Published: Aug. 27, 2024

The Getches-Wilkinson Center, American Indian Law Program and Colorado Environmental Law Journal are pleased to present the 2024 Martz Symposium on Public Lands.

The Future of Public Lands – People, Place, and Power

Public lands across the United States provide us with clean water, energy and food production, world-class recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and many other important values. Indigenous peoples have deep ties to the land informed by their traditional ecological knowledge. And public lands drive economic opportunities and job creation for rural communities. For all these reasons, the American public broadly supports the protection and sustainable use of public lands, yet they are facing unprecedented threats from resource degradation, climate change, the demands of multiple uses, and challenges in agency funding levels.

The 2024 Martz Symposium will take a deep dive into these rapid changes that are unfolding in real time and how they impact our relationship to the land. The Conference will consider the latest developments and proposed reforms to the laws and policies that govern our management of public lands, including a look at those laws that are standing in the way of progress and others that have helped to pave the way for innovation. And the Conference will convene a diverse and inclusive set of stakeholders, policymakers, academics, and advocates to share ideas on how best we can steward and care for America’s public lands for current and future generations.

Fri, October 4 - Saturday, October 5, 2024
8am-4:30pm

Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom
Breakfast, Snack and Lunch provided daily
Attendee reception provided on Fri, Oct 4

12 General Colorado CLE credits are available for this event.

Early Bird Rates until Sun, September 15th.
Registration Closes end of business day Wed, Oct 2nd.

Conference Agenda: (subject to change)

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Friday, October 4, 2024

8:00 am – 8:45 amÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Breakfast and Networking
8:45 am – 9:00 amÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00 am – 10:15 amÌýÌýÌý BLM’s 2024 Public Lands Rule – Conservation and the Multiple Use Framework
10:15 am – 10:45 amÌý Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pmÌý The Future of Oil and Gas on America’s Public Lands
12:00 pm – 1:00 pmÌýÌýÌý Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:15 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Renewable Energy Development and the Protection of Cultural and Natural Resources
2:15 pm – 2:45 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Break
2:45 pm – 4:15 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Debating the Future of the Antiquities Act
4:15 pm – 6:00 pm ÌýÌýÌýÌý Reception

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Saturday, October 5, 2024

8:15 am – 8:45 am ÌýÌýÌýÌý Breakfast and Networking
8:45 am - 9:00 amÌýÌýÌý Welcome back and morning announcements
9:00 am – 10:15 amÌýÌýÌý Evolutions in Tribal Co-Stewardship
10:15 am – 10:45 amÌý Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pmÌý Mining Reform and the Development of Critical Minerals
12:00 pm – 1:00 pmÌýÌýÌý Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:15 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Forests, Wildfire, and the Protection of Old-Growth in the Era of Climate Change
2:15 pm – 2:45 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Break
2:45 pm – 4:00 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Permitting Reform on Public Lands – The Delicate Balance Between Energy, Equity, and the Environment
4:00 pmÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Adjourn

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Conference Speakers: (subject to change)

S. James Anaya, University Distinguished Professor and Nicholas Doman Professor of International Law, University of Colorado Law School
Tommy Beaudreau, Partner, WilmerHale
Bret Birdsong, Professor of Law, University of Nevada School of Law
Matthew Campbell, Deputy Director, Native American Rights Fund
Nada Culver, Principal Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management
Dr. Steven Feldgus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Alison Flint, Senior Legal Director, The Wilderness Society
Michael Freeman, Senior Attorney, Earthjustice
Frank Garrison, Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
Pat Gonzalez-Rogers, Executive Fellow and Lecturer, Yale School of the Environment
Peter Gower, Climate and Renewable Energy Program Director for the Western U.S. and Canada Divisions, The Nature Conservancy
Mary Greene, Senior Counsel, American Clean Power
Bill Imbergamo, Executive Director, Federal Forest Resource Coalition
Cort Jensen, Chief Attorney, Montana Department of Agriculture
Sarah Matsumoto, Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Environmental Law Clinic, University of Colorado Law School
Tom McDonald, Vice-Chair of Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Heidi McIntosh, Managing Attorney, Rocky Mountain Regional Office, Earthjustice
Scott Miller, Senior Regional Director, The Wilderness Society
Monte Mills, Charles I. Stone Professor of Law, University of Washington School of Law
Jamie Pleune, Research Associate Professor, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
Justin Pidot, Professor of Law, University of Arizona School of Law
John Ruple, Research Professor of Law, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
Taylor Schad, Policy Advisory on Forest Service and Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Howard M. Shanker, Attorney General, Tohono O’odham Nation
Kathleen Sgamma, President, Western Energy Alliance
Mark Squillace, Raphael J. Moses Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law School
Pilar Thomas, Partner, Quarles & Brady
Chase Velasquez, Attorney, Rothstein Donatelli LLP
Chris Winter, Executive Director, Getches-Wilkinson Center, University of Colorado Law School
Sandra B. Zellmer, Professor, Univeristy of Montana School of Law

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Hotel Information

GWC has a hotel room block at the Residence Inn Canyon Blvd in Boulder from Wed, October 3 - Sat, October 6. . The room block is available on a first come, first serve basis and is valid until September 13th or until all rooms are filled.

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Conference Partnerships

We’re now accepting conference partners at all levels. For more info please email annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu.
Learn more about our partnerships here.

Thank you to our Conference Partners!

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