Conservation System Facts and History
The Conservation system: basic composition
The Bureau of Land Management has changed significantly since it was first created in 1946. It has steadily embraced multiple uses and increasingly emphasized conservation and recreation priorities. The creation of the Conservation System exemplifies the larger transformation of the Agency itself:
What Types of Land are Part of the Conservation System
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- 15 National Monuments
- 161 Wilderness Areas
- 604 Wilderness Study Areas
- 38 Wild and Scenic Rivers
- 10 National Historic Trails
- 3 National Scenic Trails
- Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area
- Headwaters Forest Reserve
- Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
- 17 National Conservation Areas
The Unique Mission of the Conservation System
The Conservation System’s mission within the BLM is “to conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes of outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for present and future generations of Americans.”
The Conservation System is distinguished by:
- An emphasis on large tracts of protected lands, rather than isolated “islands” of protected lands
- Minimal infrastructure like parking lots and concessionaires so as to allow for a wild, self directed visitor experience
- An emphasis on conserving traditional lifestyles like ranching and Native American subsistence activities
- Wild, lonely and beautiful trails
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