STAND for Public Lands: 342 Organizations Defending Public Lands Across 37 States

The definitive directory of organizations protecting America’s national parks, forests, monuments, and wilderness areas. Search by state, category, or agency focus. Find national groups like Earthjustice, Sierra Club, and The Wilderness Society alongside regional organizations based in every state.

Organization profiles include mission statements, geographic focus, budget ranges, staff sizes, active federal court cases, and the threatened places each group is defending. Connect with the groups doing the work and learn how to support them.

STANDfor Public Landsby More Than Just Parks

342 groups in the directory

STAND for Public Lands

Stewards, Trusts, Advocates, Nonprofits and Defenders

The groups defending America’s public lands, on the record: who they are, what they fight for, and how to stand with them.

342organizations on the record
30live cases on the record
150places under threat ↓

The fights

Start with a place you love

150 places are under threat right now. Each one has its own page: what’s happening to it, who’s on the record defending it, and how to stand with them.

Ranked by open comment windows first (6 open), then live federal cases (7 places), then threat level.

  1. Comments close Nov 17 · 6 days leftOculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular ConcernFloridaNOAA proposes reopening Oculina Bank coral zone to rock shrimp trawlingNo group on the record yet. Comment directly.
  2. Comments close Nov 24 · 13 days leftCape Hatteras National SeashoreNorth CarolinaN.C. Highway 12 Realignment at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterNo group on the record yet. Comment directly.
  3. Comments close Nov 25 · 14 days leftFlathead National ForestMontanaSkillet Fire SalvageNo group on the record yet. Comment directly.
  4. Comments close Nov 30Tongass National ForestAlaskaObject to the Twin Mountain II old-growth sale by November 30Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and Alaska Wilderness League, and 2 more on the record
  5. Comments close Dec 1Big Cypress National PreserveFloridaNPS expands off-road vehicle access at Big Cypress National PreserveNo group on the record yet. Comment directly.
  6. Comments close Dec 9Pacific Remote Islands Marine National MonumentU.S. PacificNMFS proposes reopening Pacific Remote Islands monument waters to commercial fishingEarthjustice and Center for Biological Diversity
  7. 2 cases in federal court, newest 2025Oak Flat / Chi'chil BildagoteelArizonaForest Service signs the Resolution Copper decisionCenter for Biological Diversity and Access Fund, and 2 more on the record
  8. 1 case in federal court, filed 2017Bears Ears National MonumentUtahTrump proclamation cuts monument 91%Utah Diné Bikéyah and Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, and 7 more on the record

Next on the list

  1. 1 case in federal court, filed 2017Grand Staircase-EscalanteUtah
  2. 1 case in federal court, filed 2026Western Oregon O&C LandsOregon
  3. 1 case in federal court, filed 2026American PrairieMontana
  4. 1 case in federal court, filed 2025Ouray National Wildlife RefugeUtah
  5. Critical threatIzembek National Wildlife RefugeAlaska
  6. Critical threatArctic National Wildlife RefugeAlaska
  7. Critical threatCabinet Mountains WildernessMontana
  8. Critical threatNPR-A Teshekpuk Lake Special AreaAlaska
  9. Critical threatStibnite Mine / Boise National ForestIdaho
  10. Critical threatMcDermitt CalderaOregon
  11. Critical threat42 Divide Timber ProjectOregon
  12. Critical threatBoundary Waters Canoe Area WildernessMinnesota

All 150 places, the fifty states and the wildlife

The living map

Find them on the land

Every place under threat, sized by what’s happening to it: an open comment window, a live docket, the threat level. Open one to see who’s defending it, or switch the map to where the groups are based.

Oak Flat / Chi'chil BildagoteelOculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular ConcernCape HatterasFlatheadBig Cypress
Comment window openIn federal courtCritical threatThreat developing or on watchLarger dots are more urgent

Alaska 9 Off the plate: the Alaska fights beyond the 5 ranked above

Oceans and islands 4 Marine monuments and the outer continental shelf

The matchmaker

Don’t know where to start? We’ll introduce you.

Five answers. Four seats, each filled by a public record, never by a favor.

1 A place I love
2 Out there, I
3 Home ground
4 I’d rather

Money, sweat and voice all count.

5 I’d back

No preference. The seats keep the lineup mixed.

Four seats, each filled by a record

Nobody is on the lineup until you answer. Name a place and its leading group, per our editors, takes the first seat.

  1. Your best fit

    The highest score on your answers. Groups within a few points of it take turns.

  2. Close to home

    Reserved for a group based in your state.

