NAR Approves Support for Two Land Policies at NAR NXT

November 16, 2025 | Houston, TX

On November 16, 2025 the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) formally approved support for two land policies originally brought to NAR by the REALTORS^® Land Institute. The policies relate to public lands management and financial incentives for private land conservation.

The policies were first written and approved by NAR’s Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee which included representation from RLI members. The policies were then approved by the Public Policy Coordinating Committee, and finally the NAR Executive Committee. 

The policies are as follows:

1. That the National Association of REALTORS supports the management, protection, and sustainable use of public lands by promoting laws, regulations, policies, guidance and practices.

NAR encourages protection of property rights, sustainable resource use, long-term conservation and ecosystem protection, public access and recreation, science-based management, and local input and decision-making.

Rationale: NAR has never had a comprehensive policy addressing the management of public lands, which has a significant impact on the economy and real estate markets of adjacent communities that rely on public lands for robust economic development through tourism, natural resource utilization, etc. This policy will provide guidance for NAR’s advocacy efforts to fulfill the multi-use promise of these lands by encouraging sustainable resource use and protection while protecting private property rights and public access.

2. That the National Association of REALTORS supports financial and other incentives for voluntary private land conservation.

Rationale: This policy supports voluntary options and incentives to preserve landowners’ private property rights. Conservation Easements can help landowners to preserve ownership of land, preventing it from being sold and converted to other uses. Land with conservation easements can stay in private ownership and can continue to be sold and used subject to terms of the easement. Lands protected by conservation easements can support ongoing productive land use and preservation of wildlife habitat and natural buffers.

The Grouse and Grazing Project | Summer 2025

A report on the effects of cattle grazing on demographic traits of greater sage-grouse
A Cooperator Science Series Report funded by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation, Public Lands Council, University of Idaho, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Basin LCC, and U.S. Forest Service

The effect of livestock grazing on sage grouse populations has been long debated. A decade-long research project was initiated to put the debate to rest - does cattle grazing negatively impact declining sage grouse populations? Findings in the study say sage-grouse do not need pastures to be rested from grazing to thrive. Continued, well-managed grazing can be compatible with — and in some contexts beneficial to — sage-grouse populations.

Read the report.

Endangered Species Act Revisions | Summer 2023

NAR Joins Reform Coalition to Address Cost of Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Revisions

The Department of Interior has proposed regulations to revise the ESA (sections 4, 4(d) and 7) that address various aspects of how a species is declared endangered, how critical habitat is designated, and how other agencies use the ESA in fulfilling their agency goals and missions. 

The revisions are concerning for property owners. They make it easier to declare a species endangered and designate critical habitat, under-emphasize the costs of these regs to landowners, and do not take into account the adverse economic ramifications to regulated stakeholders that these regs will create.   
 
Here's what would change with revisions to the current act:

• The requirement that economic impacts not be considered in listing decisions;
• The framework for determining the “foreseeable future” as applied to the listing of threatened species; 
• The circumstances when the Services may find that is it not prudent to designate critical habitat; 
• The process and requirements regarding the designation of areas as unoccupied critical habitat;
• Revise the process for consultation between the Services and a federal agency on whether a proposed federal action will jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction of critical habitat.

NAR is working with NESARC (National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition) to create a robust set of comments on behalf of the regulated community. Check back here for future developments on this issue.