EP 70. Public Lands Are Not for Sale: A Conversation with Land Tawney

In this powerful episode of The Sustainable Angler, we're diving deep into a topic close to my heart: America’s public lands. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to spend countless days camping, hiking, and fly fishing on these wild, beautiful landscapes. Public lands connect us with nature, fuel our $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy, and offer a spiritual refuge that’s becoming increasingly rare. But right now, they’re under serious threat.

Some lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, are proposing to sell off our public lands to balance the federal budget, putting our shared natural heritage—and the communities that depend on it—at risk.

To unpack this critical issue, I’m joined by Land Tawney, longtime conservation leader, public lands advocate, and leader behind American Hunters and Anglers Action Network. We talk about how Land got into conservation, the spiritual and economic value of public lands, their role in protecting clean air and water, and why they must remain in public hands. We also explore the history of the American conservation movement, the mounting threats to public lands today, and how you can make your voice heard.

Land also shares the Top 5 most effective ways to make your voice heard with lawmakers, based on his 25 years in conservation:

1. Have a 1-on-1 conversation and tell your story.
2. Call your Senators and elected officials and tell them to keep public lands in public hands.
3. Comment and message your elected officials on social media with that same message.
4. Send an email, especially using easy tools and petitions from groups like Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
5. Talk to your friends and family—your voice carries more power than you think.

Side note: If you are a brand that wants to support keeping public lands in public hands, I highly recommend joining Brands for Public Lands, an initiative from The Conservation Alliance that currently has 60+ members, including Patagonia, Meat Eater, and Emerger Strategies. Sign sign up to join Brands for Public Lands. 

This episode is a call to action. If you care about wild places, clean water, healthy communities, or just love spending time outdoors—you don’t want to miss it.

To listen to previous episodes of The Sustainable Angler, visit emergerstrategies.com/podcast, and if you like what you’re hearing, an absolutely free way to show your support is by leaving it a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Sustainable Angler is available anywhere you listen to podcasts, and also airing Saturday’s at 2 PM on Charleston's first and only community supported radio station, Ohm Radio, 96.3 FM.

This episode of The Sustainable Angler podcast is brought to you by Emerger Strategies, and A New Earth Project - The Sustainability Initiative of Atlantic Packaging.