TGBTU 22: Why Public Lands Need YOU | Nicole and Adam, Outdoor Alliance

Public lands belong to all of us, but protecting them takes more than simply caring about them. It takes people willing to speak up. In this episode of *The Ground Between Us*, Eli talks with Adam Kramer, founding executive director and CEO of Outdoor Alliance, and Nicole Brown, Outdoor Alliance's communications and public engagement manager, about public lands, the roadless rule, and why advocacy can still make a difference. Outdoor Alliance brings together outdoor recreation communities from across the country, including climbers, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Adam and Nicole explain how that coalition works and why bringing different communities together can create a stronger voice for public lands and waters. **Subjects covered include:** - Adam and Nicole's personal paths into the outdoors - How Outdoor Alliance was formed - Bringing climbing, biking, skiing, paddling, and other communities together - Why public lands are a public trust - Public lands as places of recreation, stewardship, and democracy - The recent push to sell millions of acres of public land - The public response to those proposals - What the Roadless Rule actually does - Why roadless areas matter for habitat, recreation, clean water, and clean air - The debate over roads and wildfire management - The history of the Mining Law of 1872 - The Legacy Restoration Fund and repairing existing infrastructure - Access for people with disabilities - Why public comments and contacting elected officials can matter - The importance of local organizing - How people can get involved in public-land advocacy The conversation ultimately comes back to a simple idea: **public lands are only truly public when people participate in the decisions that shape them.** **These issues were not discussed in this episode. I'm including them because they are current public-land policy developments that I want listeners to be aware of and active on.** **Roadless Areas:** The Forest Service has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The proposal would return more management decision-making for inventoried roadless areas to local Forest Service officials. The public comment deadline is **September 21, 2026**. If roadless public lands matter to you, read the proposal and submit a thoughtful public comment. The Forest Service says timely comments will be considered in developing the final rule. Read the Roadless Area Conservation proposal and submit a comment **National Forest Travel Management:** The Forest Service has also proposed changes to its travel-management regulations for National Forest System lands. If you care about public access, roads, recreation, and national forest management, read the proposal and consider submitting a public comment. Read the Travel Management proposal and submit a comment These proposals are separate from the conversation with Adam and Nicole, but they're part of the larger ongoing conversation about how America's public lands are managed. **Stay informed, participate in the public process, and make your voice heard.** Remember y'all, we're all standing on the same ground. Current Public Land Issues