Livestock grazing, timber harvesting, hunting, fishing, and other resource uses can be sustained over time only if the land is healthy. Many of the lands managed by the BLM were degraded by the end of the nineteenth century because of unsustainable livestock grazing, timber harvesting, and mining practices. While important strides have been made in this century in developing and applying more sustainable management practices, resource conditions are still unsatisfactory in some areas. Efforts to improve these lands may be hampered by increased competition between livestock and wildlife, as well as limitations that have been placed on certain management practices, such as the use of herbicides.
Forest health is increasingly a concern.
Many forests are aging or stagnating, thereby becoming more susceptible to insects and diseases. Reclaiming abandoned mines is a challenge, since there is a backlog of unreclaimed, abandoned, and inactive mines, including many on public lands. Discharges from these mines can cause damage in local areas, especially if there is acid drainage. Over half of America's wetlands have been converted to other uses, primarily agriculture. Continued loss of biological diversity is an issue.