America’s public lands are entering a period of profound transition. Ecological change, evolving social and cultural values, Tribal co-stewardship, and shifting political dynamics are reshaping how we understand public lands and our responsibilities to them and to each other. This symposium explores what it would mean to move toward a new era for public lands grounded in restoration of the land and renewal of our shared responsibility to care for it.  

Day 1 focuses on the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and public lands, featuring recent case studies alongside conversations about lessons learned and opportunities to reform laws and policies to strengthen the role of Tribes and Indigenous Peoples in decisions shaping the future of their ancestral homelands and cultural resources.

Day 2 focuses on the broader public interest in public lands, including the interests of future generations. All Americans benefit today from decisions made by earlier generations to uphold a shared public interest in the stewardship, management, and protection of public lands. Bringing together leading voices from academia, advocacy organizations, government, Tribal communities, and industry, Day 2 explores how we can best fulfill our responsibilities to future generations in an era of ecological and social change.

You can find the agenda and link to event information here: Oct 22 and 23: 2026 Martz Symposium on Public Lands | Getches-Wilkinson Center | University of Colorado Boulder

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