Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) 2026 Conference

America’s public lands are at an inflection point. Record-breaking visitation, intensifying wildfires and biodiversity loss, along with mounting development pressure, are conflicting with management systems and funding models built for another era. How we proceed is an open question – and a story that couldn’t be more urgent.

This panel brings together leading voices to explore emerging models for public lands management, from cross-agency coordination to governance approaches that reflect today’s realities. It also examines a critical piece of the puzzle: how we pay for it. As the traditional user-pay model tied to hunting and fishing changes, we’ll consider new strategies – and who should help bear the cost.

Together, this conversation considers under-reported angles and growing tensions at the intersection of policy and conservation. Panelists will share insights and ideas that will define the future of our national legacy of public lands and waters.