The 2008 budget also calls for the National Park System to receive the largest increase in funding ever proposed. Was this a welcome change, or did it siphon money away from other public lands?
Of course this was a welcome change. American Hiking Society supports the continued funding of the National Park System. There is a significant concern of balance, though. The National Park Service manages 84 million acres and it received more than $2.25 billion last year. The BLM manages 258 million acres and the Bush Administration proposed a budget of $1.8 billion this year. I wouldn't argue that the NPS deserves less funding, but no one should think for a second that the BLM or the Forest Service can manage more than three times the land with a billion dollars less funding.

I think differing levels of awareness at least partially explain this dramatic disparity in funding. Fewer people are aware of the incredible trails and resources on BLM lands, so more resources are allocated to the lands more people are familiar with—the national parks.

What are you doing at the American Hiking Society to help with these issues?
I work with Congress to maintain funding and sound policies to protect trails and resources on Conservation System lands. For example, we'd like to see more accountability and transparency in the BLM's budget. There is no line item budget for the Conservation System, which makes it hard to tell exactly what resources they're dedicating to managing these national treasures. And given the President's 2008 federal budget, we'll talk to Congress a lot in the coming months. Thankfully, a Congressional Caucus formed in 2006 to promote and protect the NLCS. It's co-chaired by Representatives Moran, Grijalva, Bono, and Renzi—all of whom have great vision for the future of the Conservation System.

I also encourage people to visit the NLCS lands, to hike and experience the stunning scenery, the humbling vastness, and the tangible history of these places. To communicate my passion for these last great western landscapes is the core of my mission. If I can communicate this to people, they will be inspired to discover the NLCS and to protect and steward all of the fantastic trails and mountains and rivers it protects.

What can individuals who love the outdoors do to help?
Try one of American Hiking Society's Volunteer Vacations on NLCS lands. I'm a huge fan of our program on the Lost Coast; it's unimaginably beautiful and solitary. The Lost Coast traces 35 miles of wilderness beach between the 4,000-foot King Range and the Pacific Ocean. On the first day of the hike, I saw sea lions sunning themselves on the sand, orcas spouting and frolicking near the beach, and waterfalls cascading off cliffs into the water. We camped in little coves sheltered from the wind, with nice flat grassy spots for sleeping, great fresh water for washing, and incredible views of the sun melting into the ocean as it set. On the last day we feasted on fresh pacific salmon and washed it down with local micro-brews.

Seth Levy manages the Western Public Lands Initiative at American Hiking Society. His background is in environmental education, the outdoor industry, and the United States Senate. He is an enthusiastic hiker, spending as much time as possible on the trail while promoting and protecting the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System.