NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREAS AND SIMILAR DESIGNATIONS
The BLM’s National Conservation Lands include National Conservation Areas and Similar Designations. Congress designates National Conservation Areas (NCAs) and similarly designated lands to conserve, protect, enhance, and manage the public lands for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The BLM’s National Conservation Lands include 16 NCAs and five similarly designated lands in 10 states. These lands offer exceptional scientific, cultural, ecological, historical, and recreational value. They differ in landscape and size, varying from the coastal beauty of California's 18-acre Piedras Blancas Light Station Outstanding Natural Area to the rugged desert vistas of Nevada's 1.2 million-acre Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA.
Congress also designates other areas similar to NCAs under three categories: Cooperative Management and Protection Areas, Outstanding Natural Areas, and Forest Reserves. These public lands are managed similarly to NCAs and also offer exceptional natural and cultural values.
Browse BLM's National Conservation Lands and Similar Designations by state or region.
Alaska
Arizona
ARIZONA NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREAS
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Bureau of Land Management's National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), better known as the National Conservation Lands, in 2000. The mission of the National Conservation Lands is to "conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes for their outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations.
California
CALIFORNIA NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREAS AND SIMILAR DESIGNATIONS
A rugged coastal range adjacent to the Pacific Ocean became the Nation’s very first National Conservation Area. Designated in 1970, the King Range National Conservation Area encompasses 68,000-acres along 35-miles of California’s dramatic north coast.
King Range National Conservation Area
Colorado
COLORADO NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREAS
BLM Colorado manages three NCAs on Colorado's western slope: Dominguez-Escalante, Gunnison Gorge and McInnis Canyons. BLM Colorado manages these NCAs to protect their historic, scientific, wilderness and recreation values for future generations.
Featured National Conservation Area: McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
Eastern States
EASTERN STATES SIMILARLY DESIGNATED AREAS
The National Conservation Lands are a system of special areas and sites under the BLM’s care that are known and preserved for their exceptional values. All have been established either by an Act of Congress or by Presidential Proclamation. These lands include wilderness areas, national monuments, wild and scenic rivers, national scenic and historic trails, and national conservation areas and similarly designated areas.
Idaho
Nevada
New Mexico
NEW MEXICO NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREAS
BLM-New Mexico manages two national conservation areas (NCA): the 231,230 acre El Malpais NCA (80 miles west of Albuquerque), and the 25,080 acre Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave NCA (west of Lincoln).
NCAs feature exceptional natural, recreational, cultural, wildlife, aquatic, archaeological, paleontological, historical, educational, and/or scientific resources. Each NCA is designated for unique purposes and consequently, each NCA is managed in unique ways.
Oregon-Washington
Utah
Related Content:
PHOTO COLLECTION
View our National Conservation Areas and Similar Designations photo collection on @mypubliclands Flickr.