California’s public lands aren’t for sale

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OPINION – Imagine waking up to find that your favorite Sierra trailhead, that quiet forest clearing your family returns to every summer, or that rugged desert canyon you’ve spent years exploring is now behind a “No Trespassing” sign—sold off in a backroom deal to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

That could become a reality if public land sales in the U.S. move forward. The idea to privatize America’s prized public lands isn’t new – it’s a threat that’s loomed for decades. But the last several years have seen a number of congressional, administrative, and judicial efforts to move these proposals forward. Efforts to sell national public lands to states, real estate developers, or the extractive industry ultimately undermine the very notion that federal agencies can own and manage land, a privilege enjoyed by generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Ultimately this would endanger outdoor access, conservation efforts, and the nation’s powerful $1.2 trillion outdoor economy.

Thankfully, stakeholders who rely on and love public lands – recreationalists, hunters and anglers, conservation organizations, tribal nations, and everyday Californians, are coming together to fight back. We demonstrated our collective power this past June after a proposal in the U.S. Senate would have forced the sale of millions of acres of our public lands across the West—including huge swaths of California. No public input. No hearings. Just gone.

As a 5th generation Californian, a mother, and someone who has built a career around protecting the places we love, this threat struck a nerve. At Peak Design, where I lead our environmental and social impact work, and through my role as board chair of The Conservation Alliance, I see just how deeply Californians rely on public lands—for business, for recreation, for identity, and for connection.

This was not just an attack on land—it was an attack on our shared heritage, our outdoor economy, and the communities and cultures that depend on access to public lands. California was especially vulnerable. From the desert basins of the Mojave to the granite peaks of the Sierra, our state is home to some of the most iconic public landscapes in the nation. These lands fuel an $81.5 billion outdoor recreation economy and support over half a million jobs. Entire towns, small businesses, guides, outfitters, and tribal communities depend on these places not just for income—but for identity.

That’s why the backlash was so fierce—and so necessary. And it worked. But make no mistake: this idea hasn’t gone away.

And the next attempt may come with even less notice. We have to stay vigilant. We have to keep speaking up. Because these lands belong to all of us—not just a few. Once sold, they’re gone for good. Fences go up. Access disappears. The places we camp, hike, fish, and gather with loved ones vanish behind property lines, no longer part of the American commons.

So here’s what I’m asking: If you love the Sierra, the Shasta-Trinity, the Inyo, or Anza-Borrego, or any other public land near you—make sure your voice is heard. Call your representatives. Follow groups who can help keep you informed. Support the Tribal Nations leading efforts to steward their ancestral homelands. And speak out every time someone tries to privatize what belongs to us all.

Because California’s public lands aren’t for sale—and we’re going to keep it that way.

By Annie Nyborg. Annie is the Head of Environmental and Social Impact for Peak Design, a San Francisco-based product design company, and certified B Corp.