Sagebrush rebels is a group
that attempted to influence environmental policy in the American West during the
1970s and 1980s, surviving into the 21st century in public lands states
(generally, the 13 western states where federal land holdings include 30% to more than
50% of a state's area), and surviving in organized groups pressuring public lands
policy makers, especially for grazing of sheep and cattle on public lands, and for
mineral extraction policies.An extension of the older controversy of state vs. federal powers,
Sagebrush Rebels wanted the federal government to give
more control of government owned Western lands to state and local authorities.
This was meant to increase the growth of Western economies. Ronald Reagan declared
himself a sagebrush rebel in 1981. He cut federal funding for research on
energy conservation and renewable energy resources. Reagan was faced with opposition
with conservation organizations. This struggle persists today after changing form,
with the "wise-use movement" in 1988. George H. W. Bush helped work
around restrictive environmental laws to help mining, ranching, and real estate
developing industries that created jobs in the states. The term "Sagebrush
Rebellion" was coined during fights over designation of National Wilderness
lands, especially in western states, and especially after the National Forest Service (NFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
conducted required surveys of plots of public lands of at least 5,000 acres (20 km2) that were roadless, after 1972, for potential
designation as part of the National Wilderness
Preservation System.
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