The Landscape 2025 was awful for public lands. Is there hope?
Mar 3, 2026
Jim Pattiz, public-lands advocate and co-author of More Than Just Parks, walks through 2025’s sweeping setbacks to public lands. Conversation jumps from confirmation hearings and leaked Park Service reviews to fast-tracked mines, logging mandates, and mass personnel changes. They end on coalition-building, storytelling, and ideas for rebuilding governance and protections.
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Leaked Database Shows Widespread Censorship Flags
- A leaked 7GB Park Service database revealed hundreds of displays flagged for review under Burgum's censorship order.
- Aaron listed specific examples like the Emmett Till exhibit and an Arches sign flagged for not celebrating American grandeur.
Road Trip That Started More Than Just Parks
- Jim Pattiz described his first transformative road trip to the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest that sparked More Than Just Parks.
- He recalled the Painted Desert, empty vistas, and realizing there are countless lesser-known public lands worth protecting.
Firehose Of Actions Overwhelms Coverage
- Jim Pattiz said public engagement exploded because the administration's flurry of executive actions overwhelmed media coverage.
- He called the administration's constant stream of controversial actions intentional, designed to bury previous news.