  3. Small budget under $5M a year

    Reserved for a group under $5M a year on its latest IRS 990.

  4. In federal court now

    Reserved for a group with an active federal docket.

The whole network

342 groups standing by

The heavyweights, the litigators, the land trusts, and the friends group that knows your trailhead by name. Search them, filter them, meet them. More Than Just Parks, which publishes STAND, is on the map but not ranked in its own directory.

342 of 342
Most on the record the national groups our editors tie to the most places, and the most live federal cases
Center for Biological DiversityLegal · National · Est. 1989 · Tucson, AZTo secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction.15 live federal casesOn the record for 19 placesSierra ClubAdvocacy · National · Est. 1892 · Oakland, CATo explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth.4 live federal casesOn the record for 19 placesEarthjusticeLegal · National · Est. 1971 · San Francisco, CABecause the earth needs a good lawyer.5 live federal casesOn the record for 12 placesThe Wilderness SocietyAdvocacy · National · Est. 1935 · Washington, DCTo protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places.3 live federal casesOn the record for 12 placesNational Parks Conservation AssociationAdvocacy · National · Est. 1919 · Washington, DCTo protect and enhance America’s National Park System.On the record for 12 placesDefenders of WildlifeAdvocacy · National · Est. 1947 · Washington, DCTo protect and restore imperiled species and their habitats.4 live federal casesOn the record for 7 places
More national organizations 71 the most on the record first, then the largest
Natural Resources Defense CouncilLegal · National · Est. 1970 · New York, NYTo safeguard the earth: its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.3 live federal casesOn the record for 3 placesNational Audubon SocietyAdvocacy · National · Est. 1905 · New York, NYTo protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.1 live federal caseOn the record for 4 placesEarthworksWatchdog · National · Est. 1988 · Washington, DCProtect communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral and energy development.On the record for 5 placesNational Wildlife FederationAdvocacy · National · Est. 1936 · Reston, VATo unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world.1 live federal caseOn the record for 3 placesNational Wildlife Refuge AssociationAdvocacy · National · Est. 1975 · Washington, DCConserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through the National Wildlife Refuge System.2 live federal casesOn the record for 2 placesWilderness WatchLegal · National · Est. 1989 · Missoula, MTTo protect America’s enduring legacy of wilderness.2 live federal casesOn the record for 2 placesAmerican RiversAdvocacy · National · Est. 1973 · Washington, DCTo protect wild rivers, restore damaged rivers, and conserve clean water.On the record for 3 placesBackcountry Hunters & AnglersAdvocacy · National · Est. 2004 · Missoula, MTTo ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in wild public lands and waters.On the record for 3 placesFriends of the EarthAdvocacy · National · Est. 1969 · Washington, DCTo defend the environment and champion a healthy and just world.2 live federal casesOn the record for 1 place
Regional and local 264 the most on the record first, then the largest
Western Watersheds ProjectLegal · 11 states · Est. 1993 · Hailey, IDTo protect and restore western watersheds and wildlife.5 live federal casesOn the record for 9 placesConservation Lands FoundationAdvocacy · West · Est. 2007 · Durango, COTo protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands.1 live federal caseOn the record for 8 placesAlaska Wilderness LeagueAdvocacy · 1 state · Est. 1993 · Washington, DCTo galvanize support for Alaska’s wild lands and waters.3 live federal casesOn the record for 5 placesCascadia WildlandsGrassroots · Oregon · Est. 1997 · Eugene, ORTo defend and restore Cascadia’s wild ecosystems.3 live federal casesOn the record for 5 placesOregon WildGrassroots · 1 state · Est. 1974 · Portland, ORTo protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters.3 live federal casesOn the record for 5 placesWildEarth GuardiansLegal · 8 states · Est. 1996 · Santa Fe, NMTo protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.4 live federal casesOn the record for 3 placesAdvocates for the WestLegal · 6 states · Est. 2003 · Boise, IDProtect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the American West through law.1 live federal caseOn the record for 4 placesCalifornia Wilderness CoalitionGrassroots · 1 state · Est. 1976 · Oakland, CATo protect and restore California’s wildest natural landscapes.On the record for 5 placesCrag Law CenterLegal · Oregon · Est. 2001 · Portland, ORTo protect and sustain the Pacific Northwest’s natural legacy.On the record for 5 places
The Briefing

The fights, the wins, and the people carrying them.

Original reporting on America’s public lands from Will and Jim, free. The same reporting behind every case and every place on this page.

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