Our Mission

Veterans for Public Lands unites to defend the public lands and waters we served to protect. We equip our community to speak out, lead, and show up whenever our shared wild spaces are under threat.

We speak up for the places we love, help our communities understand what is at stake, and ensure that America’s public lands remain protected, accessible and available for future generations.

  • Public lands that stay public

    Our national parks, forests, monuments, and other shared lands belong to all of us. We stand against efforts to sell them off, dismantle their protections, or put private interests ahead of the public good.

  • Healthy lands and waters

    Clean water, thriving wildlife, and resilient landscapes sustain our communities. We advocate for responsible stewardship that protects these places and the livelihoods that depend on them.

  • Access for all of us

    We support opportunities to hike, camp, hunt, fish, and find connection outdoors. That includes making public lands more accessible to veterans with disabilities and others who face barriers to enjoying them.

  • Respect for Tribal Nations

    Public lands hold deep connections to Indigenous histories, cultures, and living traditions. We support Tribal sovereignty and meaningful Tribal leadership in decisions affecting ancestral lands and sacred places.

  • A lasting legacy of service

    Our responsibility to this country continues beyond our time in uniform. We bring veterans and military families together to serve as advocates and stewards, protecting our shared wild spaces for those who come after us.

Our public lands do not stay protected on their own. As these places face growing threats, we have a responsibility to show up once again in service to something larger than ourselves. At a time when trust across the board is declining, veterans remain among the most trusted voices in America. That trust carries both credibility and responsibility.