Jim Peña

As employees of federal land agencies in Oregon, we are entrusted by Congress with the responsibility to help steward and manage federal lands for all Americans. This is a tremendous honor and responsibility we take seriously.

And we can’t do it alone.

As public lands belong to all Americans, managing these lands is a collective effort. It is a privilege to work alongside local communities, partners and the public to help achieve the long-term health, productivity and protection of public lands.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, and across the country, our best work is accomplished by working with diverse partners and stakeholders — ranchers, environmentalists, sportsmen, local communities, schools and private industries.

Though our agencies have different missions, we share a common goal of managing public lands in a cooperative manner with you, the people who own them.

The future management of public lands requires cooperation over confrontation. In Oregon and across the West, there are countless examples of collaborative groups working together to achieve positive results.

One recent shining example was the work accomplished across agencies, states, counties and ownership lines to create and implement land-use plans that avoided a listing of the sage-grouse as endangered.

Managing public lands is sometimes challenging. There are a variety of uses, interests and opinions on how these lands should be managed, and finding balance is not without challenges.

That is why it is crucial that we listen to each other, find common ground and work together to find common-sense solutions. Individually and collectively, we are committed to these principles of listening, talking and working together to achieve the greatest good. We strive for these things in good faith every day.

Public lands belong to all Americans — they are yours to enjoy and participate in their management. That’s one of the reasons public lands are so special.

We look forward to continuing our work with local citizens, communities and partners to manage public lands so we can ensure the special places we love can meet the needs of today and remain available for future generations to enjoy.

Jamie Connell is the acting State Director, Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington. Jim Peña is the Regional Forester for the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region.