Native nations have come out against Senate permitting reform.
U.S. Forest Service
Posted inNovember 2026: Altered Landscapes
‘Real fence is bullshit’
Can virtual fencing transform ranching in the region?
Posted inArticles
A top Trump appointee was ordered to remove an unauthorized cabin from the Sawtooths. Two years later, it’s still there.
The Forest Service, which Michael Boren now oversees, appears to have abandoned any further enforcement action.
Posted inArticles
Permitting reform would de-fang bedrock environmental laws
Proposed bipartisan legislation would eviscerate laws meant to prevent irreversible environmental destruction.
Posted inArticles
AI gets people into trouble in the backcountry
ChatGPT and other chatbots are the latest new technology to lead to wilderness rescues.
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Watersheds near Río Frijoles bear the brunt of wildfire
In the aftermath of drought, wildfire and floods in northern New Mexico, residents who rely on a centuries-old irrigation system are concerned about water quality.
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The Forest Service is poised to hand off one of the West’s most visited landscapes
Critics say this is a test case for privatizing public lands.
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Wyoming chooses public lands at the ballot box
Voters finally felt the threat to public lands had reached a critical point, observers say.
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Ranch manager tied to top Trump appointee started 5,600-acre Idaho wildfire
A state investigation shines light on the unpermitted fire, which cost nearly $950,000 to contain.
Posted inAugust 2026: The Conversations Issue
Why I talk to animals
The creatures in our midst may have answers to life’s vexing questions.
Posted inArticles
A ban on chainsaws in wilderness is performative, not practical
An experienced trail crew leader argues that, in today’s forests, the rigidity of the regulation buries what it’s designed to protect.
Posted inArticles
The conflict over permanent climbing anchors in wilderness
Climbers concerned about safety are pitted against wilderness advocates worried about overcrowding and unfettered bolting.
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On Mount Shasta, a photographic record outlasts living memory
The re-photo project maps what used to be.
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Will betting on wildfires lead to arson?
Fire survivors say using prediction markets to gamble on wildfire is “morally reprehensible.”
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Sen. Mike Lee targets the Roadless Rule
The Utah senator launched another unpopular assault on public lands.
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Interior delayed endangered wolf release in New Mexico
Karen Budd-Falen, Interior’s associate deputy secretary, former private attorney and grazing advocate, intervened in the release after meeting with former clients.
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Do chainsaws belong in designated wilderness?
The Forest Service has approved the tools for use in some protected areas to clear neglected trails.
Posted inJune 2026: River Revival
On Oregon’s McKenzie River, an unprecedented approach to restoration takes shape
A bold process aims to repair the damaged watershed.
Posted inArticles
Making grazing great again?
The Trump administration looks to preserve ranching heritage, but it’s not clear it will work.
Posted inArticles
Treat water like family, not profit
Federal and state approaches to managing the Colorado River – as well as land and wildlife – reflect a lack of experience.