Watch clips from this season of "This American Land"
With the election over and Congress reconvening to address unfinished business, Pew and its partners are working on 25 pieces of legislation that together would protect more than 4 million acres of public wild land across the country. These bipartisan wilderness bills, introduced by Democrats and Republicans alike, enjoy broad, local backing because they will safeguard stunning places such as Idaho’s Boulder-White Cloud Mountains, Ute Mountain and the Rio Grande Gorge in New Mexico, and Montana’s East Pioneer Mountains.
Support for preserving wild places begins in communities, often with years of work before federal legislation is introduced. Much effort goes into building diverse coalitions that work with lawmakers to sponsor legislation to preserve public land for future generations.
This year, Pew partnered with “This American Land,” a television series carried on public television stations nationwide that delves into important environmental issues, to showcase these local efforts—highlighting the special places and the people who are working to protect them. The second season began airing nationwide in August spotlighting wilderness in Tennessee, Colorado, California, and Nevada and continues throughout the fall.
Rio Grande del Norte, New Mexico
In northern New Mexico, the Rio Grande runs through a spectacular gorge formed by a rift in the Earth’s crust. Efforts are under way to protect about 235,000 acres north of Taos, including the iconic Ute Mountain.
Learn why local Hispanic farmers and ranchers support legislation, which will preserve traditional hunting, grazing, fishing and wood gathering, on this episode of “This American Land,” produced in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Montana Wilderness
In Montana, unlikely bedfellows have come together to craft a plan to protect nearly 700,000 acres of new wilderness.
After many years of gridlock and stalemate, see how local residents, loggers, sportsmen and conservation groups have put aside their differences in this episode of “This American Land,” produced in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Boulder-White Clouds, Idaho
The Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act would protect 330,000 acres of wilderness in central Idaho’s Boulder-White Clouds Mountains. Hear from local business owners, the mother of young twins and a wheelchair user about why keeping this area open and undeveloped is important to them in this episode of “This American Land,” produced in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Sonoran Desert, Arizona
A diverse coalition of stakeholders is working to make sure wildlife and ancient artifacts are protected in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.
You’ll see why a pastor, farmers, conservationists and even the U.S. Air Force all want wilderness designated near Phoenix in this episode of “This American Land,” produced in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts.
