The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed to rescind the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, a regulation that had been issued as a final rule on May 9, 2024. The proposal aimed to remove provisions regarding ecosystem resilience, restoration leases, and land health standards.
According to the proposed rule published on September 11, 2025, the BLM determined that the 2024 Rule was unnecessary and violated existing statutory requirements. The agency stated that the rule undermined the management of public lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), specifically regarding the principles of multiple use and sustained yield.
The BLM noted that the leasing provisions within the 2024 Rule threatened to upset the balance required for managing public land. The agency argued that identifying conservation as a productive use for leases and permits was contrary to its mandate, as conservation is not considered a use under the statute. Furthermore, the agency expressed concerns that restoration and mitigation leases could preclude other uses such as grazing, mining, and energy development.
Regarding Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACE
Cs), the BLM proposed restoring regulations to their previous form. The agency stated that the 2024 Rule unlawfully expanded the scope of management for these areas and allowed for temporary management without the usual required procedures, which could interfere with productive land use.
The proposed rescission also targeted land health regulations that the BLM claimed imposed fixed or rapid timetables, potentially interfering with authorized uses of public lands. The agency indicated that the 2024 Rule added unnecessary burdens to decision-making and invited third-party litigation.
A deadline for comments on the proposal was set for November 10, 2025.
