to public lands in your area. 

• Leave comments on your representatives’ Instagram and Facebook pages. Participate in online discourse and let people know why you want public lands protection. 

Thank you for being part of our native plant movement. Together, we can defend and increase protections for the native plants and habitats we cherish. Stay tuned for more updates and action alerts as we head into spring.