Public Lands Committee

New for 2026/2027

You must be a One West member to serve on a committee.

Public lands are among the West’s greatest tourism assets—and among its least predictable. Decisions made by federal, state, tribal, and local land managers can shape access, capacity, visitor experience, and destination economies in ways communities and DMOs rarely control.

The Public Lands Committee brings together destinations and partners that depend on national parks, forests, BLM lands, and other public recreation areas to share stewardship strategies, track policy impacts, and strengthen relationships with the agencies that manage these treasured places. Members will exchange best practices, discuss emerging challenges, and explore the role DMOs can play in visitor management, sustainability, responsible tourism, and protecting these natural assets for future generations.

Focus Areas

• Policy shifts and funding decisions that change what visitors can access
• Visitor management, capacity limits, and reservation or permitting systems
• Partnerships with federal, state, tribal, and local land management agencies
• Stewardship messaging and responsible recreation campaigns that work
• Balancing visitor access, resource protection, and community expectations