House Opens Door for Transfer of Federal Lands: Will Trump Play Ball?

January 14, 2017

As the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) prepares to combat potential horse slaughter and budget changes that could strip wild horses and burros of federal protection, a larger issue looms in Congress. The future of ourpublic landsis at stake. Recently, Congress passed legislation that could facilitate the transfer of federal lands to states, tribes, and even businesses. The question remains: will the new Trump Administration, including Interior Secretary nominee Ryan Zinke, support this move?

The transfer ofpublic landsto states could spell the end for wild horses in states like Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. It would be disastrous for efforts to conserve other wildlife species and protect these lands for future generations. Fortunately, there is an unexpected but powerful ally in this fight—hunting and fishing groups that wish to preserve these lands for recreational purposes. We hope these groups will influence Rep. Zinke, a hunter himself, and President-Elect Trump, whose sons are also hunters.

Despite diverse interests, it's time to form a broad coalition to defeat the forces in Congress aiming to dismantle America'spublic landslegacy.

Read the full article from McClatchy News.