Nevada is a beautiful state that off ers endless panoramic vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see, and countless experiences and opportunities for those seeking unique outdoor adventures. Endowed with approximately 48 million acres of nationally signifi cant resources, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada has many special designations which are part of the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), also referred to as BLM's "National Conservation Lands".

The national Conservation Lands mission is to conserve, protect, and restore these nationally significant landscapes recognized for their outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values. In 2007, BLM Colorado worked with partners to create a statewide National Landscape Conservation System Strategic Plan, which focused primarily on the national monument and national conservation areas.

In 2000, under the Clinton Administration, a new national land conservation system was created by order of the Secretary of the Interior, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was given the honor of managing this new system of public lands. Codified into Federal law in the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act enacted by President Barack Obama, it is officially called the National Landscape Conservation System and includes a wide range of special areas, called National Conservation Lands, on the BLM administered public lands throughout the country, mostly in the West.

The 15-year strategy summarized here will direct the course of the Bureau of Land Managements (BLMs) National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS). Americas newest system of conservation lands was created in June 2000 to conserve, protect, and restore special areas and unique resources. Prized for their cultural, ecological, scientific, educational, wildlife, and aesthetic values, NLCS sites play critical roles in conservation efforts.--Page 1.

The 15-year strategy summarized here will direct the course of the Bureau of Land Managements (BLMs) National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS). Americas newest system of conservation lands was created in June 2000 to conserve, protect, and restore special areas and unique resources. Prized for their cultural, ecological, scientific, educational, wildlife, and aesthetic values, NLCS sites play critical roles in conservation efforts.--Page 1.

The Montana/Dakotas National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) Strategy will implement the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System 15-Year Strategy 2010-2025 for designated public lands in Montana and the Dakotas over the next four years. It will also provide a starting point for discussion with partners, stakeholders, and members of the public on how they can support the management of these special places.

On September 18th, 1996, President Bill Clinton stood on the south rim of the Grand Canyon and issued Presidential Proclamation No. 6920 creating the 1.7 million acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. Unlike past monuments created under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906, President Clinton's Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt encouraged the President to leave management of the new National Monument within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) instead of the National Park Service. President Clinton used the Antiquities Act to create thirteen additional BLM-managed National Monuments and oversaw the creation of five BLM-managed National Conservation Areas created as legislative alternatives to National Monuments. In 2000, Secretary Interior Babbitt consolidated these and other BLM-managed protected areas into the National Landscape Conservation System (Conservation System). This thesis uses information gathered from document reviews, case studies, and interviews to explore the question, "How have BLM-managed National Monuments altered the focus of the conflict over the role of protected landscapes within multiple use management of BLM lands?" The creation of BLM-managed National Monuments changed the historical debate over the role of protected landscapes within multiple use management in four important ways. First, the debate became more localized and exposed BLM managers to a new, more sophisticated constituency. Second, the debate changed from a fight over whether these areas should be protected to a fight over how protected these areas should be given BLM's multiple use management mission. Third, the debate splintered into fights over specific definitions and resource decisions. Finally, the BLM's land use planning process allowed warring factions in the debate to channel their energy into administrative processes and allow a common vision for the management of the Monuments to begin to coalesce. The thesis concludes with a discussion of steps policy makers can take to ensure the Conservation System and its units become fully integrated into BLM's broader multiple use mission.