About

The Healthy Public Lands Conference will take place May 28–30, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme, “Together for Tomorrow: Resisting Exploitation, Restoring the Landscape,” emphasizes the urgent need to address the exploitation of public lands while fostering collaborative efforts to restore and protect these vital ecosystems.

The conference provides an invaluable opportunity to explore the current state of public lands in the American West, delve into the laws, regulations, and policies shaping public lands management, and help craft a collective vision for stewardship that prioritizes healthy watersheds and ecosystems over livestock production.

The Healthy Public Lands Conference will take place at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, located at 383 South University Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84112. This state-of-the-art facility provides an inspiring and sustainable setting, ideal for fostering dialogue and collaboration on the critical issues facing our public lands.

For your convenience, we’ve compiled information on nearby lodging options to ensure a comfortable and seamless stay during the event. Whether you prefer accommodations within walking distance or a short drive from the venue, you’ll find a variety of choices to suit your needs.

We look forward to welcoming you to Salt Lake City and this important gathering dedicated to the stewardship of our public lands!

 

Agenda

The agenda features an engaging lineup of panels over the first two days, with topics including:

  • Imagining the Ideal: Enduring projects and success stories of landscapes restored from the removal of livestock grazing.

  • Underrepresented Biota Affected by Grazing: Exploring the effects of grazing on underrepresented species and fostering connections to advocate for their protection.

  • Vegetation Treatment and Native Plants: Challenging misconceptions about pinyon-juniper management and highlighting the legal and ecological importance of native vegetation.

  • History of Grazing Management and Changing Agency Culture: Examining the history of grazing policies, the challenges of agency reform, and the need for grassroots action to create lasting impact.

  • Misinformation and False Solutions in Range Management and Native Grassland Restoration: How to Find the Flaws and Work Towards Rewilding: Challenging false solutions, shifting baselines, and myths in range management while exploring science-based paths to restoration.

  • Wild Horses, Livestock, and Rangeland Health Issues: Analyzing BLM data and messaging to compare the ecological roles of wild horses, cattle, and sheep, and recommending strategies for healthier rangelands.

  • Who owns the federal public lands?: Exploring Native American claims as a tool to counter state takeovers, the history of Utah’s efforts, and strategies to challenge current overreach.

On the third day, attendees can participate in a hands-on field trip to a public lands grazing allotment. This experiential learning opportunity will cover:

  • Techniques for assessing the health of public lands under active grazing.

  • Methods for reporting findings to the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service.

  • Strategies for meaningful participation in federal land management decision-making.

Keynote speakers and panelists will be announced here—stay tuned for updates!

Become an HPLC Sponsor!

Join us in making the Healthy Public Lands Conference a success while showcasing your support for the stewardship of our shared landscapes. As a sponsor, your contribution will directly help offset conference costs and amplify our collective impact.