Colorado Opposition 30 By 30 Public Land Plan
The resolution argues that the implementation of the 30 by 30 program could drive up the costs of land ownership and diminish the value of land due to increased regulations on its use. Additionally, it stresses that more stringent conservation measures could hinder various industries that rely on public lands, such as agriculture and mining, which are vital to the state's economic health. The potential withdrawal of land from productive use is seen as detrimental to domestic resource management and to industries crucial for employment and economic stability in Colorado.
HJR1022 is a resolution from the Colorado General Assembly expressing the state's opposition to the Biden administration's '30 by 30' program, which aims to conserve and preserve 30 percent of the nation's land and water by 2030. The resolution outlines concerns that this initiative would restrict productive use of Colorado's land and could ultimately harm the state's economy. It emphasizes that a significant proportion of Colorado is already designated for conservation and that the proposed program would not have gained consent from local governance or the state's populace, which raises questions regarding its constitutional basis.
Opponents of the 30 by 30 initiative, as expressed in HJR1022, assert that the program imposes undue federal oversight without sufficient local input. They argue that such actions could lead to the erosion of Colorado's traditional values of stewardship and responsible land use. The resolution frames the program as part of a broader trend where federal action may override local interests and property rights, emphasizing that land management should remain a matter of local governance and stewardship practiced by Coloradans themselves. These concerns are compounded by the potential socio-economic impacts on communities that depend on accessing and utilizing natural resources.