Did you know that one-third of the nation – more than 700 million acres – is held as public land, owned by all citizens? These lands – our national forests, parks, wildlife refuges, monuments, wilderness areas, and rangelands – are a uniquely American legacy. Wildlife need big spaces, and people enjoy them too, spending billions of dollars in wildlife viewing activities. The National Wildlife Federation works to protect public lands in these areas: Endangered species: We press federal agencies to enforce the Endangered Species Act. Rangeland health: We work for healthy livestock grazing. Energy development: We work for sustainable energy development policies. Public ownership of public lands: We make sure the public really owns this land, not industry, and fight efforts to reduce public involvement.

The National Wildlife Federation has been working in the Yellowstone ecosystem since 2002 on a program to retire livestock grazing allotments that experience chronic conflict with wildlife, especially grizzly bears and wolves. Ranchers receive fair payment for retiring their allotments, and typically use these funds to secure grazing in locations without wildlife conflicts. Learn more on our Wildlife Conflict Resolution microsite.

Call on Congress to Oppose New Drilling on Public Lands

We need your help to call on Congress to stay strong and protect our public lands during these challenging times.

The oil and gas industry spent an all-time high of $84 million to push its agenda to Congress last year, according to a report by the Center for Responsive Politics. But with our last wild places and treasured wildlife on the line, we need to make sure that this is one battle they won't win.

We need Congress to help reduce our dependency on oil by enacting federal legislation that promotes clean, alternative energy and reduces global warming pollution.

Urge your representative and senators to oppose legislation that would open up more of our public lands to drilling and further America's dependence on fossil fuels.

• Private Use of Public Lands? - New industry strategies for gaining control of natural resources on the nation's public lands worry conservationists.

• Untamed Lands at the End of the Road - 2004 marked the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, which has helped ensure that roadless lands survive as a legacy for future generations.