What We Do - BLM Program Information

Public Lands are a part of America's heritage.  Public domain lands are defined as lands that have never been in private ownership.  When lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were transferred to Federal administration early in the nineteenth century, the Federal government assumed responsibility for the protection of and use of public domain lands. Hundreds of laws and regulations were enacted to transfer ownership of these lands to homesteaders and other private parties during the westward expansion.  In the 1930's and 1940's however, the emphasis began to change from disposal to retention of public lands.  Since that time, concepts for controlled management of the remaining public land (about 20 percent of the land area of the United States) have gradually evolved.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was established in 1946 by combining the General Land Office with the U.S. Grazing Service.  BLM was given responsibility for the management of over 470 million acres of public land located primarily in the West and Alaska.  The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 provides for broad management authority under principles of multiple use and sustained yield.  The Bureau's responsibility for multiple use involves balancing the development of diverse resources, both renewable and non-renewable.  Sustained yield involves coordinating the management of these resources so environmental quality and the productivity of the land are not permanently impaired.  Managing vast and varied resources under this mandate is a complex undertaking, particularly since the priorities set for one management activity may conflict with the priorities set for another.

Wild Horse & Burro Management

Federal law provides for the protection, management, and control of wild horses and burros on public lands.  BLM's goal is to provide uniform and effective management of these animals and to establish a natural ecological balance to benefit wild horses and burros and other users.

Minerals Management

Public lands are managed in a manner which recognizes the nation's need for domestic sources of both minerals and energy resources.  BLM's policy is to foster and encourage development of these domestic resources under principles of balanced multiple-use management

Range Management

BLM administers livestock grazing on approximately 175 million acres of public rangeland in the west.  Program objectives are to improve rangeland conditions through proper grazing management and the development of range improvements to meet those needs.

Recreation Management

Recreation on public lands encompasses a broad spectrum of activities.  Camping, hiking, whitewater rafting, landsailing, rock climbing, interpretive tours and organized competitive off-road races such as the Mint 400 and Frontier 500 are a few of the recreation activities managed by BLM for the protection of resource values.

Cultural Resource Management

The BLM manages prehistoric and historic cultural resources on public lands.  Cultural resources are inventoried and evaluated so their scientific, cultural and religious values can be protected and preserved for present and future generations.

Fire Management and Forestry

Fire, when properly controlled, is used to improve wildlife habitat, range condition, timber production, and minimize wildfire hazard. Wildfire destroys tens of thousands of acres of public land each year and costs millions of dollars to suppress and rehabilitate the devastated resources.

Wildlife Management

Habitat on public lands is managed by BLM to protect or improve it for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife through coordinated resource and habitat management programs. BLM works closely with state wildlife agencies, which are responsible for resident populations, to improve wildlife numbers.

Soil, Water and Air Management

All activities on public lands are managed to prevent soil erosion, degradation of water quality standards for surface and subsurface water, and air pollution.  BLM's multiple resource management practices are designed to minimize soil, water and air resource damage and rehabilitate damaged areas.  The Red Rock Canyon Acid Rain Station, managed by the Las Vegas Field Office is part of a national monitoring program in which BLM participates.

Lands and Realty

Bureau Realty Specialists process numerous sales, rights-of-way applications and leases on public lands for utility corridors, communication sites, parks and other public purposes.  Millions of dollars have been raised, through the sale of public lands in the Las Vegas valley (Southern Nevada), to acquire environmentally sensitive lands at Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada).

Wilderness Management

BLM identifies public lands possessing wilderness characteristics of large size, naturalness and outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation.   Areas where wilderness is determined to be the best use of the land are nominated for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System and managed to preserve their wilderness qualities.

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