Whitebark pine is a threatened species of conifer that grows primarily in three states and western Canada. Foresters and researchers have been working for years to deal with pests like the mountain pine beetle, and diseases like white pine blister rust. Emily Guiberson has worked on saving and restoring Whitebark pines most of her career in southwest Montana. Now the lead Forester for BLM's Montana/Dakotas State Office, we talk with her about recent investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

There are thousands of acres of publicly owned lands in the United States that are not available for recreation; in many cases, there are no roads or trails to get to those areas. In addition, some areas near public lands are inaccessible because of private ownership. In 2019, Congress passed the Dingell Act of 2019 to fix the problem, directing the BLM and other Federal agencies to ask the public for its help to identify government owned or managed lands that should be opened to recreational use. After each round of public nominations, the BLM submits a Priority Access List to Congress, which makes the decision on which projects should receive funding to open the areas to recreation. The BLM's outreach under the Dingell Act will continue every two years until 2030.

In Southwest Idaho, BLM works with multiple partners and landowners to manage and grow strong, intact sagebrush ecosystems. Sometimes this requires removing western juniper to make the sagebrush habitat stronger, improving it for Greater sage-grouse. David Howell interviews Lance Okeson, a Supervisory Fire Management Specialist in this episode.

In this episode, David Howell interviews Bart Kicklighter, BLM's State Fire Management Officer for the Eastern States Office. Kicklighter began his career studying the red-cockaded woodpecker, and many years later managed a prescribed fire at Lathrop Bayou in the Florida Panhandle. He hopes that the prescribed fire will help this small population and other species that live in the Bayou.

Near Medford, Oregon, Rose Hanrahan is a fish biologist working on coho salmon recovery. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act is helping to accelerate projects aimed at improving stream health, making the kinds of rivers and streams that fish like to navigate.

David Howell interviews Maya Fuller, BLM's national lead for Inflation Reduction Act Youth Initiatives, and four BLM employees putting youth to work in the field.

In southwest New Mexico, the Bureau of Land Management is restoring an area to both protect people from dangerous mine shafts, and to improve the habitat for endangered species. In this episode, we interview Chris Teske, a BLM Physical Scientist in New Mexico who is heading the cleanup of more than 300 mine features. 

David Howell interviews Amy Fesnock, BLM's Manager for the Cosumnes River Preserve. BLM is investing funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act at Cosumnes.

Animas City Mountain Rx burn is a project under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Colorado.