Comment on FR Doc # N/A

I oppose any revision to policies for consideration and management of wilderness on public lands that would weaken protections for Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, or recommended, proposed, and eligible wilderness. I recommend that any revisions to the BLM’s Manual include studies that make the existing wilderness status lands a priority for conservation. We are at a time that our finite and irreplaceable wildlands are threatened. Preservation of these places conserve wildlife habitat but also keep areas connected making habitat even more valuable. A study of our BLM holdings should include how our wildlife can be connected on a large scale looking at regional connectivity within our states and to adjacent countries. Studies should include accurate/current information and science-based management. The public must be included to help with these studies as private and State land may have conservation status and can aid in connecting BLM lands. We live in So. Cal. and have been working with conservation groups, State and Federal agencies to try and keep wildlife habitat functional by using the methods above. BLM needs to prioritize preserving wildlife habitat and the necessary connectivity that makes them functional.